Hurricane Tigers excited to get onto football field, hope to improve with big strides this year

Written by E. George Goold
August 9, 2022

HURRICANE — Things are going to be a little bit different this season for the Hurricane High School football team – starting with their practice field.

Hurricane High School football players go through drills during fall camp, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 8, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

The Tigers held workouts Monday night in the unusual surroundings of Hurricane Intermediate way out by the airport on 700 South. The team held its fall camp there while the final touches are being added to the new football field currently under construction at Hurricane High School.

“We’re in the process of getting a new field,” Tigers coach Cory Ashby told St. George News after practice. “Hopefully we’re within a week or so of getting our field back.”

Ashby said that while there are some things they can’t control, like having no lights to practice under and having to deal with crazy monsoon weather at some practices, there are advantages to the situation.

“We get what work we can get done. It makes you able to be more mobile as the season goes on, and it allows you to spread out,” Ashby said. “We can get more things done in practice and practice at a fast tempo.”

Ashby played for Hurricane and is a graduate of Southern Utah.

“In my five or so years in the program, this is the hardest work I’ve seen them do,” Ashby said. 

New offensive coordinator Carl Franke will have an experienced group of returning Tigers to help install his offense.

Hurricane High School football players go through drills during fall camp, Hurricane, Utah, Aug. 8, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Seniors RJ Wright, Adrix Clegg, Carter Ashby and Mahonri Tonumaipea were elected captains by their teammates.

“It’s nice when your younger players and other seniors and juniors recognize how much work those guys have put in,” Ashby said. “We started back in January as soon as we could. Those four have been a driving factor in getting our team to work.

“That’s the only thing we know how to do out here, is outwork our problems,” he added.

Hurricane struggled in a 2-9 campaign last season and did not win a game in Region 10 play.

But with a new field to play on, an experienced group of returning players and a solid senior class, Hurricane faces the upcoming season with optimism.

“We’ve been working hard and I’m just excited for them to show it,” Ashby said. “We want to prove that we can be better and we’re excited to show everyone we can do it.”

Nothing comes easy in 4A football as Hurricane opens the season against Region 11 opponent Mountain Crest.

Originally scheduled for Friday night in Hurricane, Ashby said it’s likely that the new field will not be completed in time and the Tigers will host the home game against the Mustangs at Desert Hills High School.

St. George News will update the Hurricane-Mountain Crest game time and location as soon as it is confirmed.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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