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BEAVER BEAVERS

The Hurry-up — Beaver finished 11-1 in 2015, and 5-0 in league play. The Beavers beat South Summit, 33-0, to win the Class 2A championship.

Coach Randy Hunter doesn't envision much changing for the defending state champs despite the fact that he takes over this season for previous 11-year head coach Steve Hutchings. "I worked with Coach Hutchings for eight years. I ran the defense for him during that duration and he and I have meshed my wing-T philosophies, which is a spread-option attack," Hunter said.

The Beavers outscored their opponents 92-13 in three state playoff games, and with much of the coaching staff returning, the continuity that has developed will again push Beaver to at least challenge for the 2A South crown.

Hunter is no stranger to the demands of his new position, following his time as head coach of both Canyon View and Enterprise, and a strong returning core bolsters the Beavers' hopes.

Quarterbacks — Kasen Roundy saw limited time as a freshman, throwing 12 passes in three games during which Beaver had already built an insurmountable lead. Yet Roundy faces stiff competition from Jordan Hardy, who is now attending Panguitch but will play for Beaver through UHSAA's co-op rule. Hardy ran for 1,471 yards and threw for 905 for Milford in 2015. "If we were to start the season today, they both would be getting some time," Hunter said.

Running backs — Dillon Smith is a big, strong back who leads a group that will feature numerous ball carriers, as evidenced by the 11 different players who ran the ball last year. Tyce Raddon, Colton Leos and Porter Hollingshead are likely to see the bulk of the work when Smith isn't getting the ball.

Receivers — Not necessarily a position of great importance to Beaver outside of blocking in the spread option, Trey Young is the only true wide receiver who had registered a catch for Beaver. Walter LeBaron filled in at tight end due to injury and could become a competent target. The Beavers will rely on their running backs to do the majority of the pass catching, however.

Offensive linemen — Nathan Fairhurst and Austin Carter are returning starters, and Hector Carballo saw a good amount of time filling in. Beaver was stellar up front a season ago, with line paving the way for 2,945 rushing yards.

Defensive linemen — Beaver uses a split-6 defensively, with former linebackers coach Dallin Clove taking over as defensive coordinator. Tyler Griffiths demonstrated his pass-rush ability with two sacks as a sophomore to earn all-state honorable mention, and while the Beavers have multiple experienced players at defensive tackle, they're still somewhat unproven there.

Linebackers — This is a position of great strength for Beaver, where two-way players like Smith, Raddon, Leos and McCoy Bergstrom are difference makers in that they have to make crucial reads for the defense to function properly. Depth isn't an issue either, with Kolby Oakden ready to step up in the reps he gets.

Defensive backs — The Beavers have to replace their entire defensive backfield from 2015, with Hollingshead starting at one corner spot and Young at the other. Roundy takes over at the safety spot, which is depended upon to cover a lot of ground in the middle of the field.

Key Players

Dillon Smith, RB/LB — A first-team all-state selection as a junior, Smith will be counted on to contribute heavily after 1,159 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.

Colton Leos, RB/LB — Leos made the most of his opportunities as a junior, averaging 8.6 yards per carry on 31 rushes. He'll get an increased workload and will be pivotal to the Beavers' defense.

McCoy Bergstrom, RB/LB — Beaver's top returning tackler next to Smith, Bergstrom will help lead a defense that is relentlessly tough against the run.

Key Losses

Matthew Roberts, QB — Roberts was a workhorse, accounting for 2,740 yards and 30 touchdowns while racking up 51 tackles and nine interceptions on defense.

Brennan Hutchings, RB/WR — The Beavers' top pass-catcher and third-leading rusher, Hutchings displayed his versatility by scoring rushing and passing touchdowns in addition to his seven catches for scores.

Keaton Fails, OL/LB/K — Fails led Beaver with 68 tackles, and registered four sacks and an interception.

Name To Know: Tyce Raddon's 54 tackles, two sacks and one interception helped him earn all-state honorable mention as a sophomore, despite playing the entire season with a fractured pelvis. If healthy, it's a solid bet that he'll be one of the best players in the league.

2016 Schedule

Aug. 19 — CANYON VIEW, 7 p.m. (Lost, 44-28, in 2015)

Aug. 26 — at Kanab, 7 p.m. (Won, 14-13)

Sept. 1 — at Millard, 7 p.m. (Won, 38-14)

Sept. 9 — NORTH SUMMIT, 7 p.m. (Won, 21-17)

Sept. 16 — SAN JUAN, 7 p.m. (Won, 41-19)

Sept. 23 — at South Sevier, 7 p.m. (Won, 47-6)

Sept. 30 — NORTH SEVIER, 7 p.m. (Won, 48-0)

Oct. 7 — at Grand County, 7 p.m. (Won, 51-0)

Oct. 13 — ENTERPRISE, 7 p.m. (Won, 35-13)

Verdict: Even though the Beavers lost key contributors from their state championship run, a solid junior class buoys their chances to repeat as the top dogs in 2A South. The questions at quarterback and on defense are yet to be answered, though.

Projected finish in region:  Second