Brighton football: 2012 season recap

The Brighton (Utah) High School Bengals finished the 2012 season with an 8-5 record. Here is the article that will appear in the team's 2012 football yearbook.

Making history

 
Hot start gives Bengals momentum, but it was
the way they finished that will be remembered

 By Bruce Smith

Matchup
 
            In Brighton High School football lore, it will just be remembered as “the play.” There may be others in Brighton history, but now there’s certainly another.
            Fourth down and 12 yards to go. The clock was winding down with just over a minute remaining. The Bengals were playing West Jordan in a play-in game on a comfortable Monday afternoon at Hillcrest High’s field and trailed 7-6. The winner would go to the playoffs, the loser went home.
            The Bengals had a good season going. They would eventually finish with an 8-5 record. They started the season winning their first five games, including an impressive 21-14 comeback victory over Davis in the opener.
            “We had a very successful year. Best since 2005,” said coach Ryan Bullett. “Winning at Davis … I had been trying to do that for a long time and we talked about it a lot. But if we hadn’t beaten West Jordan, I don’t know how important it would still be.”
            On that memorable play, freshman quarterback Drew Jensen couldn’t rely on his best runners – Uaea and Osa Masina. The Bengals’ backs averaged almost six yards per carry during the season running behind a talented line.
            On this play, Jensen’s only option was to hurl a deep “Hail Mary” pass.
            “We were dead in the water, but a lot of kids kept believing that something would happen,” Bullett recalled. “The play was 89-Jet and he had to catch it.”
            Alec McArdle leaped between two defenders to catch it about the 10-yard line. He took two steps toward the goal line, but suddenly dropped the ball and it scooted into the end zone. As fans from both sides of the field screamed as loud as they could, McArdle caught up to the ball and dove on it with about a foot to spare.
            It was McArdle’s second reception of the season and his only touchdown.
            “I didn’t know what to think when I caught that ball; I just ran,” McArdle said. “Then I dropped it and thought, ‘Oh crap, I have to get it, no matter what.’ When he (the nearby official) signaled touchdown, it was just happiness. We’re going to state.”
            It was the fourth time in the last five years Brighton had been forced to play an extra game to make the postseason, and the first time the Bengals won. Despite injury problems to the Masina brothers, Brighton was in every game. The season finally ended in the first round of the 5A playoffs when the Bengals lost 24-17 to defending champion Lone Peak.
            “We had a tough schedule, and our region was really tough,” said Bullett. “In the first five games, we were plus-10 (in turnovers) and had a lot of momentum. Overall, the kids really battled.”
            Offensive lineman Jackson Barton, a 6-foot-8, 270-pound junior, was named first team all-state. Osa Masina made second team in one newspaper and Uaea was in the other. The two brothers played both ways and combined for almost 1,300 rushing yards. Uaea also had two kickoff returns for touchdowns and received a scholarship from the University of Utah.
            The strength of the team was clearly the line – on both sides of the ball. Led by Barton (who also accepted an offer from Utah), Josh Menna, Ethan Finlinson, Lowell Groberg, Tyson Aldridge, Aaron Sleight, J.J. Mahe and others, they had a great size advantage. In most games, Brighton’s running game controlled the clock and kept the pressure off Jensen, who rarely – if ever – hurt the team, despite his youth.
            “He had a good season,” Bullett said. “He did everything we asked him to.”
            Isaiah Kaufusi, Chandler Gee and Tyson Reid were capable receivers. On defense, Kekoa Kane easily led the team in tackles. Kaufusi was also a force. He and McArdle topped the team in interceptions.
            The Bengals didn’t win state. They didn’t win region and, in fact, barely made the playoffs. But they did it, and in a memorable fashion.

Brighton football: Uaea Masina profile

In mid-January, I interviewed Uaea Masina, Brighton's talented RB/LB, who played a big role on the Bengals' football team. Here is the article that will appear in the Brighton 2012 football yearbook.

Uaea Masina:

 

Injuries forced him and the Bengals

to adjust their game to find success

 

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

 

            If it hadn’t been for injuries, Uaea Masina might have been one of the most prolific players in Brighton football history.

            Growing up, he played football, soccer and basketball and was always among the best players. Now, at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he focused solely on football. The University of Utah recognized this and offered him a scholarship after his junior year.

            Playing behind Brighton’s talented line, everything was set for a great senior season.

            “It was a fun year, but there were some letdowns,” he said. “Getting hurt and losing some games we shouldn’t have lost.”

            It started with a rush. He had 129 yards in the opener at Davis, including a 28-yard touchdown run that was the deciding score. After the season, he said it was his favorite game, but for another reason.

            “I got to play with my brother (Osa),” he admitted. “I don’t know how many times we ran that quarterback draw where he would take the ball and just ran free. I was blocking for him on those plays.”

            For the season, Uaea rushed for 622 yards. He averaged just over six yards per carry and his blocks probably accounted for a lot more. A knee injury in Brighton’s win at Sky View the third week of the season, however, ended up being a big deal. He reinjured it against Jordan six weeks later.

            In all, he played maybe half of the Bengals’ games. However, it was the confidence he gave others that was missed the most.

            “When Uaea was on, everybody else raised their game,” said coach Ryan Bullett.

            Like most players, Uaea often relived the injury as he stood on the sidelines.

            “I was playing defense. It was right after half,” he recalled. “A guy came across and tripped against my knee and just took it out. I couldn’t even practice. I had to go visit a physical therapist.”

            Brighton adjusted by giving more playing time to Osa. Just a sophomore, Osa had showed potential in the Bengals’ earlier games and he ended up leading the team in rushing. When Uaea returned, their combined experience made the Bengals even better.

            “We knew what each other was thinking,” Uaea said. “We could just look at each other and know. We had great chemistry.”

            When the Masina brothers were both in the game, Brighton had one of the best 1-2 running tandems in the state. When Uaea returned against Alta, Osa had become such a force that Uaea could focus his talents more elsewhere. Even though he was still hobbled at Alta, he gave the Bengals a big momentum boost by returning a kickoff for a touchdown.

            Two weeks later, Uaea made the play of the game on defense, wrestling the ball from a West Jordan ball carrier in the fourth quarter that helped seal a 20-14 victory.

            “I tried to do as much as I could,” Uaea said. “I didn’t want to miss (playing) Alta. The Thursday before the game, I was finally able to run. I tried to get back in shape and get my lungs back, but that was about it.”

            In retrospect, Brighton had become two teams – one with both Masina brothers and one without.

            “When Uaea was out, we realized we couldn’t rely on him,” said Bullett. “But we built a lot of team chemistry. Even when we weren’t winning all of our games, we still believed in ourselves.”

            Part of that was because Brighton felt it could run the ball on anybody. The Bengals often controlled time of possession, giving their defense some rest and relieving the pressure on freshman quarterback Drew Jensen. For the season, the Bengals averaged 5.8 yards per carry and Uaea and Osa combined for 1,328 yards and 15 touchdowns.

            It also gave them valuable memories, even if they weren’t able to reach their potential.

            “I was just getting a feel for the game,” Uaea said. “But I’m going to U. to play some more. I can’t wait.”

Brighton football: Ethan Finlinson profile

In mid-January, I interviewed Ethan Finlinson, a lineman for the Brighton (Utah) High School football team. He was in a good mood and his laugh is catching. He had a good season, and even a shoulder injury didn't dampen his spirits. Here is the article that will appear in the Brighton 2012 football yearbook.

Ethan Finlinson:

 
Late injury put a damper on his season,
but Bengals’ success kept his spirits up

 By Bruce Smith

Matchup

                Ethan Finlinson was introduced to football rather late – in the eighth grade. And, in retrospect, it was his senior year at Brighton High School that – by far – had the biggest impact.

            Finlinson was part of Brighton’s dominating line. At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, however, he was considered the lightweight.
            “I brought down our average (size),” he said, laughing. “But we all worked together and had fun. That’s what was important. We had fun the whole year.”
            It started in the summer. Playing in local 7-on-7 tournaments, Finlinson said it was pretty obvious that the Bengals would be pretty good in 2012. He ended up playing both ways. He broke his shoulder, however, in Brighton’s game at Jordan and spent the rest of the time on the bench.
            Watching the remaining games was difficult, but it didn’t dampen his spirit.
            “My favorite memory was beating Davis on their home turf,” he said. “The last couple of seconds, taking a knee and letting the clock run down. We celebrated on the bus, going crazy. It was our best game and Davis was always a tough game for us.”
            All during summer workouts, Finlinson said the Bengals had been looking forward to playing Davis. The 21-14 victory allowed the team to start to live up to its preseason hype.
            “We wanted to trash them. Every day in the weight room during the off season we would break in with a ‘Beat Davis’ cheer, and then we did it.”
            Finlinson was a big part. Although his statistics didn’t show it, he was part of the offensive line that helped the running game average over 200 yards per contest – and 5.8 yards per carry. The defense also had its share of good games, especially early in the year when the Bengals won their first five games.
            Davis was the first victim. Then came Fremont, Sky View, American Fork and Pleasant Grove. Finlinson said his best game was at American Fork. However, his best individual memory was at home vs. West Jordan, when he teamed with Lowell Groberg to sack the Jaguars’ quarterback.
            “It was early in the game and it was just one of those key shots,” he said. “I blindsided him right in the back. I was going for a kill shot.”
            It also ended up being one of his last memories because he was hurt the following week. He still went to practice, and dressed in full uniform for the games, but was unable to play. He still remained involved, and will never forget the team’s best memory – Alec McArdle’s “Hail Mary” catch in the play-in game against West Jordan.
            “I saw the whole thing,” Finlinson said. “I couldn’t stand not to watch it. When he dropped it (the ball), I almost crapped myself. I saw him dive on it and I saw the refs signal touchdown. It was crazy after that. I was yelling so loud. I was so happy.”
            The Bengals’ season was a big change from previous years. He made a lot of friends playing football. In 2011, he got a lot of playing time on Brighton’s junior varsity team, and was used sparingly on varsity.
            “I remember some of the players … how they played. It was inspiring to be like them,” he said. “We only had 15 or so kids on our JV team, so I had to play both ways.”
            Finlinson is the second oldest of four kids. After high school, he planned to go on an LDS Church mission and then attend the University of Utah. He hadn’t decided on a major, but his favorite high-school classes were science, math and commercial art.  

Brighton football: J.J. Mahe profile

In mid-January, I interviewed J.J. Mahe, who was a talented lineman for the Brighton football team. Here is the article that will appear in the Brighton 2012 football yearbook.

J.J. Mahe:

 His physical play on the defensive line

forced teams to make him their focus

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

             Wearing uniform No. 53, J.J. Mahe had a big impact on the Brighton football team.

            The offensive line got most of the preseason hype but, in practice, they had to go up against Mahe. In games, it was the defense that frequently kept the Bengals alive. It started in the season opener against Davis, when the Darts were held scoreless in the second half on their home field.
            The following week, Brighton blanked Fremont 27-0 and, afterward, at least one Bengal coach exclaimed, “now that’s Brighton football.”
            Tough, tenacious, physical. Twenty one players weighed in at 200 pounds or more. Mahe was one of the heaviest – at 310 – and the most athletic. He said coaches often noted that he had quick feet, and that he never gave up on plays, which set him apart from other players.
            “It was a great year. We did so much. Probably one of the best years we’ve had here since 2005,” said Mahe. “I’ll never forget those times.
            “The best part was the excitement we felt even before the season started. It was the biggest line we had in a long time. All of our line were returning starters. We knew it would be a better year. I don’t think other teams knew. We were unexpected.”
            Mahe finished with 32 tackles – ranking fifth on the team – but those statistics didn’t show how his true value. His quickness often forced opponents to adjust their plans. He frequently disrupted plays, even if he didn’t get in on the tackle.
            In Brighton’s first five games, the Bengals allowed just 11.6 points per game.
            Mahe said there were two turning points for the Bengals.
            * - The first came at halftime of the Davis game, when Brighton rallied for a 21-14 win.
            “After that game, we knew it was going to be a long, fun year,” Mahe said.
            * - The second came two months later. Brighton had lost to Cottonwood 20-0 in a play-in game and faced West Jordan for the final playoff spot at Hillcrest High’s field. Some of the players were dejected, but it was the beginning of what would be a momentous day.
            “The coaches started tell us great (inspirational) stories and all of the seniors starting cheering up and got excited,” he said.
            The contest’s deciding play came with about a minute left when Alec McArdle made a leaping catch of a “Hail Mary” pass and scored the go-ahead touchdown. Mahe was on the sideline when it happened, but will always remember the scene.
            “I saw Alec jump up and catch it,” he said. “Then he dropped it. I just fell on my knees and said, ‘Thank God’ when he got it (the ball) back.”
            Mahe’s career at Brighton started his freshmen year. He lived in the East High boundaries, but followed his father, Sione, who was an assistant coach with the Bengals. J.J. is the oldest of five children, but so far it seems his siblings will all be Leopards.
            Besides football, Mahe played on Brighton’s rugby team, which made it to the state championship game two consecutive seasons. He suffered a dislocated shoulder his junior year, which forced him to miss rugby in 2012 and play in pain during most of his senior football season.
            Mahe said he had surgery shortly after the football season and had high hopes that his play would eventually result in a college football scholarship.
            He planned to go on an LDS Church mission shortly after graduation.

Bingham band: Spencer Lepley profile

In early January, I interviewed Spencer Lepley, the drum major for the Bingham High School (Utah) Marching Band. He was a class act and turned a potentially negative situation during the season into a positive one - and record success for the team ensued. Here is the article that will appear in the Bingham Marching Band's 2012 yearbook.

Spencer Lepley:

 His huge efforts advanced his character

and gave him high hopes for his future

 By Bruce Smith

Matchup
 
            Spencer Lepley had a whirlwind senior year at Bingham High School.
            It probably started the previous April when, at the Bingham band’s end-of-the-year banquet, he was named to be the Marching Band’s Drum Major.
            That meant long days of practice, often arriving 45 minutes before and staying 45 minutes after most everyone else. He also had to know the music better than anyone and was involved in instructing others to keep the proper tempo.
            “I thought it would be more fun,” he said. “It was definitely more challenging. Probably the most challenging of anything I’ve ever done.”
            That’s saying a lot because one of the prerequisites to hold the band’s most-highlighted position is that smiling is not allowed, even while accepting a trophy following a performance.
            Lepley also did it all while carrying the burden of trying to be accepted into the Merchant Marine Academy. His schedule also included volunteer work at the Veterans Administration Hospital and he had off-campus studies to earn a pilot’s license.
            And, oh yes, he had his Bingham High classes.
            But of all those activities, he wouldn’t trade his band experience for anything.
            “It was a lot of hard work and, overall, the season was a success. We only came up in the 5A class a couple of years ago and we got third in state. We just kept progressing. We were all thrilled at how it ended, especially the seniors because it was their last year. It felt great to accomplish something.”
            There was some drama along the way. Midway through the season, he and his good friend Anders Evensen, the Senior Drum Major, switched positions on the field. Lepley, however, admitted the move actually helped the band and the way he handled the move impressed a lot of people.
            “Spencer knew his job solid. The night we moved him, he was not feeling well,” said band director Darin Graber. “I told him to go take a break and we made a change.
            “Spencer was still in charge. It was his band,” Graber added. “He accepted it and they both did a great job when we needed them.”
            “Anders had a better tempo than I did,” Lepley explained. “The music is the biggest part of our score and we really noticed it during practice run throughs. It wasn’t the greatest thing to happen to me, but it didn’t kill me. I still had the same amount of responsibility. It just meant I wasn’t on the biggest ladder.”
            Perhaps more importantly, he became a bigger person.
            Lepley is the oldest of three children. He joined the marching band in ninth grade, with experience playing the bari sax. He and Evensen were selected to be junior Drum Majors last year. His sister, McKenzie, is also part of the band.
            After the marching band season ended, he was part of the pep band and jazz band. He also continued his volunteer efforts.
            “I help transport patients,” he said. “Some of them are in gurneys or beds. Initially, I got involved because it looked good on college applications, but I really have a lot of fun. Some of those guys are veterans and they’ll tell me stories about Vietnam and Korea (wars).”
            At press time, Lepley said he still had a lot of work to do to reach his goal of attending the Merchant Marine Academy in Long Island, N.Y. He still must write an essay and pass a physical fitness test that included running, throwing a basketball (for distance) while on his knees, pushups, chin-ups and more. After that, he hopes to go into flight school.
            And all that he has learned as the Bingham Marching Band’s top man should help.

Bingham band: Anders Evensen profile

In early January, I interviewed Anders Evensen, who was the senior drum major for the Bingham High School (Utah) marching band. Here is the article about him that will appear in the Bingham 2012 band yearbook.

Anders Evensen:

 
His ability to keep Bingham in tempo
boosted the band closer to the top

By Bruce Smith

Matchup

            Anders Evensen had a knack – or a rare ability – that was discovered early in the Bingham Marching Band’s 2012 season.

            After years of playing the clarinet, Evensen thought the drum major “looked pretty cool” and, late in his sophomore year, decided to pursue that spot. Fortunately, for the first time, Bingham decided it needed two drum majors in his class, and he and Spencer Lepley were selected.
            “We went to three because of the size of the band, and they all did well,” said band director Darin Graber.
            Evensen became the senior drum major this year, but Graber said “he knew his stuff and did a great job when we needed him. He was there and prepared.”
            “The best part was learning that the band director trusts you a lot,” said Evensen. “It was really a great leadership experience for me. You don’t get something like that often … to be in charge of 130 people.
            “I got to know a bunch of people and they got to know me,” he added. “I didn’t miss playing an instrument because I was playing in the symphony orchestra and the wind symphony. I wouldn’t trade it.”
            During practice and Bingham’s performances, Evensen had a reserved seat on a ladder overlooking the field. His job was to memorize the music, develop the tempo for the show and get everyone into a rhythm. He also had to always be composed, regardless of how he felt.
            “It’s hard to fit into words,” he said. “You have to show discipline and be an example. It’s just what we do.”
            Evensen is the second youngest of five children. Both of his parents encouraged their children to get involved in music. Evensen chose the clarinet because his older sister played it. Besides music, Evensen is also involved in Bingham’s Academic Decathlon team and plays recreational league soccer.
            He said his best memory of the marching band season was how Bingham finished in the Bands of America competition. He also had recalled some of the small, but fun moments, the team had getting there.
            * - “In my junior year, somehow my ladder was broken. I had to stand on it very carefully and it was the scariest show of my life.”
            * - “There also one practice where we had sent off all the (band) equipment practice off with the trailer and we didn’t have any equipment. It was a weird practice.”
            Evensen said that, after graduation, he planned to play in Salt Lake Community band in various parades during the summer and then attend college.

Bingham band: Rachel Colton profile

In early January, I interviewed Rachel Colton, who served as mellophone section leader and was the actual president of the Bingham High School (Utah) marching band. She is a talented young woman that also had to deal with a rare setback. Here is the article that will appear in the Bingham 2012 band yearbook.

Rachel Colton:

One of team’s most talented players

led Bingham’s surge to raise the bar

By Bruce Smith

Matchup
 
            In so many ways, Rachel Colton stood out in the Bingham Marching Band.
            Her red hair is just one. In her case, though, that trait is low on the list.
            Colton was the mellophone section leader, but she was also the band president.  Her creativity is off the charts. She is on the school honor roll and is already an accomplished artist. As a senior, she also had to deal with an unusual curse.
            An allergy to the sun. That’s right. That big orange ball in the sky.
            “If I got more than a couple of hours in the sun, my ankles would swell,” she said. “It was painful, but I got to sit in the shade a lot and watch from a different point of view.”
            Last spring, her condition caused her to swell shut for a couple of days. Colton, however, had a positive, even confident, outlook. She dealt with the brief disfigurement well, and survived having to explain her rare diagnosis.
            “It made marching a lot harder,” she said. “Other than that, it wasn’t a big deal.”
            Her attributes were quickly noticed by band director Darin Graber and last year’s council, which voted her into the band’s top position.
            “She had already been in leadership,” Graber said. “She played the mellophone, which is difficult. You have to live with its imperfections and they (the mellophone group) knew their parts cold.
            “She was on our ‘disabled list’ and had to deal with kids dropping (out),” he added. “To finish as strong as we did, that speaks volumes for this ensemble. They were solid.”
            Colton’s musical career started young. She is the oldest of four children. Both of her parents played in their high school band. Colton began playing the piano at age 5 or 6 and then developed a strong interest in the drums. In middle school, that instrument wasn’t offered so she chose the French horn. Now, she teaches piano lessons, but also has experience with the flute, cello, clarinet, trumpet and even the guitar.
            “I have a lot of interests,” she said. “(In the future), I can always change to different careers.”
            Colton played in the marching band for three years. She said she noticed a “drastic change” in the band’s attitude this year and loved the fact that the group “raised the bar.” Her primary highlight of marching band was like everyone else’s – finishing in third place at the Bands of America competition and walking past many of the other teams and having them stand and cheer.
            She also had fond memories of the meals. Before each competition, the band’s booster club would provide a meal to the group. Last year, she said there was a food fight with a heavy dose of grapes.
            “This year, we were always cautious about grapes,” she said. “I’ll never look at grapes the same way.”
            Colton also had another impressive highlight, but it didn’t involve band. She has always had a strong interest – and talent – in art and had some of her work published in a Bingham High literary magazine called “Ambience.”
            “They had a contest and I won,” she recalled. “I did the cover and each of the beginning of each chapter. That was cool to be published.”
            Colton said she will turn 19 years old next October and planned to immediately serve an LDS Church mission. Upon returning, she hoped to attend Utah State University and major in either music or art.