High school football: Copper Hills Grizzlies trying to pull together as a team

Note: Copper Hills finished 1-8 overall a year ago and 1-4 in Region 3. It did not qualify for the 5A state tournament.

WEST JORDAN — The folks inside Copper Hills' football program all understand that they went just 1-8 last fall and that they bring back zero returning starters on offense and just four returning starters on defense.

"It's like we're starting over again," said second-year coach Kai Kapele.

For the Grizzlies to stand a chance of having a successful season in 2010, it's obvious to Kapele — and to the rest of the program — that everyone absolutely, positively must stick together.

"We lost a lot of guys, and our team is more focused on playing as a team," said Kapele. "We had a lot of talented players last year, and so I think that it's good that the kids have to rely on each other this year.

"They've been working hard in the weight room and in conditioning, (and) we're really focused as a team on developing more of a winning attitude, a positive attitude out of everybody — from the kids to the coaches. We're trying to get the kids to depend on each other — 'We're a family, this is all we've got' — that kind of deal."

Kapele spent all of last year trying to instill a winning attitude into his players, so it's nothing new to the Grizzlies. But it should definitely help to have been hearing it now for a full season.

Up to this point in fall camp, Kapele says he's noticed a difference from his players from Year 1 to Year 2 in that regard.

"We see them picking up each other, helping the kid that's behind them to catch up and come in at the same time," said Kapele. "They're trying to help their teammates more instead of just saying, 'I did my job. That's it.' "

While there will be new players lining up across the board on offense and at seven of 11 positions on defense, the Grizzlies recognize that they must learn from the mistakes they made as a team last fall to be successful this fall.

In particular, they need to learn how to finish. Copper Hills had a knack for being in close games last year — it just couldn't find ways to come out on top in any of them.