2017 Sunrise Mountain Football Capsule

SUNRISE MOUNTAIN

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Chris Sawyers, fourth season (10-19)

2016 record: 3-7 (2-3 Sunset League, fourth)

Returning lettermen: 12

Returning starters: Eight offense, six defense

Base offensive set: Spread

Base defensive set: 3-4

Top offensive players: RB Trayvon Ward (Sr.); RB/WR X’avier Kyles (Jr.); WR Te’Andre Love (Sr.); QB Tyree Hayes (Jr.); OL Jose Lara (Jr.)

Top defensive players: LB Dalwin Spates (Sr.); CB Anthony Proby (Sr.); LB Logan Rollins (Sr.); DE Mardoqueo Lovo (Sr.)

Top newcomers: OG Christian Fuentes (So.); LB/DE Jeremiah Ford (So.); S/WR Anthony Anderson (So.)

Key losses: QB Stephen Wright; WR Daltyn Pytrysson; LB Dante Anderson; DL Ja’twion Farmer; DB Dante Calahan; OL/DL Christian Vargas

Outlook: After making the playoffs each of the last two seasons, the Miners will turn to a veteran group this season in hopes of winning a couple of games in the postseason.

Sunrise Mountain, which earned the Sunset League’s No. 4 seed last season, returns eight of 11 starters on offense, including running back Ward, who led the team with 526 yards rushing and eight touchdowns last year. Hayes, who was the team’s top wideout last season with 619 receiving yards and five touchdowns, will switch to quarterback and try to replace the do-it-all Wright (2,174 yards passing, 22 TDs).

Linebackers Spates and Rollins, meanwhile, will anchor the defense.

“The Miners look to not only make the playoffs for the third straight time, but to also advance and make a title run behind a core group of returning players on both sides of the ball,” Sawyers said.