News package following the Desert Hills High School football team and their foundation for the most successful season in school history.
On a cold moonlit November night, the Desert Hills High School football team is hard at work preparing for this week's state playoff game at Stansbury High School in Tooele County. The practice looks and sounds just like any other, but take a closer look at the players practice jerseys emblazoned with "family" on the back you'll understand what it means to be playing football on this team.
Head Coach Jake Nelson attributes the special bond this group of young men share to their history of playing the game of football since they were little.
“It's their camaraderie, it's how much they care about one another...we're big on the family around here and we talk a lot about it. These guys have been playing together since they were real young, all the way through little league and up. They're the first team to come through as freshmen and all the way through our program now, and they really do love and care about each other and they play the game for nothing else...”
Senior linebacker Peter Brown says the family atmosphere is due in large part to Coach Nelson and his staff.
“Coach Nelson started it ever since the school opened up; Thunder family and we really mean that, we love each other, everybody on this team and we're just brothers.”
After posting a 7-3 overall record, and finishing Region 9 play in 2nd place with a 4-2 record, the Thunder hosted and won their first home state playoff game in the school's young history. This occurred to the loud support of the student body and the true family members of each player.
Head Coach Jake Nelson attributes the special bond this group of young men share to their history of playing the game of football since they were little.
“It's their camaraderie, it's how much they care about one another...we're big on the family around here and we talk a lot about it. These guys have been playing together since they were real young, all the way through little league and up. They're the first team to come through as freshmen and all the way through our program now, and they really do love and care about each other and they play the game for nothing else...”
Senior linebacker Peter Brown says the family atmosphere is due in large part to Coach Nelson and his staff.
“Coach Nelson started it ever since the school opened up; Thunder family and we really mean that, we love each other, everybody on this team and we're just brothers.”
After posting a 7-3 overall record, and finishing Region 9 play in 2nd place with a 4-2 record, the Thunder hosted and won their first home state playoff game in the school's young history. This occurred to the loud support of the student body and the true family members of each player.
It's the attitude from the players, parents, students and teachers of Desert Hills High School that not only help make the football field a place of success, but a home away from home; and no matter what happens at the end of the season-- win or lose-- the Thunder players and coaches will always share the bond of brothers and family.
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Desert Hills @ Snow Canyon
On Friday, after an incredibly hectic day of interviewing, filming and editing several stories from the World Huntsman Senior Games I headed over to call the Snow Canyon football game. It was homecoming for the Warriors as they welcomed the visiting Desert Hills Thunder.
I was a little stressed as I arrived because my regular partner/color guy - Tyler Roberts - was unable to be there. Fortunately Chris Gifford stepped in and did a bang up job for what turned out be a wild high school game! If you didn't watch in person, be sure and go to www.voddov.com and check it out the full game or click play and watch the wild last 3 minutes of the game below.
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The best thing about this Toys for Kids news package was simply to see the spirit of giving so vibrant with all of the softball players. It was a great event to cover.
Southern Utah is well known for year-long softball play, attracting players and fans not only from Utah, but from surrounding states as well. Nothing showcases that more than the annual Toys for Kids Softball Tournament sponsored and run by the St. George City Recreation Department.
The rules of the tournament are simple; it is a co-ed, double elimination bracket with a small registration fee to cover facility use and to pay officials. The difference, and reason for its namesake is, every player listed on a team roster is required to donate a toy of $10 in value.
If a toy is not donated then the player must donate at least $10 in place of the toy, otherwise they are not allowed to participate. All toys and donations are then collected and distributed to needy children throughout southern Utah.
This year's tournament has had a significant increase in participation, with a record- breaking 87 teams signing up for the event, translating to over 1,000 toys donated. This year officials had to use four softball complexes to accommodate all of the teams, including a rented complex from Santa Clara City.
“It's always a lot of fun to have this tournament and help the needy kids of southern Utah,” said Tournament Director Krista Mayes. “It's one of our most popular softball events and it seems to keep getting bigger and bigger each year.”
Wet and cold conditions did not dampen the spirit of competition nor the spirit of giving, as temperatures dropped into the low 40's and a light rain began to fall around 8 o'clock. Teams continued to arrive, delivering their donated toys, and then playing their respective games.
Sandy Wilkinson and her family have made it an annual family tradition each holiday season. Traveling from Las Vegas, she and her husband, children and grand children pack up with gloves, bats and toys to have fun for a good cause.
“It's a good thing, you're bringing toys for a worthy cause and that's what drew us to it,” Wilkinson said. “We saw that and said, this is fun and it's a good cause.”
After all of the teams arrived and toys were collected, it took a large tow trailer and full-size box truck stuffed full to carry the toys away to be wrapped and delivered to children on Christmas morning--no doubt making that blessed day a little bit brighter for not only those who receive, but also for those who gave.
Southern Utah is well known for year-long softball play, attracting players and fans not only from Utah, but from surrounding states as well. Nothing showcases that more than the annual Toys for Kids Softball Tournament sponsored and run by the St. George City Recreation Department.
The rules of the tournament are simple; it is a co-ed, double elimination bracket with a small registration fee to cover facility use and to pay officials. The difference, and reason for its namesake is, every player listed on a team roster is required to donate a toy of $10 in value.
If a toy is not donated then the player must donate at least $10 in place of the toy, otherwise they are not allowed to participate. All toys and donations are then collected and distributed to needy children throughout southern Utah.
This year's tournament has had a significant increase in participation, with a record- breaking 87 teams signing up for the event, translating to over 1,000 toys donated. This year officials had to use four softball complexes to accommodate all of the teams, including a rented complex from Santa Clara City.
“It's always a lot of fun to have this tournament and help the needy kids of southern Utah,” said Tournament Director Krista Mayes. “It's one of our most popular softball events and it seems to keep getting bigger and bigger each year.”
Wet and cold conditions did not dampen the spirit of competition nor the spirit of giving, as temperatures dropped into the low 40's and a light rain began to fall around 8 o'clock. Teams continued to arrive, delivering their donated toys, and then playing their respective games.
Sandy Wilkinson and her family have made it an annual family tradition each holiday season. Traveling from Las Vegas, she and her husband, children and grand children pack up with gloves, bats and toys to have fun for a good cause.
“It's a good thing, you're bringing toys for a worthy cause and that's what drew us to it,” Wilkinson said. “We saw that and said, this is fun and it's a good cause.”
After all of the teams arrived and toys were collected, it took a large tow trailer and full-size box truck stuffed full to carry the toys away to be wrapped and delivered to children on Christmas morning--no doubt making that blessed day a little bit brighter for not only those who receive, but also for those who gave.
