High school football: Grantsville Cowboys 2012 preview

Grantsville Cowboys at a glance

Coach: Tony Cloward, a Grantsville alum, is entering his eighth season as Grantsville’s head coach. He’s amassed a 30-51 in those seven years.

Offense

(9 returning starters; Veer offense)

Grantsville only averaged 17 ppg last year, and turnovers were partially to blame. Quarterback Max Cook threw for over 1,000 yards out of the veer offense, but he threw 11 interceptions and just one touchdown. Coach Cloward has taken his team to several 7-on-7 tournaments this year to improve that passing efficiency. Dillon Hutchins didn’t catch a pass last year, but he’s emerged as the top receiving threat, while Kyle Landon should be productive as well at the slot receiver. Ky Fisher and Jared Lambert will be the top running threats.

Defense

(9 returning starters)

Linebacker is the strength of this team with Skyler Cloward, Fisher, Kaleb Ware and Cook, but the line should be pretty good as well. Jacob Riding, Devin Adams and Wyatt Smith will all rotate in at defensive tackle to keep fresh, while Kyle Mecham and Bronson Degelbeck are both in the hunt for the vacated starting nose guard spot. Kelby Landon and Dallin Williams will start at the safety positions, but the cornerbacks will both be new and that’s probably the lone weakness of the defense.

Coaches preseason Region 11 straw poll: Third

Deseret News Region 11 prediction: Second

Bottom line: Not much was expected of Grantsville last year, and it used that as motivation to produce a second-place finish in Region 11. This year expectations are high, and the players must learn to play with a target on their backs. Defensively, the Cowboys should be fine, but the offense really struggled to move the ball last year. Grantsville is counting on a strong running game to change that, but it also needs much better decision-making out of the quarterback position.

2012 Schedule

Aug. 17 — WASATCH, 7 p.m.

Aug. 24 — JUAB, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31 — at Judge, 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 — at Morgan, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 — at Uintah, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 — at Tooele, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 — BEN LOMOND, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 — at Bear River, 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 — STANSBURY, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 — OGDEN, 7 p.m.

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Felts Facts for Grantsville High School

All-time record: 359-418-21 (95 years)

Region championships: 9 (1960, 1967 co, 1973, 1978, 1984 co, 1985, 1986, 1991 co, 1998)

Playoff appearances: 35

All-time playoff record: 39-32

State championships: 3 (1992, 1996, 1997)

State championship record: 3-5

Most played rivalry: 75 meetings with Morgan dating back to 1945. Morgan leads 45-28-2. Meet on Sept. 7.

Felt’s Factoid(s): Grantsville holds the state record (tied with Clearfield) for season interceptions with 33 set in 1997. ... Cowboy Alan Mouritsen holds the season all-purpose yardage record, 3,287 set in 1997 and the career rushing TD record, 70, set from 1996-98. He also holds the record for career TDs, 77, and season TDs, 42 (1997).

Grantsville coaching history

2005-current — Tony Cloward (30-50)