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Bluffdale • Not a lot of coaches or football teams can say they built a program from scratch.
But the staff and athletes who make up Summit Academy's surprising 9-1 team that meets San Juan on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the Class 2A semifinals at Weber State can say that they have.
Literally.
Coach Scott Gorringe, his assistants and players such as quarterback Hagan Hines, tailback Steven Harp, linebacker Jake Kartchner, linebacker Ireland Forbes and tight end Wyatt Gorringe not only started the charter school's football program three years ago, they helped build the stadium and press box.
Scott Gorringe, coaching his first high school team after spending 17 years in the Alta Ute Conference youth football program, also serves as athletic director and teaches finance and geography at the college preparatory charter school.
When the school bought the bleachers for its football field, Gorringe, his staff and many of the players worked two hours almost every night for three months to put them together. IMS Masonry donated the press box but the coaches and players finished the inside of it.
The coach mows the lawn, fertilizes it and prepares the field for home games.
"I cringe every time we play how bad the field will get beat up," said Gorringe.
The players, who bussed 3,800 miles three years ago when the school played a 1A schedule that included games at Monument Valley, Whitehorse and Monticello, also take pride in what they have accomplished.
"We built this from scratch," said Hines, a 225-pound quarterback who often runs out of the shotgun. "We built our bleachers and the stadium. We bought our own equipment with our own money. We are the foundation of Summit Academy."
Harp, whose father is one of the assistant coaches, called helping build the stadium an interesting experience and said that not a lot of football players can say they accomplished something like that.
"It makes our home games all that much better," said Forbes. "You are defending something that you have built. It adds a lot more personality to the sport."
Scott Gorringe said that his team of urban athletes have enjoyed the experience of small town Friday night lights football, something that the bigger schools never get to experience.
For example, this season, the Bears' bus was held up in Coalville for about 20 minutes while the town finished the homecoming parade for North Summit High School.
"I think that is a big part of high school football," said the coach. "It's going to small towns and being part of this. We've played Millard in Fillmore and at Kamas and Coalville. It's fun to go in there and see the small towns. You don't get a taste of high school football like you do in these small towns. We see what a big part of life football is in these small towns."
The Bears made quite a turnaround from a year ago, when they finished the season 1-9. While they will be tested Friday by tradition-laden and unbeaten San Juan, their only loss this year was to defending 2A champion South Summit.
Gorringe credits several things to going from 1-9 to 9-1. He said the coaches changed their philosophy about handling practices and film review. The players, who stayed close in every game last year except for South Summit, matured. The staff learned about the rigors of preparation in high school coaching.
Still, he's not surprised his team made such a big jump this year.
"We expected to be a good team," he said, adding that "we thought we could compete and be capable of winning."
Hines credits the team's improvement with offseason work in the weight room and crisper practices. He said the Bears played with a bit of a chip on their shoulder.
"At first it was rough," Harp said about the beginning of the new program. "We didn't have film to scout. It was difficult the first couple of years. We had a new offense and defense to run. We had a lot of juniors last year who worked hard and had some new guys that were keys to our team."
Of Utah's charter schools, Gorringe said only Summit Academy and American Leadership Academy field football teams. He said in the case of Summit Academy, the founders wanted a well-rounded school with athletics playing a big part of it. The school has become competitive in all sports.
Having helped develop Alta into a football power through youth football, Gorringe said a big disadvantage is that there is no youth program feeding Summit Academy.
"This is a school of choice," he said. "Kids choose to come to this school."
Of course, that also means Summit Academy can bring in players from many different schools. Gorringe stresses that, according to Utah High School Activities Association rules, active recruiting is forbidden.
For now, after a 9-1 year, the challenge for Summit Academy will be to play traditional power San Juan. But, after building a team and a stadium, the Bears hope they are up to that challenge.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Prep football schedule
All games Friday, except where noted
Class 5A
• Brighton at Hunter, 4 p.m.
• Herriman at Bingham, 4 p.m.
• Jordan at American Fork, 4 p.m.
• Riverton at Fremont, 4 p.m.
Class 4A
• Salem Hills at Roy, 2:30 p.m.
• Skyline at Woods Cross, 3 p.m.
• Sky View at Timpview, 5 p.m.
• Springville at Corner Canyon, 5 p.m.
Class 3AA
• Bear River at Desert Hills, 5 p.m.
• Dixie at Stansbury, 5 p.m.
• Cedar City at Pine View, 7 p.m.
• Hurricane at Juan Diego, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
At Weber State
• Judge vs. Manti, 4 p.m.
• Union vs. Juab, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Class 2A
At Weber State
• South Summit vs. South Sevier, 11 a.m.
• Summit Academy vs. San Juan, 1:30 p.m.
Class 1A
At Weber State
• Monticello vs. Rich, Saturday, 11 a.m.
• Diamond Ranch vs. Kanab, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.