Mountain View started last season 4-3 after entering the season with high expectations. Losses to Owyhee, Boise and Eagle had the Mavericks searching for answers down the stretch, but they won their next three games, reaching the state quarterfinals against Meridian.
They fell a blocked extra point short of tying the game and sending it to overtime. With some uncertainty at the quarterback spot throughout the year, Mountain View did everything they could to muster up another winning season.
But where it was a bit of a question mark last year, the quarterback spot is now brimming with promise. Henry Nelson started six games for Mountain View last season, throwing for more than 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns. With Justin McGee gone, the starter going into last year, the position is his to own.
“You can’t put a price tag on those reps,” head coach Brian Compton said. “He got a lot of game reps as a sophomore and grew and improved as the season went along. Now he’s a veteran as a junior, which is rare in our league. We’re excited about that. He has stepped up in the weight room and classroom. He’s stepped up as far as his leadership abilities. We feel like he has a real bright future with us for the next two years.”
Not only was McGee a quarterback, he played running back and wide receiver and was a first-team all-conference FLEX player. With him and first-team wide receiver Grayson Flatten gone, new playmakers are needed on offense.
But the Mavericks feel they have them in second-team all-conference players Valentine Gomez-Ricks and Tyler Weaver. Gomez-Ricks saw the field as a freshman, including a 150-plus-yard rushing performance in the playoffs. Last season, he led the team in rushing. Returning as a junior, he profiles as one of the top backs in the conference.
Weaver impressed as well, but Mountain View will be without his services for the first part of the season as he recovers from an injury.
The Mavericks have a big enough program to lean on other guys breaking through with the varsity team. Compton highlighted wide receiver Brody Munson and tight ends Cooper Patterson and Kelby Rice as options in the passing game.
Aiden VandeWater at left tackle and Owen Erickson at left guard fortify the left side of the offensive line.
Cornerback Cashton Gennette is the lone starter returning on that side of the ball, but the Mavericks will once again have to wait to see him on the field as he also recovers from an injury. Mountain View has defensive players returning who saw the field last season, including linemen Bill Mutua and Alex Freeman, linebacker Mason Garcia and defensive back Beau Stewart.
It’s also worth noting kicker Martin Connington is gone, who presented the Mavericks’ offense an opportunity to put points on the board as soon as they crossed midfield.
So as the defense ushers in a mostly new unit, the offense will have to do some heavy lifting in the early part of the season — which presents another challenge.
“We feel good about our defense too because they’ve worked really hard and they are talented, but they’re going to get tested early,” Compton said. “We play some dang good teams. I would say it’s the toughest schedule in school history.”
Mountain View opens the season against Woods Cross, a playoff team from Utah last season, at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello. Then they play at Meridian, vs. Rocky Mountain, vs. Kuna and at Eagle. Meridian, Rocky Mountain and Eagle are all expected to contend for the league title.
The Mavericks will know quickly where they stand against some of the top teams in the state.
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