Brighton: 2008 In Review

By Bruce Smith
MatchupUT.com

When it comes to Brighton High School football, the part that holds the program together the most is tradition.

While there is only one state championship (1982), the Bengals are usually competitive. In fact, as recently as
2005, Brighton finished with an 11-2 record among Utah’s largest schools. The year before, the Bengals
were 12-1.

This year’s 2-9 record was disappointing, by comparison. Brighton lost its first five games and was shut out
twice. Victories over Hillcrest and Taylorsville allowed the Bengals to earn the No. 4 seed from Region 2, but it
also placed them on the road against heavy favorite Pleasant Grove in the first round of the playoffs. The
result was not surprising.

Coach Ryan Bullett relished the post-season for the experience it provided to his players. He feels these are
tough times for the Bengals, but getting through them is a must because there appears to be a lot of potential
returning next year.

“We got better as the year went on, especially on the offensive line,” said Bullett. “Every team we played in the
preseason made the playoffs.”

Brighton’s wins were both on the road. The Bengals beat Taylorsville 41-0 as Dallin Jackman ran for 111
yards and four touchdowns, and then used a big defensive play by Ricky Heimuli to down Hillcrest 31-14.

The Bengals were only blown out once – 45-0 to Alta. They were competitive with everyone else. Still, there
seemed to be a definite difference between the Bengals and 5-A’s elite teams.

“We had just two kids on the offensive line that were over 200 pounds. We got pushed around a lot. The
difference was stuff you didn’t see on the field. It was off-the-field stuff,” Bullett said.

The main factors? The Bengals had less players turn out for the team than usual, and the team’s work ethic
in the weight room was disappointing.

“The last three years have been the weakest we’ve had – by far,” Bullett said. “That’s something we are
addressing. It’s about dedication (by the players).

“We often produce 2-3 kids on the all-state team each year,” he added. “This year, we had nothing close.”

Injuries also played a role, although not as much as 2007. The Bengals lost linebacker Chris Finau and
sophomore quarterback Derek Newell for much of the season. Finau was one of Brighton’s hardest hitters,
and Newell electrified the offense with his speed.

Brighton placed Jace Felix at quarterback and the athletic junior played admirably. However, it gave them one
less playmaker at receiver. With the defense getting “pushed around,” too, opponents kept the ball longer and
Brighton had less offensive opportunities.

Bullett said Felix and Chip Kiser would probably have to be considered the Bengals’ top players in 2008. Felix
threw for 554 yards and two scores, and rushed for 250 yards (almost 4 yards per carry). Kiser made a
difference on the line.

So, what’s on the horizon?

The Bengals feel Heimuli could become an all-state pick next year. Heimuli, Alex Whittingham and A.J. Allen
were among the team’s leading tacklers in 2008 and only Allen won’t be back. On offense, Felix will likely
return to his more familiar wide receiver position and replace Tyler Zealit there as a speedy playmaker.

Zealit returned one kickoff for a touchdown in 2008, and was a threat any time he touched the ball.

Newell should return from his injury, but there is no guarantee he will be the team’s signal-caller. He could
be in a battle with sophomore-to-be Tyler Loomis, who earned playing time as a freshman and threw two
touchdown passes.

The Brighton sophomore football team finished the season unbeaten. With a lot of work in the weight room,
the offensive and defensive lines could reach their potential and bring back the school’s winning tradition.

Will that be enough?

The team will actually need to improve dramatically. Its biggest rival – Alta – has whipped the Bengals three
straight years and will likely be good again in 2009. In addition, Brighton will have to adjust to new region
opponents. If 2008 was in any indication, it won’t be easy because it will include Alta, American Fork, Lone
Peak, Pleasant Grove, Hillcrest and Jordan.

Based on 2008’s results, Brighton would have finished second-to-last with those schools.

“We have to get better,” Bullett said. “We have to get through to these kids about what is required. Nobody
wants to go through this again.”

For Brighton football statistics, click here
                BRIGHTON FOOTBALL - 2008
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