Canyon View went winless in 2010 (0-9) but it was not a season without trying. Coach Alex Huxford is at the ultimate helm at Canyon View football, and definitely is persevering at the program that has not won a Region 9 game since 2005— a 14-6 win over cross-town Cedar. Huxford quickly admits that he is an educator first and that football or any athletic or extracurricular activity ‘is an extension of the educational program.’
To watch Develon's exclusive video interview with Coach Huxford click HERE.
The coach is not discouraged about the losing seasons, and he points out that the lessons learned, and hopefully learned at Canyon View are not marked by the win-loss column.
“We consider ourselves to be blue collar people here,” Huxford said. “We believe in doing hard work and believe in acting with integrity. We believe in having quality character and in remaining committed to what we start.
“I try to instill a hard working ethic in these kids. I understand that we are not the most talented team, but we are going to get after you and play hard.”
In the climate of the losing seasons, a certain young man on the Falcons’ team experiences personal success. Quarterback Kameron King is a Region 9 star on a variety of stages including the hardwood, and baseball diamond, but his football play is worth paying attention too as well.
“Kameron is just a really good athlete and he’s respected by his teammates because of his work ethic,” Huxford said.
“Off the field he’s kind of a shy kid, but on the field he is vocal enough to get the attention of his teammates. He is an excellent leader because of the example he gives. He is very coachable. As the head coach, I have a good relationship with him and that is very important to have with the quarterback.”
Though the sun is setting on King’s prep career, coach Huxford hopes that the younger Falcon’s players have observed the senior leader’s behavior during his prep days, and that they will replicate his behavior.
King’s demeanor is carbon-copy-like about his coach. He is not discouraged and just plows forward. He knows the big picture of his football experience at Canyon View has more elements than the numerals that show on the scoreboards, and he gives his coach some credit.
“He’s got a lot of rules you have to go by,” King said. “The team loves him. We know if we listen to him and take his lessons in, we will be okay in life. We trust our coach.”
King does not sugarcoat his description of the 2010 Falcon’s season, and he looks forward to 2011’s opportunity.
“Last season was pretty rough but we just have to keep working our butts off,” King said. “I think this senior group is capable of turning the direction of this program around.
“We’ve been working hard and it’s been fun.”
Helping King set a tone on the team are fellow seniors Nathaniel Hansen, running back Dakota Marshall, junior safety Dallin Dastrup and junior running back Stetson Deardon.
King believes the offense can have some success.
“Dakota Marshall is going to tear it up this year,” King said.
But Marshall will need his offensive line to be effective and that will start with Hansen who plays on the offensive line.
“Nathaniel is the strongest kid we have here,” Huxford said. “He is absolutely relentless on the football field. He is a very good student. He is very intelligent. He has a switch, and when he flips that switch, he just goes.
“We talk about finishing plays, playing through the whistle; he’s one of those guys [who] when a play is completely on the other side of the field, he’ll be driving someone into the ground or 15, 20 yards down the field.”
The defense will have to come together quickly.
“We’re going to be very young in the secondary,” Huxford said. “We graduated our safeties and our corners last year.
“We playing some kids there with a small amount experience. They’ve done really well in camp and they are smart.
“At linebacker, we’re kind of playing linebacker by committee. We actually lost most of our defense so our whole defense is pretty inexperienced. I say inexperienced as far as starting experience. Some of them played, they just weren’t starters. In reality, there’s some questions marks defensively.”
The coach said Hansen, Jesse Johnson and Todd Jolley will be some of the linebackers, and how they meet action in the middle of the field; the Falcon’s defense will go.
“Those guys will be integral to what happens and how good we are,” Huxford said.
The Falcons football team will jump off again from the edge of their nest and try to flap their wings the best they can. The odds of them ascending to the top of a tough Region 9 are highly against them, but even if Canyon View football stretches its wings out and experiences some glide, it would be a success.
Despite the team’s 2011 outcome, Huxford will try to instill in the kids to always keep jumping off that edge and experience a feel of what flight is.
2011 SCHEDULE:
August 19 host Juab 7 PM
August 26 at Richfield 7 PM
September 9 at Desert Hills 7 PM
September 16 host Snow Canyon 7 PM
September 23 at Ogden 7 PM
September 30 at Dixie 7 PM
October 7 at Pine View 7 PM
October 14 host Cedar 7 PM
October 20 host Hurricane 7 PM
2010 RESULTS: 0-9
L 6-10 to Richfield
L 13-42 to Emery
L 0-33 to Snow Canyon
L 14-17 to Boulder City (NV)
L 18-35 to Dixie
L 49-28 to Pine View
L 14-48 to Cedar
L 7-41 to Hurricane
L 7-24 to Desert Hills
-mail: develon.isom@kcsg.com
Twitter: DevelonIsom@KCSG
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