Lehi football highlights mental growth, rolls past Weber
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- Lehi senior Devaughn Eka eludes a tackle during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi senior Legend Glasker celebrates scoring a touchdown during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi junior Cash Hollingshead throws a pass during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi senior Legend Glasker catches a touchdown pass during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi senior Reed Nielsen makes a tackle during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi junior quarterback Cash Hollingshead hands the ball off to senior running back Devaughn Eka during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi coverage players pursue the ball during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi senior Penisemani Takitaki (11) celebrates after making a sack during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi head coach Andy Hatfield talks to a player during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi senior Adruen Meredith makes a tackle for a loss during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi senior running back Devaughn Eka fights for yardage during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi defenders make a tackle during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
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- Lehi players watch film during the non-region game against Weber in Lehi on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025.
A reality for anyone who goes into coaching is that you’ll always see things you want to improve on, regardless of the final score.
Lehi first-year head coach Andy Hadfield is no exception and he saw plenty of things he wants his Pioneers to do better on Friday night, even though his team cruised to a 42-8 home win over Weber.
“There’s a lot we’ve got to fix,” Hadfield said. “We have athletes and talented guys who make up for some a lot of mistakes, but we had a lot of mistakes. A lot of times we were behind the chains. We got backed up a lot and still made the plays that we needed to make, but we’re too good to keep making the same mistakes.”
He did, however, see something that he highlighted as being a nice step forward.
“I do like the way the guys kept competing after things didn’t go well,” Hadfield said. “That’s one thing we missed out the first couple of weeks and something we’ve worked on. We told the guys that things aren’t going to go your way but you can’t react to it. You have to move on to the next play. I liked our mentality on that.”
On the offensive side, Hadfield said Lehi junior quarterback Cash Hollingshead plays a big role in ensuring that’s how the unit handles adversity.
“A lot is on him,” Hadfield said. “That’s where experience makes a difference. He’s got five weeks under his belt now and he’s learning and progressing. He’s been in the program a long time, so he knows the offense, but being a real leader takes time and experience. He’s getting better.”
Hollingshead said that his approach is to address any mistakes and then push forward.
“You point it out but then say we are going to be good on the next play,” Hollingshead said. “We need to put ourselves in position to be successful on the next play. I think the most important thing in those situations is to keep our heads up, keep positive and stay focused on our goal.”
It doesn’t hurt, of course, to have a Pioneer team with a lot of weapons that can attack opponents in a variety of ways. With players like seniors Devaughn Eka (three touchdowns scored against Weber), Legend Glasker (two touchdowns), Hollingshead (three passing TDs) and host of others as well as a big, powerful offensive line, it’s a tough team to stop.
“Honestly, one of the problems with our team is how do you spread the ball around to all these guys?” Hadfield said. “I don’t think anybody’s super excited with their touches or their catches or targets, but the goal is to win a football game. It may be one guy one week and another guy the next week, but it’s nice to have those weapons.”
Against the Warriors and most of it’s opponents this year, the Lehi defense has been even more impressive. The Pioneers have only allowed 31 total points in five games.
“I was really looking forward to playing Weber because their skill guys are really, really good,” Hadfield said. “They are really well coached and I have a lot of respect for them. The fact that we had our guys flying around on defense makes calling the offensive plays a lot easier.
Hollingshead grinned as he talked about how having his guys play well on the other side of the ball makes his job simpler as well.
“It definitely takes some pressure off,” he said. “It’s really nice to have that.”
Lehi has been very good so far but the Pioneers know there are so tough tests on the horizon.
“I think we are in a good spot to compete,” Hollingshead said. “I think we need to get better, but we definitely in a good spot to compete.”
Lehi (4-1) will start league play by going to crosstown rival Skyridge for a Thursday night showdown on Sept. 18. Kickoff is scheduled to be at 7 p.m.
