High school football: Pleasant Grove has a new look this season

Note: The Vikings finished 8-3 (4-2 in Region 4, 3rd place) and lost in the quarterfinals of the 5A state playoffs to Davis.

PLEASANT GROVE — Injuries, lack of depth and crushing expectations did in the Pleasant Grove Vikings last season as they fell in the quarterfinals of the 5A state playoffs. But with most of that team gone, how the new faces respond is one of the biggest question marks of Region 4 this year.

"We aren't coming in as the team to beat. There isn't a target on our backs this year," said tight end/linebacker Bryon Bingham. "That doesn't mean that we don't think we are one of the best teams, but we aren't going to be the team everyone is going after this year. We aren't going to let down because of it, but it is a lot different around here."

The Vikings had eight Division I football scholarship players on the team last year, and they certainly felt the pressure of having high expectations placed upon them because of all that talent.

"We heard the talk that we were supposed to be the best team maybe in state history if we had that many good players," said coach Dale Sampson. "But this is a different year, a different group of players. This is a group that kind of had to wait in the wings of those more publicized guys, but now is their time to step to the front, to make a name for themselves. We have a good group of seniors out here that are ready to shine."

One of those seniors that will shine is linebacker Austin Heder. The 6-foor-3, 235-pounder was an early signee for BYU.

"They saw what we already knew, that Austin is a great athlete, a great player and a great young man," said Sampson of his senior captain. "He has really stepped up as a leader for us, and the guys really look up to him. We expect great things from him this season."

Heder was the second-leading tackler on last year's team with 59 stops and a sack. He has the size, speed and drive to be one of the best players in not only the region, but the entire state.

"We have been working really hard all offseason," said Heder. "We have been lifting and conditioning harder than last year and I think we are closer as a group. We don't really have any individual groups this year, and I think that is going to help us be better as a team."

Sampson also points to his other senior captains as great leaders that have really got the morale and enthusiasm for the team at a high level. Jason West (defensive back and wide receiver), Bryon Bingham (tight end and linebacker) and Ben Weese (offensive tackle and defensive end) have stepped to the front to get the Vikings ready for another run at the state playoffs.