The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The revamped Region 5 will have eight teams and various offenses for the 2023 season. Newcomers, Roy Royals, and Clearfield Falcons are moving from 6A to 5A and will look to challenge for the region championship. The Bountiful Redhawks and Box Elder Bees have stadium renovations in progress and will face tough challenges with road games this season. Here is the rankings for the wide receiver and tight end groups for the region.

1. Roy Royals

The Royals enter the second season of head coach Chris Solomona and offensive coordinator Connor McGuire working together. The Royals boast returning experience at every level, and wide receiver and tight end will be a team strength. The five top pass catchers return from a team that went 7-4 last year and return two experienced quarterbacks, juniors Dru Gardner and Colby Frokjer.

Wide receiver Cole West, tight end Cove Rodriguez, and all-purpose back Robert Young ended the season with 23 catches each for the Royals. West plays on both sides of the ball and has been on the varsity team since his freshman year. West could be in for a breakout year. His size, speed, and experience will be tough for opponents to match.

Rodriguez will benefit from defenses keying on the speed of West and Young. Rodriguez is a key target and will surprise with his athletic ability to make tough catches over defenders. Young had a breakout sophomore season rushing and receiving for the Royals. The multi-talented Young rushed for 341 yards and five touchdowns while leading the team with 470 receiving yards. Young also led the Royals with 11 total touchdowns and received 2022 Deseret News 6A all-state honorable mention honors.

The Royal’s depth at receiver will see them bring in physical Jake Viers, speedy Kahekili Eleneke, and veteran Corben Schuffenhauer to help move the ball. Other players to watch for the Royals will be sophomore Isaiah Morris and senior Joseph Cariaga III. Morris had an impressive summer and displayed speed and ability to run good routes and make tough catches. Cariaga is athletic and will find the field to help the Royal’s offense put up points.

2. Northridge Knights

The Knights return three of their top four receivers from last season and their quarterback, senior Porter Olsen. The star of the receiving unit will be senior tight end Zach Smith. Smith led the team with 58 catches, 682 yards, and five touchdowns. As a two-time All-Region performer, Smith will be heavily relied upon.

Malu Lumpkins returns after bringing in 43 receptions for 561 yards, and five touchdowns as a sophomore. Lumpkins is a physical receiver, tough to bring down after the catch, and an excellent blocker.

Jaxon Fresques joins the group after splitting time on defense last season and hauling in 28 catches for 432 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore. Fresques is fast, running an 11.17 100m. He is also fearless, and able to get behind defenders for big plays.

With the return of quarterback Porter Olsen, the Knights could have the top receiving corps in the region and the entire 5A classification. One key to their success is for this talented group to provide the spark and big plays to improve from last season’s 2-8 record.

3. Bonneville Lakers

Laker’s junior wide receiver Issac Mansaray returns after leading the team with 29 catches and 438 yards last season. Mansaray is a sure-handed receiver that has the knack for making big plays. Senior Maximus Diaz and junior Hunter Davis return to give the Lakers a dynamic trio of veteran pass catchers.

Diaz is quick and athletic; Davis is tall and a physical receiver for the Lakers. All three receivers understand the scrambling ability of athletic senior quarterback Jaxon Johnson. Knowing where to find open spaces in the defense when Johnson scrambles gives this group a chance to make big plays and be on top in the region.

Diaz and Davis combined for 42 receptions and six touchdowns for the Lakers in 2022. Senior tight end Kyler Welch will be one to watch and be a big target for the Lakers. With returning senior quarterback Jaxon Johnson, these receivers should be primed for having a great year.

4. Bountiful Redhawks

The defending Region 5 champions will have the electric playmaker Faletau Satuala returning to be a leader on the offense. Satuala is a highly recruited athlete and plays both ways for the Redhawks. As a Deseret News 2022 5A All-state selection at defensive back last season, Satuala contributed with 26 catches, 326 yards, and three touchdowns on offense. He is a standout athlete that the Redhawks will have playing in all three phases this season.

Satuala is a three-star and number three ranked recruit by the 247 sports recruiting rankings in Utah and holds numerous college offers from schools throughout the country. The University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and UCLA are regional schools that are interested in Satuala.

Junior quarterback Emerson Geilman will have Satuala and senior Jacob Brooks as primary targets for the Bountiful passing game. Brooks racked up 111 receiving yards last season and is ready to be essential in keeping the offense moving this season.

5. Viewmont Vikings

The Viking’s top returning receiver is junior Kingston Mickens. Mickens caught 16 passes for 267 yards, and three touchdowns last season. Playing more on the defensive end in 2022 Mickens will be asked to be a go to guy for the offense after the Vikings lose their top two wideouts.

Head coach Dru Jones loves having multi-sport athletes, and a talented group of receivers will emerge for the Vikings this season. Junior wide receiver Carson Baird is one to watch to be a difference-maker for the Vikings. Other receivers to watch this season for the Vikings will be juniors Drez Jenson, Cache Tuia, and Jordan Jones.

6. Box Elder Bees

The Bees knows who they are and the offense that will give them the best opportunity to win football games, and that is a run first offense. The offense will feed off the run and set up big play possibilities with the pass. The Bees lose the top two pass catchers from last year in speedy receiver Braylon Majors, and Cole Mortensen. Look for senior Mason Jeppsen to be a main target.

Jeppsen made the Standard-Examiner All-Area Third team last season after having 374 receiving yards and doing most of his work on defense with over 100 tackles.

With senior quarterback Ryan Griffin returning, look for the Bees passing game to move up this list quickly. Others to watch for are seniors Cameron Davis and AJ Bushnell. The Bees will look to get speedy Damon Rodriguez involved in the passing game and use his quickness to get chunk yards.

Head coach Robby Gunter enters his 15th year at Box Elder, and having an experienced quarterback bodes well for his wing-t offense that uses the run to set up the passing game.

7. Clearfield Falcons

A newcomer to Region 5 will be the Clearfield Falcons. The Falcons will be looking to turnaround a winless 2022 season and established themselves as a contender in their new region. Head coach Carl Harry will look to offensive coordinator Cal Williams to bring to life an offense that averaged 8.1 points per game last year. The Falcons will have junior Jordan Tovey at quarterback this season after throwing three touchdowns in 2022.

Returning senior receiver Trace Hansen will be counted on to be the Falcon’s go-to guy and to make game-changing plays. Tight-end senior CJ Brakey is a big target and will make catches to keep drives alive. Senior Cody Clark will add depth and looking to be part of an improved offense.

Senior Beau Miller will make noise this season and is ready for a role that brings the Falcons into the mix to win games this season. Cade Barton is quick, tough, and one to watch for in the slot receiver position.

8. Woods Cross Wildcats

The Wildcats are in a similar position as the Bees in that they return a starting quarterback and are a run-first football team. Senior Lock Smoot returns to lead a Wildcat team that finished second in Region 5 last season. Smoot will look to seniors Jacob Howes, Isaac Johnson and Ryan Moss to make big plays in the passing game.

Howes, Johnson, and Moss combined for 32 receptions and five touchdowns in 2022. The Wildcats may not have the most passing statistics, but they will make their share of big plays in the passing game. From a winless 2021 season to six wins and a winning record in 2022, head coach Brody Benson has the right formula working at Woods Cross.

Photo courtesy of James Tate of Roy Royals senior Cole West