Northridge football preview: New tricks, depth at linebacker shape potential Region 5 dark horse
Coach says Knights having 'best summer' ahead of gauntlet schedule
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- Northridge head football coach Andrew Fresques observes during an afternoon practice on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Northridge High School in Layton.
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- Northridge junior Andrew Ortiz carries the ball during an afternoon practice on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Northridge High School in Layton.
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- Northridge head football coach Andrew Fresques walks through the drill with junior Trenton Henry during an afternoon practice on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Northridge High School in Layton.
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- Northridge senior Jaxon Fresques waits for the next play during an afternoon practice on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Northridge High School in Layton.
LAYTON — With temperatures in the mid-90s, Metallica roaring over the sound system and Week 1 arriving in little less than a month at a recent practice, Andrew Fresques has never felt better about Northridge football heading into the regular season.
The Knights, a year removed from a 4-7 finish (2-5 Region 5) that included losses in four of their last five games, have reloaded admirably with Fresques adding 30 new players across his program that fields as deep a roster as Fresques has seen since taking the job in 2020.
Atop the Fresques’ checklist: replacing the state’s fifth-best tackler in linebacker Zach Smith (148 tackles) and starting quarterback Porter Olsen (1,333 yards) with leaders that can enable Northridge to emerge as a competitor in a tough region featuring 5A state runner-up Bountiful.
“Every week is going to be a dogfight,” Fresques said. “I think it’s going to be harder to find a tougher region.”
“I would say this has probably been our best summer since I’ve been here,” he added. “There are a lot of guys that know what they’re doing … the most new guys coming out, which is good because our older guys have been able to show (them) the ropes and step up as leaders.”
Inside the leadership circle are Northridge’s two top receivers from last season in seniors Jaxon Fresques (64 receptions, 947 yards and nine TDs, Andrew’s nephew) and Chase Harris (46 receptions, 403 yards and a TD).
Senior Diesel Daffer, who lines up at linebacker and tight end, and nose tackle Kooper Salvador are also slated to rejoin the Knights’ senior class.
Northridge’s linebacker corps welcomes added depth from senior Preston Haney, who transferred from Syracuse. Haney — accounting for 92 tackles and 60 solo tackles during his junior season with the Titans — is also expected to fill in at safety and running back.
Harris, a close friend of Haney and Jaxon Fresques, is especially impressed with how well the veteran and incoming pieces have jelled this summer. The senior pointed to returning junior Braxton Featherstone as one such varsity newcomer who’s benefited from the chemistry.
“We’ve come together really well as a group,” Harris said. “I think we’ve got a really strong brotherhood in our class because we don’t got very many of us out here.”
Junior running back Andrew Ortiz, logging 18 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns during his sophomore campaign, is also in a position to break out within a new-look offense. Ortiz returns the most experience in the backfield alongside alternate rushers Daffer and Haney.
Promising fixtures are commonplace within the Northridge roster, but the quarterbacking duties remain a topic of discussion for the coaching staff, but not for a lack of talent. Senior transfer Tre Nye, junior Grant Slater and sophomore Liam Fresques (Andrew Fresques’ son) are all competing for the title of gunslinger.
Nye leads the room in experience but with just four completions for 46 yards and a touchdown last season behind two seniors at Syracuse. Northridge’s next QB will be expected to adopt more misdirection and creativity within the offense, Harris said.
“It’s kind of just make them wrong,” Harris said when asked to characterize the Knights’ desired offense. “I don’t think anybody will be able to keep making the right decision, so I think when we make them wrong, we’ll be able to emphasize and have a lot of big plays this year.”
Elsewhere this offseason, Northridge is building upon defensive coordinator Kitt Rawlings’ first season with the team. The Knights finished third-worst in points allowed (254) in Region 5 last season.
The addition of Haney will give Daffer (57 tackles, 27 solo tackles) an extra set of eyes near the line of scrimmage. The Knights are still looking to replace multiple seniors on the defensive line, and returning tackles Cooper Herron and Erick Madrid eye starting spots.
Fresques and Rawlings expect to have multiple configurations — from the trenches to the secondary — by the end of preseason camp.
“We really want to get to where we can just plug in and play,” Andrew Fresques said. “With the depth that we’re creating, we kind of have that so for us it’s all three levels: D-line, linebackers and DBs. But we feel we have the depth now where we can plug guys in that can get it done.”
Functionality on both sides of the football begins with communication, Fresques added.
“The best teams I’ve led, it’s never been talent, it’s been player-led talent,” he said. “Whether it’s Highland or West Lake or American Fork or Woods Cross, it’s been player-led teams and I think they’re actually taking that to heart.”
NORTHRIDGE NOTES
Last season: 4-7 (2-5 Region 5)
Head coach: Andrew Fresques (Fifth season as head coach)
Players to watch:
• Jaxon Fresques, WR/DB, Senior, 64 receptions, 947 yards, 9 TDs
• Chase Harris, TE/WR/LB, Senior 46 receptions, 403 yards, TD
• Preston Haney, MLB/RB, Senior, 92 tackles, 60 solo tackles (Syracuse)
• Andrew Ortis, RB/LB, Junior, 18 carries, 126 yards, 2 TDs
• Diesel Daffer, OLB/TE/RB, Senior, 57 tackles, 27 solo tackles
• Tre Nye, QB, Senior, 4 completions, 46 yards, TD
• Kooper Salvador, Nose/Center, Senior
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 16 – Murray
Aug. 23 – @ Layton
Aug. 30 – @ Kearns
Sept. 6 – Box Elder*
Sept. 13 – @ Viewmont*
Sept. 20 – @ Bountiful*
Sept. 27 – Bonneville*
Oct. 4 – @ Woods Cross*
Oct. 10 – @ Clearfield*
Oct. 16 – Roy*
Note: *Denotes Region 5 game.
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.