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Utah Military Academy-Camp Williams head coach Ephraim Schulte (center, in hat) works a drill with the offensive and defensive lines during practice in July of 2025.

Brian E. Preece, Special to the Herald

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Offensive and defensive linemen for Utah Miliary Academy-Camp Williams work out during the summer of 2025.

Brian E. Preece, Special to the Herald

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UTAH MILITARY ACADEMY CAMP WILLIAMS MARAUDERS

Head Coach: Ephraim Schulte (2nd season, 2-7)

2024 Record: 2-7 (8th RPI in 8-player)

Playoffs: Lost to No. 1 seed Rich 47-8 in 8-player quarterfinals

Players to watch: Sr. QB/DB David Shern, Jr. RB/LB Justin Osamudiamen, So. WR/DB James Sullivan, Jr. WR/LB Nicholas Peggs, Jr. WR/TE/DB Tyler Muse.

Outlook: The inaugural football season for the Utah Military Academy Camp Williams (UMACW) was a bit of a rough one as the Marauders went 2-7. But there were some bright spots including winning two games in a row at the end of the season including a playoff win over Monument Valley.

UMACW head coach Ephraim Schulte heads into this season with a bit more optimism as many of his key players return including quarterback David Shern. With Shern showing some improvement throwing the ball, Schulte expects to do more passing versus the very run-oriented attack the Marauders employed last year.

“We’re definitely going to sprinkle in a bit more passing concepts,” said Schulte. “David Shern being in year two as quarterback plays a big part of that. He’s earned our trust as coaches. He’s shown us that he can throw the ball a lot better.”

Still, Schulte feels that the defense will be the strength of the team with a lot of returning talent on that side of the ball. Even with numbers in the program and playing experience being higher, many of the players will still play both ways.

In their second year as a program, expect the Marauders to win more games and push for a deeper run in the playoffs, though there will be more competition as 8-player football expands from nine schools to 12.

What is the best way to motivate today’s high school athletes? “Every child responds to different motivators so I think it’s important to have people on your staff to reach kids you don’t naturally resonate with,” Schutle said. “I think we have a good balance with that with a staff that can touch base with all the different types of players we have. We have to find what makes these kids tick and really harp on that. I think in general we are just trying to build a culture where these kids themselves hold each other accountable. I have players every day that get warmups started so I don’t have to do that because they hold each other accountable.”

— Brian E. Preece