The Davis High football team is flying high following a defensive route of a strong Syracuse team securing the region 1 title through a perfect season in region play. The Darts are under the direction of third year head coach Scott Peery. Heading into the Utah High School Activity Association state playoffs which started earlier this month the region awards were announced last week naming coach Peery the coach of the year. This is following the Darts 9-1 season with the only loss coming in the first game of the season to defending 5A state champion Lehi.
The Darts are slated to rematch the Pioneers this Friday, a game highlighted by the success of both teams following the week 1 matchup. When asked how coach Peery has grown the team on and off the field all season getting the team to this all-important rematch in the state quarterfinals Viewmont High basketball coach and former assistant coach under Peery, Travis Frey stated that “Coach Peery expects all his players and coaches too “buy in””. With a team wide acronym TLCN (Trust Love Compete No-Excuses) being in the for front of all his athletes’ minds. Quarterback Treydon Bessinger expressed the importance of TLCN and the growth of his teammates and himself on the field but as well as off the field in many ways like how to treat others, making sure they are staying strong in their education, and making sure they truly were a brotherhood.
Current assistant coach Jeff Agnelo when asked about how Peery grows athletes, he said that “Peery works hard to gain a relationship with all of his athletes” with input from running back Owen Talbot stating that coach “wants all of his athletes to succeed on and off the field.” Early in the season, the darts had over 100 yards of penalties in a game and Peery implemented a discipline week requiring all players to be on time to their classes get grades up and stay in class. This is just one of the ways that Peery is looking up to his athletes.
So far, the darts have only lost the opener to the Lehi Pioneers as stated earlier. With a rematch upcoming the constant reaction when asked what is a moment that coach made the team genuinely believe that they could win was the Farmington game where the team was down at the half with the locker room speech of belief and trust that his athletes would go out and get the win. followed by half time the Darts went out and dominated winning on a risky 2-point conversion with 8 seconds remaining on the clock.
Following region awards the Darts look ahead to the next game which will be the biggest test of resiliency and growth throughout the season. Once again, a want to win uplifting coach whose main goal is to lead his athletes to victory coach Peery will be looking to add another win alongside his Coach of the Year title and push to gain a spot at Rice Eccles Stadium where this year’s Semi Final and Finals will be held.
