High school football: Brighton wants to play games in November

Note: Brighton finished with a 6-4 record, 3-3 in Region 4 and in a tie for fourth. It missed the 5A playoffs after losing to Jordan in a play-in game.

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Last season couldn't have started any better for the Brighton Bengals. But it couldn't have ended any worse.

The Bengals opened the 2009 season with three straight shutout wins, outscoring its opponents 110-0. Brighton closed the season with back-to-back losses to Jordan, the second coming in a 35-30 shootout in a 5A play-in game to miss the state playoffs.

"We fell a little short of our goals last year," said quarterback Derek Newell. "We know what kind of potential we have this season, and anything less than that is going to be unacceptable."

Ever since that disappointing ending, the Bengals have been working, striving to get better so it won't happen again.

"Our goal is to compete for a region title and to play some football in November," said coach Ryan Bullett. "Obviously last year had a disappointing end to it, and we want to learn from it."

One of the ways the team is more prepared for a strong ending to the season as well as a burst from the starting blocks is in its offseason conditioning.

"We've been working even harder this year to make sure that doesn't happen again," said lineman Jake Mortimer. "I think we did kind of let up last year mentally, but I also think that maybe we might have worn out. We aren't going to have that this year. We are ready to go."

Despite being ranked in the top-5 in the state for much of the season, Brighton finished tied for fourth in the brutal Region 4, and after the loss to Jordan, missed the playoffs for the second time in four years.

"We expect to be in the playoffs," said Greg Peterson. "Brighton has had long-standing traditions, and we want to live up to those."

And who knows? If the team makes the playoffs, the tough schedule should have it prepared to make some noise.

"I think we all have the expectations that we are going to first get into the playoffs, and then we want to do something once we get there," said tight end Zane Smith.

One of the main things the team has going for it this season is the experience of Newell.