Some of the athletes on the Emery High School (EHS) football team, along with Coach Jon Faimalo, joined five other teams for media day. The interviews were put on by Centracom and Midwest Utah Radio, held at the Ramada in Richfield, Utah. Robert Lovell was conducting the team interviews throughout media day.
Joining Coach Faimalo was all seniors: Deacon Mangum (WR, OLB), Josh Howard (C, NG), Quayde Oveson (WR, CB) and Treven Gilbert (QB). Coach Faimalo was asked about his expectations this season with his team being one of the top teams in 2A.
“I’m glad you say we’re at kind of the top, that’s what we try to do, set expectations high for these kids and our program and build it the best way we can. That’s the expectations we have is to continue to compete and try to be at that top level and give ourselves a chance,” the coach stated.
Lovell then said, “Obviously you lost a great quarterback in Wade Stilson, who had a great career for you. What do you want to see out of Treven as he steps into that position this year?” Coach Faimalo answered, “Um, that’s the thing, Wade was an incredible athlete, Treven is a great athlete, but Treven has got to be him. He’s a great athlete, has a great mind, and not try to be anyone else, just be himself.”
Moving on to asking the players some questions, Lovell started by asking what they are most looking forward to in the upcoming weeks. Mangum replied, “I’m just ready to get back out there, play the game I love.” Howard said, “I’m really excited to be on the field again, it’s a feeling you can’t really recreate anywhere else.”
Lovell then asked, what is their favorite part of football. Oveson responded, “My favorite part is just being on the field, warm-ups, the atmosphere, just the feeling of being out there.” Gilbert followed, “I agree with Quayde, just being out there with all my guys and just having fun.”
Coach was then asked, “What do you want to see out of your offense this season, are there any changes or just pretty much going to do what you’ve already done?” Faimalo answered, “I think we’ve had success with what we’ve done, so we’ll probably keep it the same, the biggest thing for us if being efficient, taking care of the ball, trying not to make mistakes and let things take care of themselves that way.”
Lovell than asked Gilbert, “What are the expectations you have for yourself this season and what are you seeing out of the offense so far?” He responded, “I’m going to go out there and do my best, I know my guys will do their best too, just take care of each other.” Lovell then asked Howard, “Offense and Defense starts in the trenches, what are you seeing out of yourself and that unit right now on the offensive line?” Howard responded, “I’m seeing nothing but positive right now, we have a couple young guys that are stepping up big time, we have three seniors coming back, we’re just excited to be there and the feeling of playing together is really motivating our line.”
He followed asking coach how the line is looking, “I’m pleased with where they’re at, we’re bringing back three starters back from last year’s team, there’s a lot of expectations on those guys. I think they know that and they’ve had a bad taste in their mouth the last few years, unless you’re raising that trophy, it never ends the way you wanted it to. These kids want to continue to compete and make a name for themselves.”
He asked the Wide Receivers what they are seeing out of the offense. Mangum replied, “I think we’re producing well, we have a lot of new starters coming up at the receiver and running back positions. We’ve been playing together for as long as I can remember, so we all have that chemistry and can produce.” Oveson then said, “The chemistry is there, we’ve been cleaning a lot of stuff up, getting our routes, catching the football.”
Coach was asked about the defense and if there are any changes scheme-wise. Faimalo replied, “We’ve been an even front forever, we are going to change a little bit to an odd front. Personnel wise, that’s what we think we are better with on the back ends with Linebackers, Safeties and that. It’ll be a little bit of a change, I think the kids are buying into it, it looks good so far.”
Lovell than asked the expectations of the defense. Mangum stated, “a lot of turnovers, a lot of three and outs, hopefully just shut down the offense while we can.” Howard than replied, “pure violence on the field, domination.”
He asked the coach what kind of mentality or personality do you want your team to have. “I just want these kids mentally tough, I think that can take them so much further in football and in life, just battling through tough times, they’re going to have that the rest of their lives. Just a mentally tough team, no matter what the score is or what it shows, they’re going to continue to compete and do what they need to.”
Lovell then asked what the secondary is looking like for the team. Oveson responded, “I say we’re a lot faster back, there than last year. We have some more speed, so hopefully we don’t get burned deep.”
“Coach, as you look at your schedule this year, how do you feel it shapes up and what do you want to see out of your guys early in the season?” Lovell asked. Coach responded, “We are going to play some really good teams, but for us I think we look at it, it’s week to week, and we just have to continue to get better. I’m just looking at week one right now, North Sanpete, try to see where we’re at, where we need to be and continue to do what we need to, to get better.”
Lovell asked if there is any game that is circled that the team is excited to play. Oveson said, “Week two, Union, first home game of the year.”
Gilbert said, “Probably the first one, it will be my first start, so we will see how that goes.” Mangum responded, “just that first game, I just want to back on that field as soon as possible.” Howard stated, “I’m looking forward to enterprise, we didn’t show them the message we wanted to show them last year.”
Lovell finished up the interviews by asking who they like to line up and play against from other schools. Mangum said, “Jake Ivins from San Juan, we have kind of a past, talking smack on seven-on-sevens. Just getting to know him on that level and I love competing against him.” Howard replied, “I’m looking forward to the Nose Guard on Enterprise, he’s a fun kid to go against, always brings the heat.” Oveson said, “Anthony Wilson from Carbon.”
The athletes ended the questions by answering something about them that most people don’t know. Howard said, “I recently bought an AK 47.” Oveson responded, “I shave my legs.” Gilbert responded, “I’m a big Pirates of the Caribbean guy.” Mangum said, “I’m going to let my nerd out, I’m a big Harry Potter fan.” Coach Faimalo answered, “I’m an open book, but I can play piano, I play a mean hymn.”
The Spartans will begin with the Black and Gold game on Friday, followed by Week 1 against the North Sanpete Hawks on August 16, in North Sanpete.