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Clearfield senior Jonah Mandleco participates in a drill during a morning practice on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Clearfield High School.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Clearfield head football coach Cody Caputo steps off the field during during a morning practice on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Clearfield High School.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Clearfield senior Jordan Tovey warms up receivers during a morning practice on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Clearfield High School.

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Fred Fernandes, longtime head football coach at Roy and current offensive coordinator at Clearfield, instructs players during a morning practice on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Clearfield High School.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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CLEARFIELD — You don’t call up Fred Fernandes if you’re going to mess around.

But Cody Caputo, tabbed to rebuild a downtrodden Clearfield program after six seasons as a proven defensive coordinator at Farmington, called up his former boss and longtime Roy head coach about flipping the script.

Caputo served Fernandes as an assistant at Roy for several years before the former Weber State cornerback stepped away to lead multiple top-five 5A defenses for the Phoenix. Caputo siad Fernandes’ jump from Bingham, where he served as offensive coordinator under his former defensive coordinator at Roy, Eric Jones, didn’t take much convincing.

The pair have been close since Caputo was a young player at Northridge, where Fernandes led the Knights to multiple state championships. Caputo later assisted Fernandes as a defensive backs coach at Roy after his playing career.

With Eric Jones leaving Bingham to be head coach for the newly arriving West Field High this fall, Fernandes also made his leap when his former player and assistant came calling.

“I’m very lucky to have him,” Caputo said. “Ever since we’ve been apart I just couldn’t wait to get back to coaching with him. … When I was applying, he’s like ‘That’s one of the best jobs around here right now!’ Once I knew he was available, I was all over it.”

But the job also comes clouded in uncertainty. Clearfield, searching for its first winning season in two decades, finished 0-20 during its past two seasons under Carl Harry. Before the school announced Caputo as its next head coach, multiple of the team’s returning seniors said they contemplated leaving football altogether.

One of those seniors is Jordan Tovey, doubling at quarterback and linebacker for the Falcons, who said he’s endured five separate offenses in three seasons. Caputo first sat down with Tovey during a team gym session, who listened to his senior’s perspective on how Clearfield’s lack of continuity has affected him and the team as a whole.

“It’s changed a lot about my view on football,” Tovey said. “It’s made it harder to progress in the game and enjoy more I guess. I think these coaches are way better for us and I think we’re going to do a lot better this year.”

In just a matter of months, Tovey has noticed a substantial improvement.

“I think (Caputo) has made us more accountable,” Tovey said. “He’s trying to change the program in that way. If we want to get better, it starts with us. We need to change.”

Caputo will certainly be starting from scratch with a Falcons offense that averaged just 148.9 yards per game. The Falcons, losing their veteran receiver corp, will transition to a heavier run attack led by senior running back and linebacker Gage Miles (4.3 yards per carry).

Like Tovey, Miles was uncertain about the prospects of him playing football this fall until Caputo and Fernandes sunk their teeth into the program this offseason. The process of breaking down last season’s miscues and learning individual player’s needs took time, Miles said.

“If you watched any of the film, it’s pretty rough,” Miles said. “I feel like we didn’t have the coaching and right type of offense tailored to us… Learning under (Fernandes) just makes it so much easier to improve as a football player. Having his knowledge, he just focuses on the little things, like the first steps on a block, especially will help me just perform on the field.”

Miles, rushing for 292 total yards for one touchdown on 68 carries during his junior season, said the new offense designed by Fernandes is already well-received with the group — partly thanks to the dependency on increased communication with the offensive line.

“I gotta give the O-line a lot of credit,” Miles said. “They’re the ones who make me look good.”

Miles named seniors Jonah Mandleco, Bowen Nelson and junior Dax Taylor as key additions up front he’s enjoying playing behind this summer.

On the other side of the ball, Caputo has his hands full improving upon a defense that finished its latest season with just four tackles for loss.

Unlike the offense, Clearfield’s defense returns multiple starters across the board. Atop that list is senior linebacker A.J. Stark, who had 19 tackles last season and currently serves as the team’s most vocal leader, Caputo said.

Joining Stark in the linebacker corps are fellow seniors Wyatt Williams (20 total tackles in 2023) — who transferred from Syracuse in 2023 — and Zach Christensen. Elsewhere, Clearfield welcomes back senior defensive back and wide receiver Cade Kingston to the Caputo project.

“With these coaches, I feel like we can build off talent,” Williams said about the potential of Caputo’s defensive philosophy. “We need to change the attitude and I think that’s what these coaches are here to do. … I have a lot of confidence in where we’re at.”

Williams said the Falcons’ largest vulnerabilities lie in the secondary and that this season will serve partly as the foundation for the younger members of Clearfield’s defense.

The timeline for Caputo’s ideal defense stretches beyond the returning senior class — a point the Clearfield coach has reinforced as July practices heat up. The challenge for Caputo is making that message a positive one for the guys who are only eligible for his inaugural season.

“I was lucky enough to play for some good (defensive) coordinators in high school and then I got a lot from coaching under (Jones),” Caputo said.

“Some of our best years have been when we make it simple, right? I just want these guys to be confident and play fast, so we’re taking our time with what we’re installing. … I tell them every day how excited I am and how honored I am to be their coach — I don’t remember having this much energy in years when it comes to (coaching).”

CLEARFIELD NOTES

Last season: 0-10 (0-7 Region 5).

Head coach: Cody Caputo (First season as head coach)

Players to watch:

• Gage Miles, RB/MLB, Senior, 68 carries, 292 yards, 1 TD

• Jordan Tovey, QB/TE/OLB, Senior, 159 completions, 871 yards, 6 TDs

• Wyatt Williams, QB/LB, Senior, 20 tackles

• A.J. Stark, LB/FB, Senior, 19 completions, 58 yards, 56 tackles

• Jonah Mandleco, OT/OG, Senior

• Zach Christensen, MLB, Senior

• Dax Taylor, OT/OG, Junior

2024 SCHEDULE

Aug. 11: @ Copper Hills

Aug. 18: Hunter

Aug. 30: @ Jordan

Sept. 9: @ Roy*

Sept. 13: Woods Cross*

Sept. 20: @ Box Elder*

Sept. 27: Bountiful*

Oct. 4: @ Bonneville*

Oct. 10: Northridge*

Oct. 16: Viewmont*

Note: *Denotes Region 5 game.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.