Huntsman’s versatility showcased in ALA football win over Providence Hall
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- ALA senior Kannon Huntsman runs the ball up the field during the 2A North game against Providence Hall in Spanish Fork on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
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- ALA senior Tad Swarnes catches a pass during the 2A North game against Providence Hall in Spanish Fork on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
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- ALA senior Kannon Huntsman runs the ball up the field during the 2A North game against Providence Hall in Spanish Fork on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
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- ALA senior Tad Swarnes runs the ball up the field during the 2A North game against Providence Hall in Spanish Fork on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
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- ALA players huddle up after the 2A North game against Providence Hall in Spanish Fork on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
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- ALA line up to run a play during the 2A North game against Providence Hall in Spanish Fork on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
In a sea of larger schools in Utah County, American Leadership Academy’s Kannon Huntsman has chartered his own path leading the Eagles to one of its best football seasons in school history.
Huntsman is a do-it-all athlete who mainly plays running back on offense and defensive end on defense. But he also returns kicks and every once in a while will play at quarterback and launch a pass down field.
Huntsman scored five touchdowns as ALA routed Providence Hall 56-7 in a 2A North Region game Friday night.
His first score came on defense on a scoop-and-score taking it to the house for 65 yards. Then when ALA got on offense Huntsman scooted on a 55-yard run to put ALA out in front 14-0 after Westley Haston hit his second of eight extra points on the night. Huntsman was quick to give credit to his offensive line.
“I would have to say it was my linemen,” Huntsman said. “They blocked the right guys and I just ran it in. They did all the work.”
Huntsman would add three more touchdown runs in the second quarter, taking the pigskin across the goal line from 33, four and three yards out.
Huntsman’s Eagle teammate Tad Swarnes had a spectacular catch in the corner of the end zone from Nico Marble, while Marble scored on a 5-yard scamper of his own to give ALA a commanding 49-0 lead going into the locker room.
“It was a good night,” Huntsman said. “We did good, our team played hard. Just a fun night to play.”
At 6-3 210 pounds, Huntsman with a great combination of raw speed and power would undoubtedly do well at any school in the state. But he decided as a sophomore to take his talents to the charter school in Spanish Fork.
“I like the school,” the Eagle senior said about his decision to come to ALA. “There’s good chemistry here, good academics and a great football team.”
ALA head coach Lance Burrell is certainly glad to have Huntsman on his squad.
“He’s an awesome kid, that’s what’s most important,” said Burrell. “He runs hard, he’s a big back and does a great job for us.”
Beyond his dominating play, Huntsman’s leadership has grabbed the attention of his head coach.
“The guys voted him a captain this year,” Burrell said. “For our best players to be the best leaders, these are good things for a team.”
With the running clock in the second half, the scoring slowed down and Providence Hall actually scored on a 1-yard run by their quarterback Lucas Thompson.
ALA countered as Marble connected with Mason Ober on a 44-yard TD pass toward the end of the third quarter to make it 56-7 for ALA. Neither team scored in the final stanza.
Burrell, who once was the head coach at Providence Hall, did not take any extra satisfaction with a blowout win against the program he once led.
“Every victory is sweet,” said Burrell. “This one wasn’t any more different than any of the others. It feels good to win.”
ALA (4-3, 1-1) will host South Summit (1-6, 0-2), while winless Providence Hall (0-7, 0-2) will go on the road again to battle Layton Christian (4-3, 2-0).
Both games will be Friday at 7 p.m.
