6A 1st Team Defense Through 3 Weeks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are three weeks through the 2023 high school football season is in the books. So, we wanted to highlight some of the top players on the defensive side of the ball in the 6A classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Line: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='681346' first='Ephraim' last='Asiata'] || DL || 6'2 || 220 || Herriman High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875588' first='Waki' last='Fulilangi'] || DL || 6'1 || 265 || American Fork High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1294704' first='Penisimani' last='Takitaki'] || DL || 6'3 || 205 || Lehi High School || 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406974' first='Ian' last='Mariner'] || DL || 6'1 || 2950 || Skyridge High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='905088' first='Bott' last='Mulitalo'] || DL || 6'4 || 255 || Lone Peak High School || 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='698237' first='Deshawn' last='Toilolo'] || DL || 6'1 || 230 || Skyridge High Shcool || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Asiata is among the state's best pass rushers and leaders in sacks. Fulilangi is a run-stuffing and pressure-applying force for the Cavemen's defense. Takitaki has already had two games with more than one sack and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. The Falcon's defense is lucky to have Mariner making plays on the interior of their defensive line. Mulitalo burst onto the scene with a three-sack performance against Bingham and has looked lights out in every game since. Toiolo is one of the state's top pass rushers, and he has also picked off two passes to help the Falcon's defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linebackers: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nash Bailey || LB || 6'2 || 180 || Fremont High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='698544' first='Paul' last='Latu'] || LB || 6'0 || 210 || Lehi High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marriner Richards || LB || 5'11 || 210 || Syracuse High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='705533' first='Tyler' last='Payne'] || LB || 6'2 || 210 || Weber High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1095054' first='Preston' last='Haney'] || LB || 5'10 || 175 || Syracuse High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='698236' first='Taylor' last='Higham'] || LB || 6'0 || 205 || Mountain Ridge High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='681738' first='Triston' last='Hoggan'] || LB || 6'2 || 205 || Copper Hills High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trevyn Gates || LB || 5'10 || 185 || Pleasant Grove High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bailey has over 12 tackles in each game and leads all 6A players in tackles. Latu is one of the only players in the state with over 30 tackles through three games. Richards had one of the best games a linebacker has played this season against Herriman and has been outstanding all season. Payne had over 15 tackles against Pleasant Grove and has shined each time he's taken the field in 2023. Haney has been everyone for Syracuse's defense and had 11 tackles in back-to-back games to begin the season. Higham is a force for the Sentinles because he applies pressure and brings down ball careers at a high level. Hoggan has been living in opposing team's backfield and is a tackling machine. Gates has been a vicious force for the Viking's defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Backs:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406963' first='Davis' last='Andrews'] || DB || 6'2 || 195 || American Fork High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keller Face || DB || 5'10 || 185 || Syracuse High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='698403' first='Charger' last='Doty'] || DB || 6'0 || 195 || Bingham High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kash Gates || DB || 6'0 || 190 || Davis High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dawson Jepson || DB || 5'11 || 165 || Mountain Ridge High School || 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='698547' first='Brock' last='White'] || DB || 5'10 || 160 || Corner Canyon High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrews has been amazing once again for American Fork, preventing plenty of big plays for the Caveman. Facer is among the state leaders in interceptions and does a great job making plays on the ball in the air. Doty is a dynamic defensive back who is exceptional in coverage and coming down in run support. Gates has gashed offenses with two interceptions in two games and does a good job reading quarterbacks eyes. Jepson has been sticky in coverage and does a great job breaking up passes on the outside. White has been elite for the Chargers on the outside and is rarely targeted by opposing quarterbacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kickers: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='532698' first='Brody' last='Laga'] || K || 5'11 || 155 || Mountain Ridge High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rhett Thomson || K || 5'8 || 155 || Syracuse High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All three of Laga's field goals have come from over 40 yards, and he's even made one from over 50 yards out. Laga has scored 23 points for Mountain Ridge, and Thomson has scored 22 for the Titans. Thomson has also been money from the outside, drilling four field goals and helping the Titans start 3-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returners</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenny Banza || ATH || 5'10 || 190 || Copper Hills High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Owen Barton || ATH || 6'1 || 180 || Riverton High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Banza had an 85-yard kickoff return touchdown to open the game against Cyprus and has been big in the rerun game for the Grizzlies all year. Barton also took one to the house in week three when he returned a kickoff 98 yards to the end zone, showing off his elite speed in the process.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->