Sunday, August 31, 2014

ST. GEORGE, Utah – With most of his defense back, Dixie State coach Scott Brumfield feels his team may to ready to make a run this fall at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference football title.

“We’ve gotten better and better every year (since moving up from the JC ranks in 2006),” Brumfield told the Salt Lake Tribune earlier this summer. 

“We return most everyone on the defensive side.  This is our biggest senior class and it helps the program with leadership.  They show the younger guys how to practice.  It’s nice to have that experience back.”

Among the returning defenders are six of last year’s top nine tacklers including defensive back Zac Christian, who had 45 tackles and four interceptions to earn second team GNAC all-conference honors.

Christian (5-11, 190, Sr., Plain City, UT – Fremont/Snow)  is one of two returning GNAC all-stars along with nose tackle Saula Taufa (6-4, 320, Jr., Manti, UT – Snow), who had 18 tackles.

Also back on defense are linebackers Robert Metz (6-4, 210, Jr., Tucson, AZ – Canyon Del Oro) and Garland Munns (5-11, 220, Sr., Garland, UT – Bear River/Snow), ends Jake Miller (6-2, 240, Sr., Tremonton, UT – Bear River/Snow) and K.J. Boyer (6-3, 255, Sr., St. George, UT – Pine View/Southern Utah)  and defensive backs Daniel Moffett (6-2, 215, Sr., Kaysville, UT – Davis) and Justin Ence (5-11, 190, Sr., St. George, UT – Pine View).  Moffett will play linebacker this season.

Metz, who handled the punting duties last year averaging 35.8 yards, is Dixie’s top returning tackler with 58 including four for losses, while Munns had 39 stops.

Miller had 45 tackles, including nine for losses of 35 yards to rank second on the second in that category.  Boyer had 24 stops, five for losses.

Moffett was credited with 53 tackles to rank fourth on the team.  He also led the Red Storm in interceptions with four.

Bolstering the defense are lineman Benson Laumatia (DL, 6-2, 250, Jr., Seattle, WA – Mountain View), who previously played at Snow College, and  Drake Miller (LB, 6-1, 220, Fr., South Jordan, UT – Bingham), who redshirted last year at the University of Hawaii.

Only four players who started four or more games on offense are back including running back Myles Burton (5-9, 195, Jr., Berkeley, CA - Rodriguez), who rushed for 459 yards and two touchdowns and guard Nyles Amelita (6-4, 300, Sr., Tustin, CA – Foothill).

Two returning wide receivers – Jamal Smith (6-2, 190, Sr., Oxnard, CA – U. of Utah) and Conor Sklarsky (5-11, 185, Jr., Norco, CA – Notre Dame) each made four starts.    Sklarsky had seven receptions and Smith had one last year.

The top returning receivers are running back Joel Davis (5-9, 185, Sr., Natchez, MS – Copiah-Lincoln), who had 17 catches for 177 yards and wide receiver Antonio Morton (6-1, 200, Sr., Seattle, WA – Ballard), who had 17 for 140 yards.  Davis also rushed for 362 yards.

Two transfers had impressive reception numbers at the JC level. 

Aubrey Reed (WR, 6-1, 195, Jr., Tacoma, WA – Woodland Hills/College of the Redwood) had 53 receptions for 851 yards and eight touchdowns two years ago at the College of the Redwood.

Nate Stephens (WR, 5-9, 160, Jr., Redding, CA - Shasta College) had 47 catches for 1,032 yards last year at Shasta, including a pair of 200-yard games (223 and 220).

Throwing the ball will be Santa Ana JC transfer Hayden Gavett (5-9, 185, So., Corona, CA – Centennial).  Gavett, whose parents named him after mythical football coach Hayden Fox of the TV series “Coach”, threw for 1,451 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 420 yards and three TDS, in his freshman season at Santa Ana.

Also among the key newcomers for the Red Storm are three offensive linemen - Zach Taves (6-5, 290, Jr., Long Beach, CA – Millikan/Cerritos); John Singleton (6-2, 275, Jr., Stockton, CA – Chavez/San Joaquin Delta) and Terrence Johnson (6-3, 280, Jr., Los Angeles, CA - LA Southwest/Waldorf).

Taves redshirted one year at the University of Montana before playing two seasons at Cerritos.  Singleton played two seasons at San Joaquin Delta and Johnson played his JC ball at LA Southwest JC.

Dixie State opens its season Saturday at Colorado Mesa before playing a non-conference game Sept. 13 at Central Washington.

DIXIE STATE Red Storm (GNAC Projected Finish: #6)

Head Coach:  Scott Brumfield, Brigham Young (10-33, 4 years
Assistants:  Judd Thompson, offensive coordinator; Derek Campbell, defensive coordinator; Will Liebert, offensive line; Robert Grant, special teams; Jake Duncan, linebackers; Joe Tonga, asst. offensive line & running backs; Richard May, defensive backs; Skyler Ence, wide receivers; Jim Eggleston, tight ends.
2013 Record: 4-7   Conference: 4-6, 4th
Returning Letter Winners: Off – 8  Def – 18 Kickers – 0 Lost - 5
Returning Starters: Off – 4  Def – 10  Kickers  - 0
Basic Offense: Pro Set
Basic Defense: Pro 4-3
Stadium (Capacity): Hansen Stadium (5,500)

TOP RETURNEES: Rushing – Myles Burton (RB, 5-9, 195, Jr., 99-459, 2 TDs); Joel Davis (RB, 5-9, 185, Sr., 82-362, 2 TDs).  Passing – Brody Garr (5-11, 185, Jr., 15-24-0, 158, 2 TDs).  Receiving –Joel Davis (RB, 17-177, 3 TDs); Antonio Morton (WR, 6-1, 200, Sr., 17-140, 1 TD).  Kick Scoring – None.  Defense – Robert Metz (DB, 6-4, 210, Jr., 41-17-58, TFL 4-10); Daniel Moffett (DB, 6-2, 215, Sr., 32-21-53, Interc. 4-56); Zac Christian (DB, 6-1, 185, Sr., 32-13-45, Interc. 4-6); Jake Miller (DL, 6-2, 240, Sr., 27-18-45, TFL 9-35); Garland Munns (LB, 5-11, 220, Sr., 22-17-39); Justin Ence (DB, 5-11, 190, Sr., 25-11-36).  All-Stars – Zac Christian (DB, 2^nd team GNAC); Saula Taufa (DL, 6-4, 320, Jr., 2nd team GNAC). 

KEY LOSSES: Griff Robles (QB, 1st team GNAC, 233-420-10, 3063, 28 TDs); Mitch Frei (WR, 1st team GNAC, 63-982, 10 TDs); Joe Don Duncan (TE, AFCA All-American, 71-1045, 13 TDs); Jake Duncan (LB, 1st team GNAC, 106 tackles, TFL 11 ½-45)

KEY TRANSFERS: Aubrey Reed (WR, 6-1, 195, Jr., Tacoma, WA – Woodland Hills/College of the Redwood); Nate Stephens (WR, 5-9, 160, Jr., Redding, CA - Shasta College); Zach Taves (OL, 6-5, 290, Jr., Long Beach, CA – Millikan/Cerritos); Benson Laumatia (DL, 6-2, 250, Jr., Seattle, WA – Mountain View/Snow); Drake Miller (LB, 6-1, 220, Fr., South Jordan, UT – Bingham/U. of Hawaii);  John Singleton (OL, 6-2, 275, Jr., Stockton, CA – Chavez/San Joaquin Delta); Terrence Johnson (OL, 6-3, 280, Jr., Los Angeles, CA - LA Southwest/Waldorf).