Running Backs Who are Flying Under the Radar

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are at the halfway point of the high school football regular season, and these five players all popped on film.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Porter Cannon || RB || 6'1 || 185 || Layton High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cannon had 23 carries for over 101 yards and six catches for 39 yards in Layton's 31-14 loss to Pleasant Grove. The Vikings have been one of the top teams in the state, but Cannon did a great job breaking out of tackles and fighting for yards all game long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kelvin Malepeai || RB || 5'10 || 200 || West High School || 2024&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malepeai had 20 carries for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the Panthers impressive 53-27 win over Alta. West was able to control the time of passion because of Malepeai's elite vision and burst that proved too troublesome for the Hawks to handle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1309736' first='Vaughn' last='Gritzmacher'] || RB || 5'8 || 170 || Toole High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gritzmacher had an exceptional week five performance against Cottonwood. The Buffaloes back looked unstoppable as he had six carries for a whopping 114 and three touchdowns vs. the Colts. Gritzmacher broke out week in week five in a performance no one will soon forget.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zack Conway || RB || 5'10 || 200 || San Juan High School || 2024&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos blasted Judge Memorial 67-7, and a huge part of their success was Zach Conway's 15 carries, 209 yards, and three touchdowns. He moved the chains all game long and showed out for San Juan as he showed off his impressive speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='911029' first='Dyson' last='Parker'] || 5'9 || 163 || Weber High School || 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parker has been one of the state's most underrated players. He's made plays on both sides of the ball and has averaged 6.2 yards per carry in 2023. In week four, he had 10 carries for 142 yards and three touchdowns in a big performance and a sign of what's to come in the second half of the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DaeQwan Snider || RB || 5'10 || 175 || Roy High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Snider has been sensational for Roy all season. The elusive back has scored in the last four games and battled all game long last Friday vs. one of the state's top teams, the Box Elder Bees. In his two previous games, Snider had a 100-yard game and nearly a 200-yard game rushing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Nunu Fonua || RB || 5'8 || 148 || East High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Leopards had week five off, and Nunu Fonua earned some rest after burning the Alta defense rushing for 107 and a touchdown. He also shredded Coronado for 145 yards and two touchdowns as he continues to lead the East offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='983152' first='Easton' last='Bretzing'] || RB || 5'11 || 210 || Timpanogos High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bretzing is an electric playmaker who can line up all over the field and make plays. He stepped up in week four for the Timberwolves as he had 18 carries for 120 vs. and two touchdowns vs. Tooele. The shifty Bretzing is ready to make waves the rest of the regular season and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->