High school football: Pieces in place for long playoff run by Juan Diego

DRAPER — Juan Diego coach John Colosimo is taking a different approach in trying to get his team over the quarterfinal hump in the 3A playoffs this season.

The Soaring Eagle have been eliminated at home in the 3A quarterfinals in three consecutive seasons. In 2005, they expectedly lost to a loaded Pine View team that took second place in 3A. The past two seasons, turnovers helped doom Juan Diego in quarterfinal games against closely matched teams in Dixie and Union.

Colosimo isn't quite ready to say his team is jinxed in the quarterfinals. But he isn't taking any chances, either.

"I'm just going to stop talking about it," Colosimo said. "Our goal is not to make it to the turf. Our goal is to make it to the playoffs and see what happens. We'll keep our mouth shut this year. 'It's just another game, guys. We're going to come out and play and have fun — hang on to the football.'"

If Juan Diego takes care of the football in big games, it could be a breakthrough season for the Soaring Eagle. The team seems to have the pieces in place to make it to the 3A semis for the first time in school history.

The team is loaded with seven returning starters on offense and six on defense. It should be solid on both the offensive and defensive lines. It has a whopping six quality running backs who will share the rushing duties. All six are probably good enough to be a featured back in most 3A programs.

Forget making it to the turf. Juan Diego has bigger aspirations than that.

"There's no reason why we can't go undefeated," said Soaring Eagle lineman Jamie Markosian. "I'm not trying to be real cocky or bragging or anything. But you know we have a very talented team and we work well together. We all have fun together. I think we're going to be just fine."

Markosian is the anchor on both the offensive and defensive lines. He's 6-foot-4, 255 pounds and extremely mobile for his size. He's been offered by Weber State, and will receive some Division I scholarship offers if he stays healthy this season. Taylor Berg is also a two-way starter, and will be a key player in the trenches for the Soaring Eagle.

Colosimo has to break in a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2005. Brian May has patiently waited for his chance to play quarterback while sitting behind a three-year starter. He has been pushed for the starting position by Taylorsville transfer Mike Ramirez, but will most likely be running the offense when the team opens the season at West. Colosimo said he'll find a way to utilize Ramirez's talents if he isn't the starting quarterback.