High school football: Mountain Crest Mustangs 2009 preview

HYRUM — With 14 returning starters, including arguably the state's best quarterback in junior Alex Kuresa, and some momentum after pushing Timpview to the brink in the 4A semifinals last year, big things are expected from the Mountain Crest Mustangs this season.

"We always expect the best here," said Mountain Crest running back Alex Knowles. "I think if we don't get a state championship we've definitely fallen short of our goal."

Everyone talks about winning a state championship at this time of the year. Few teams have the pieces in place to actually do it like the Mustangs.

It all starts with Kuresa, who threw for 2,712 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore. Kuresa capped his sensational sophomore season by throwing four touchdown passes and running for another in the Mustangs' heartbreaking 37-35 loss to eventual champion Timpview in last year's semis.

"He's grown," Mountain Crest coach Mark Wootton said of Kuresa. "He's gotten a lot taller and if he stays healthy we can be real good."

Kuresa will be the first to say that he's only one of several weapons for Mountain Crest this season. The Mustangs are loaded.

Even with Kuresa at quarterback, Mountain Crest will be balanced and equally dangerous running the ball as they'll be passing it. Knowles won the outstanding running back award at BYU's camp this summer and is poised for a big year. As a junior he rushed for 926 yards, had 623 receiving yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

Four other starters return on offense for Mountain Crest along with Kuresa and Knowles. Zac Neimann and Joey Jenkins will anchor the offensive line. Kuresa will have receiving threats to work with in players such as Tyler Weese, Matt Stewart and Troy Pickett.

Defensively, the Mustangs are loaded with eight returning starters, and even more players who have varsity experience. Players such as Weese, Stewart, Pickett Taylor Root, Scofield Smith, Brennen Archibald, Raider Lofthouse, Tanner Kennedy and Nate Rigby will again be key for what's traditionally a hard-hitting and stingy defense.

Other players to watch include Spencer Schwab and Neal Stott.

Wootton said he's been more than pleased with how hard his team has worked during the offseason.

"They're real hard-working kids," Wootton said. "They're real committed. It's nice when you have kids who are willing to work hard. They've put in a lot of time. We started back in March and have been going pretty hard."