Region 9 football: Cedar Reds look to improve under new head coach

Written by Jeff Richards
August 14, 2024

CEDAR CITY — With new football head coach Tye Hiatt at the helm, the Cedar Reds are looking to increase their competitiveness in a typically tough Region 9.

A Cedar High receiver catches a pass during practice, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 12, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar opens its season on the road with a trip to Richfield on Friday to face the Wildcats, the reigning 3A state champions. In last year’s season opener, Richfield defeated the Reds 28-7 at Cedar City, setting the stage for an undefeated 13-0 season that culminated with a 27-21 comeback win over Manti in the 3A state title game.

Meanwhile, Cedar went on to post an overall record of 4-7 last year, including 2-4 in Region 9 play. The Reds’ season ended in the second round of the playoffs when they were shut out 56-0 by the Crimson Cliffs Mustangs, who went on to capture the 4A state title.

As previously reported, Hiatt was hired in January to replace former Cedar head coach Josh Bennett, who decided to step down after nine years as head coach and instead work with developing younger players. Hiatt came to Cedar High by way of Southern Utah University, having been the T-Birds’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under head coach DeLane Fitzgerald.

Cedar High quarterback Everett Kelling throws a pass during practice, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 12, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Returning as the Reds’ quarterback this year is junior Everett Kelling, who threw for more than 2,000 yards last season, including 14 TD passes.

Kelling said he and his teammates have been learning and adjusting to a new offense scheme this summer. 

“This year, we’re implementing more of your typical college-style offense, based on what Coach Hiatt has come from being a D1 offensive coordinator,” Kelling told Cedar City News after Monday’s practice.

“The good thing for me, is it puts a lot more on the quarterback, which I’m excited for,” Kelling added. “I think I can handle it, as well as our receivers. A lot more reading, which is going to make us even more dynamic than we were last year.”

Senior wide receiver Krew Giles said he’s looking forward to being a leader and mentor to the younger receivers on the team.

“All these young guys, I feel like, are excited to play,” he said. “It’s going to be more of a team effort.”

Senior defensive lineman Tate Hulse added that the players have been focusing on “physicality and explosiveness off the ball.”

Cedar High head football coach Tye Hiatt gives instructions to his players during practice, Cedar City, Utah, Aug. 12, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

“This year has been just honing our technique and making sure that we’re flawless,” he said. “We practice one kick 1,000 times instead of 1,000 kicks one time. Just making sure, when we get into regular season region play, that we’re perfect in everything we do.

Added fellow senior lineman Ian Po’uha, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound returning starter on both sides of the ball: “We’re out here training every day, trying to get better. We work on the basics, because you gotta start from somewhere and just keep improving from there.”

Returning starters Dhago Houchen and Noah Parker, both seniors, will join Po’uha on the Reds’ offensive line, along with juniors Jax Olmstead and Max Gines.

Other returning defensive starters include senior linebackers JT Orr and Traxton Mitchell and senior defensive backs Trace Oveson and Zach Reid.

Friday’s game at Richfield is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. The following week, on Aug. 23, Cedar will head to the northern end of the state to play the Bear River Bears in Tremonton. After that, the Reds will wrap up their preseason slate with a cross-town rivalry clash against Canyon View Falcons at Southern Utah University on Aug. 30.

Region 9 schedule starts the following week, on Sept. 6, when the Reds travel to Washington City to face Crimson Cliffs. Click here to see Cedar’s full schedule on MaxPreps.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons and one granddaughter. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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