High school football: Dixie Flyers 2012 preview

“I think we’re going to be good. We have a lot of returning starters on both sides of the ball so I think we’re going to be real competitive,” he said.

Dixie Flyers at a glance

Coach: Blaine Monkres is entering his fifth season as Dixie’s head coach, having amassed a 23-18 record in the previous four years. In 22 years as a head coach around the state, Monkres owns a 156-86 overall record. He’s a graduate of Clearfield High School.

Offense

(6 returning starters; Spread offense)

Dixie was the third-highest scoring team in 3A last year at 34 ppg. That production should go up with Blake Barney returning for his third year at starting quarterback. The next step for him and the entire offense is production against 3A’s top teams. Barney threw three interceptions in a 41-0 first-round loss to Juan Diego last year, and in a 51-21 region loss to Hurricane, Barney only completed 15-of-40 passes and threw two interceptions.

Defense

(5 returning starters)

Jesse Lambert led Dixie in tackles last year with 66 tackles, and he’s back again to anchor the linebacking core along with fellow starter Taylor Berry. Berry was second on the team with 63 tackles. Collectively though, Dixie’s entire defense needs to get tougher. Hurricane, Desert Hills and Juan Diego were the three best teams Dixie faced last year, and it surrendered 51, 41 and 41 points respectively in those three loses.

Coaches preseason Region 9 straw poll: Third

Deseret News Region 9 prediction: Third

Bottom line: Dixie should have no problem securing a playoff berth from Region 9, but challenging Hurricane for the Region 9 title won’t be easy. Dixie lost to eventual 3A state champion Hurricane last year by 30 points, and Monkres said that the champs might be even better this year. Everything hinges on the defense. Dixie will be able to put up points with the best teams in 3A, but getting stops proved to be a challenge last year against upper-echelon teams and could be a challenge again this year.

2012 Schedule

Aug. 17 — SPRINGVILLE, 7 p.m.

Aug. 24 — RIVER VALLEY, ARIZ., 7 p.m.

Aug. 31 — at Provo, 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 — PINE VIEW, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 — at Hurricane, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 — DESERT HILLS, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 — at Canyon View, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5 — CEDAR, 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 — at Snow Canyon, 7 p.m.

Oct. 19 — BYE

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Felts Facts for Dixie High School

All-time record: 376-230-6 (67 years)

Region championships: 22 (1949, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 co, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1991 co, 1994 co, 2009 co)

Playoff appearances: 38

All-time playoff record: 48-32

State championships: 6 (1957, 1967, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1998)

State championship record: 6-2

Most played rivalry: 81 meetings with Cedar dating back to 1949. Dixie leads 48-33. Meet on Oct. 5.

Felt’s Factoid(s): Dixie owns the state record for most points in a season with 678 in 1972.

Dixie coaching history

2008-current — Blaine Monkres (24-18)

2002-2007 — Jake Nelson (35-31)