Last season, the Woods Cross football team engineered one of the best turnarounds in the state. What’s next in 2023?

Under new coach Brody Benson, the 2021 team struggled to an 0-5 mark in Region 5 and lost all 10 of its games that season. But Benson helped the Wildcats improve significantly, leading the team to a 6-5 mark in 2022, including a 4-1 showing in Region 5. That region record was good enough for second place. If this year’s team improves as much as last year’s did, there’s no telling what Woods Cross might accomplish. 

But it won’t be easy. 

The Wildcats face some challenges in region play, including the addition of two new opponents, Clearfield and Roy, who have moved down from the Class 6A ranks. 

Woods Cross allowed just 16 points per game in region action while 25 points a contest. Quarterback Bradley Bailey is gone, but returner Lock Smoot is back for his senior season. Smooth actually saw more action during last season’s campaign than Bailey. He threw for 793 yards and six touchdowns on the year. He also carried the ball a lot – tallying 108 attempts for 571 yards and a touchdown. 

Jacob Howes is back for his senior season. He was the team’s leading rusher a year ago 625 yards on 79 carries. He averaged nearly eight yards a carry and tallied eight touchdowns. He also was second on the team with 15 catches and third with 258 yards. Fullback Cash Henderson paced the team with nine rushing touchdowns and was third behind Howes and Smoot in rushing yards with 543. Add to the unit Kelvan Malepeai, and the Wildcats have a potent backfield. Malepeai, a senior, had 84 carries for 455 yards and four TDs in 2022. He also had 10 catches for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Senior fullback Cash Sudbury chipped in 177 yards a year ago in Woods Cross’ run-heavy offense. Senior wide receiver Ryan Moss grabbed 10 passes for 123 last season. 

Henderson is also a stalwart on defense at middle linebacker. Look for him to possibly better his 94 tackles and four sacks from 2022. Outside linebacker Charlie Coats, a senior, was all over the field last season, picking up 89 tackles and four sacks. Senior strong safety Carter Freestone will give teams fits after having picked off four passes and recorded 55 tackles last season. Senior defensive linemen Alvin Puefua and Clarence Pututau have gotten plenty of attention and should once again make big plays. They had 58 and 51 tackles and two and five sacks, respectively, last year. Cornerback Dalton Schanz had 47 stops as a junior in 2022. 

Woods Cross begins its third season under Benson’s leadership on Aug. 11 when it plays at West Jordan. The same two teams opened the 2022 campaign, with West Jordan winning 31-21. Woods Cross then hosts Kearns Aug. 18 in the home opener. The Region 5 slate begins for the Wildcats Sept. 1 at Bonneville.