Young Riverton football team improves as the season progresses

The 2011 football season started off with lots of enthusiasm even though Riverton began the season with only four returning starters from its 2010 team. The team’s first game Aug. 19, was a convincing 40-28 victory over the Hillcrest Huskies. But even with an opening game victory, the coaching staff knew that its young players would need to learn and grow before this season came to an end.

“As a young team, we kept working hard and got better as the year progressed,” coach Mike Miller said.

Preseason play continued for the Silverwolves Aug. 27at Rice Eccles Stadium versus the Herriman Mustangs. BJ Newman ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns, but the Mustangs stunned Riverton in overtime 29-28.

That loss seemed to adversely affect the team which continued with losses to Syracuse and Alta. A bounce back win against Kearns Sept. 15, helped the team regain its confidence heading into region play.

“We did very well in a competitive region,” said Miller.

During region play, the Silverwolves had wins over Lehi, Peasant Grove and American Fork, while losing to Bingham and eventual state champion Lone Peak. A record of 3-2 was good enough to finish in third place in the very tough Region 4.

Riverton’s best game came against American Fork Oct. 19, the team’s final regular season game. Sophomore Brady Slack kicked a 31-yard field goal with seven minutes remaining and the Silverwolves defense held on to preserve the win, 22-21.

Riverton faced the West Panthers in the first round of the 5A state playoffs Oct. 28, the seventh straight year the Silverwolves have qualified for state. The Panthers won 21-10, ending the Silverwolves’ season.

Region coaches voted five players from the team as the best at their positions. The all-region team includes running back Joey Jensen, linebacker Albert Tai, quarterback Preston Young, defensive lineman Will Cutler and offensive lineman Curtis Nokes. Jensen led the team in rushing with 1300 yards and 15 touchdowns. The leading passer was Young; he completed 64 passes for 331 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tai was the team’s leading tackler with 109 and had four sacks. The team is scheduled to hold its annual awards banquet Monday, Dec. 5.

“Our senior players are a great group of men and a fine group to coach. If we can do good things this off season, I expect us to be quite a bit better (next year). It will just depend on how hard the kids work in the summer,” Miller said.

Voted second team all-region are Stratton Brown, Ethan Cutler, BJ Newman and Taylor Stirland. Honorable mentions include Tupou Tua’one Aagard, Dallin Munger, Payton Christensen, Brayden Workman, Ben Parker, Kyle Burnett, Brady Holt, Ulopiseni Kininini, and Jared Barton. The team also had academic all-region representatives Payton Christensen, Garrett Ellis, Andrew Hunt, Ben Parker, Preston Young and Ashley Tingey (manager).