Team Preview by: Ed Cerise


Being one of three new teams in the league there isn’t a lot of information about the Uintah Basin Oilers.  Sure you have your typical items like location: Vernal/Roosevelt area, you have a small town atmosphere that has a long tradition of football other than that you have a brand new team built from the ground up by two former RMFL players who wanted to bring football to the Uintah Basin.

 

QB Jeremy Conetah (Wildcats, Heat) was a tight end for both of these squads who in the Heat’s first season as a franchise he played three games before falling to a season ending injury.  Saftey Doug Brannon played last year on the Salt Lake Seminoles and is looking forward to bringing a new team into this league.  All other players have played at the high school level Locally at Union, Uintah, Duchesne, and Altamont High schools and a few have small college ball experience.  But what this team does not lack is heart and love for the game.  GM Jeremy Conetah states, “The only question is with most workers in the Oil fields for the summer how well will this team travel? “ 

 

I have to agree with Jeremy here, how well will this team travel. Two weeks ago the Oilers had a Preseason game scheduled with the Salt Lake Seminoles at game time the Oilers had a total of 9 players ready to go.  Needless to say the Seminoles had to borrow the Oilers some players in order to play the game.  Hopefully, this wasn’t a sign that the Oilers are not going to be able to travel period.  I have been personally assured by Mr. Conetah that was not going to be the case and the Oilers will be able to travel.  He didn’t say how many would travel, but we shall see.

 

Offensive Outlook: 

 

Offensively the Oilers are lead by QB Conetah (6’-1” 215) who will also spend time at WR and SS.  Behind Jeremy will be the two back set of Jared Luhan (5’-10” 195) who is also the kicker and Chris Carter (5’-11” 230).  Both have good size and should make an impression in the league.  They will have to be workhorses as the majority of the team will be going both ways.  At the receiver positions you have Terry Shaw (6’-1” 180) and Jeremiah Gray (6’-1” 165) with Britt Stubbs (6’-2” 190) at tight end.  As with any team new or old the offensive line is always a challenge and that will be no different with the Oilers.  The O-Line consists of Denny Keel (5’-10” 265), Sky Stinnett (6’-3” 255), Jason Davis (6’-2” 220), Corey Bastian (6’-2” 280), and James Carey (5’-11” 255). 

 

Defensive Outlook: 


The defensive line will consist of Randy Pettite, Quinn Bisel (6’-9” 410) who has to be the largest D-Lineman in the league, maybe even the history of the RMFL, James Carey (5’-11” 255) and Kelly Mortensen (6’-1” 180), with the members of the O-Line backing them up.  Leading the Line backing group will be QB Jeremy Conetah, with Spencer Stradinger (6’-2” 210) and Garth Robinson (5’-9” 155).  The secondary will include Travis Maxfield (6’-0” 170), Jared Robinson (5’-10” 165), Brent Neilson (5’-11” 180) and will be rounded out with ex-Seminole Doug Brannon.

 

SUMMARY:

 

It is pretty evident this team is going to struggle in their first year; there are a lot of factors that perhaps this team may or may have not put into their thinking when it came to making a bid to enter the RMFL.  GM Conetah is going to have his work cut out for him.  I hope they rise to the challenge.

 

 

OVERALL RANKING: 11th - Tied