High School Football: Summit Academy 2012 Preview

“It’s a challenge. But, basically we’ve just got to finish fourth to get to the state playoffs. That’s how we look at it: If we finish fourth we’re in.”

Summit Academy Bears at a glance

Coach: This is Scott Gorringe’s first season as a head coach in the high school ranks. He’s the president of the Alta Little League system and is a graduate of Brighton High.

Offense

(Multiple-formation offense)

For first-year programs, usually the problem isn’t acquiring reliability at the skill positions. The issues reside, especially in the 1A classification, with the buffet-busters.

“Where we’re going to win and lose games is if we can block up front,” Gorringe said. “I think we’ve got really good skill-position kids, but if we get manhandled up front — I don’t care how good you are. We’re going to get beat up. I think that’s the big unknown for us is how will we be in the trenches?”

The Bears are planning on implementing the “FedEx” mentality — delivering through the air and the ground.

“We don’t really have a set offense; we run plays based on what we see. If we had to spread you out, we’ll spread you out,” Gorringe said. “If we have to go under center and run a power-I — something of that nature — that’s what we’re going to do. We’re not going to be set in one offense. We’re going to take it on a case-by-case basis. I think we can do both.”

Sophomore quarterback Christian Miller is slated as the starter. As a pocket passer, he’s already shown wisdom beyond his years during 7-on-7 passing camps. Hagan Hines, also a sophomore, will see repetitions in the wildcat formation to keep defenses off-balanced.

Brodi Strong, a senior transfer from Bingham who was expected to see significant time with the Miners, highlights the offense. He’s a lightning-quick back that has the ability to stop on a dime and leave defenders in the dust.

Defense

(Base 4-4 defense)

The Bears aren’t holding anything back on defense with many blitz packages. It wouldn’t be outrageous to see at least one defender bring heat on any given down.

The weight is lurched on the linebackers' shoulders (Hines, Joe Denos, Dyland Bagley and Drew Barnes) in the 4-4 scheme. If the ‘backers fail to get to the quarterback, the secondary is left in many man-coverage scenarios just waiting to be served up as bait.

“We’re going to have to take some chances on defense,” Gorringe said. “We’re going to have to blitz you and maybe sometimes rely on our DBs to be on an island by themselves.”

Coaches’ 1A North straw poll: Fifth

Deseret News 1A North prediction: Fifth

Bottom line: It’d be foolish to think that Summit Academy won’t experience severe growing pains in its first year. The north division in 1A is clearly the more dominate portion of the classification, and those teams won’t allow much time for the Bears to find their footing. With every game away from a home field — their two "home games" are at Judge Memorial — the travel time will be a factor for nearly an entire team composed of underclassmen. The Bears, however, do have talent. It’s a matter of developing it, which will take a couple years to do.

2012 Schedule

Aug. 17 — at Milford, 7 p.m.

Aug. 24 — at Monument Valley, 7 p.m.

Aug. 31 — at Altamont, 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 — at Rich, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 — at Whitehorse, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 — at Monticello, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 — DUCHESNE (at Judge Memorial), 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 — at Layton Christian, 4 p.m.

Oct. 19 — DIAMOND RANCH (at Judge Memorial), 7 p.m.