WASATCH FOOTBALL HONOREES

Six Wasps receive All-State and All-Region recognition

 BY KENNY BRISTOW

Wave Sports Writer

The Salt Lake Tribune announced their Utah All-State football teams last Wednesday with three members from Wasatch High School earning second team recognition for Class 3A.  Quarterback James Delacenserie, Wide Receiver Gavin Nebeker and Linebacker Taggart Baxter were all chosen for their outstanding feats on the gridiron.

Those three young men, along with Offensive Lineman Taylor Coburn and Defensive Back Cooper Ballstaedt, were also chosen to the second team All-State squad compiled by the Deseret News announced a few weeks ago.

Add Wide Receiver Talem Franco to this list of players and you have the six Wasps who were selected to the All-Region team just last week.  Delacenserie, whose numbers where as good as any QB in 3A statewide, was named Region 10 Offensive MVP.

Wasatch had an exciting and successful season under first year head coach Steve Coburn with many of his Wasps contributing memorable moments throughout.  While many team members deserve recognition and a squad is only as strong as it plays as a unit, we congratulate these young men for their individual excellence on the field.

James Delacenserie #17 — The 6’ 3”, 215 lb. senior quarterback completed 167 out of 247 passes attempted for a stellar 67.6 completion percentage ranking him number one in 3A.  His 2,784 passing yards along with a 253.1 yards per game average also ranked him first in 3A.  He had 34 touchdown passes, also the leader in 3A, passed for 4-200 yard games, 2-300 yard games, and 1-400 yard game.  He threw for 2 or more touchdowns in 10 of the Wasp’s 11 games while only throwing six interceptions.  Six of his touchdown throws came in one game against North Sanpete.  James was voted a team captain by his teammates prior to the season.

Gavin Nebeker #25 — The 6’, 155 lb. senior wide receiver had an amazing 49 receptions totaling 946 yards for an 86 yards per game average to lead 3A.  The speedster averaged 19.3 yards per catch and led 3A in touchdown receptions with 12.  He had 3 - 100 yard receiving games, and 1 - 200 yard receiving game.  He had four touchdown grabs on the road against Morgan, and 3 touchdown receptions in a big home victory against Judge Memorial.  Gavin was voted a team captain by his teammates prior to the season.

Tag Baxter #47 — The 5’ 10”, 185 lb. junior middle linebacker anchored Wasatch’s defense.  Tag was the 3A leader in total tackles with 166, averaging a tenacious 15.1 tackles per game.  The only game he did not record double-digit tackles was Wasatch's lone playoff game where he played on a severely sprained ankle and still managed to get eight.  He also recorded four quarterback sacks and intercepted one pass.  Not only the heart and soul of Wasatch’s defense, he was a starter on most of the special teams.  This season was Taggart’s second as a starter at middle linebacker for the Wasps.

Taylor Coburn #76 — The 6’ 4”, 248 lb. senior anchored Wasatch’s offensive line at left tackle, allowing for the Wasatch offense to average 31.5 points per game.  He allowed Wasatch’s QBs to throw for the most passing yards in 3A, allowing less than, an unheard of, one sack per game on the season.  An integral part of his team, Taylor was a starter on both sides of the ball at left tackle and at defensive tackle making contributions that do not always show up on stat sheets.

Cooper Ballstaedt #21 — The 5”10”, 180 lb. senior strong safety was a two-year starter for Wasatch on defense.  He was second on the team, seventh in 3A and 24^th in the state in tackles with 108 total, averaging 9.8 per game.  He also had 4 interceptions for 105 yards running one in for a touchdown.  Cooper, voted a team captain by his peers prior to the season, is also a student body officer.

Talem Franco #1 — The 5’ 9”, 163 lb. senior all-purpose wide out snared 35 receptions for a total of 640 yards.  He averaged 18.3 yards per catch with six reaching the end zone.  He also had 19 rushes for 230 yards, averaging an incredible 12.11 yards per carry.  Two of his runs were for touchdowns.  He also had one kick-off return for a touchdown, averaging 19.2 yards per touch in that category.  A great big-play guy, he also contributed 45 tackles on defense.  Talem was an all-around leader of the team.