Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SOUTH JORDAN - Bingham High running back Harvey Langi had a monster year in 2008. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry while rushing for 1377 yards and 17 touchdowns. Those are numbers you might expect out of a senior but Harvey was just a Sophomore.
"When it's all said and done, he could be as good as any running back ever to come out of the state of Utah, in my mind, if he works hard," said Bingham Head Coach Dave Peck.
"I'm just very grateful and humbled to play for this team," said Harvey Langi. "There's no better place to play in Utah.
His talent on the football field isn't the only thing college coaches have noticed. He maintains a 3.8 GPA in the classroom. He was recently offered a football scholarship by Stanford.
"He hadn't even played a varsity game and he was offered a full ride to Utah and BYU going into his sophomore year," Peck said. "Ended up backing it up by being 1st team all-state. He's the fastest kid on our team. He's a great talent."
There is a lot of pressure that comes with this much success so early especially when it comes to making his college decision.
"The recruiting system, I'm getting to know it very well," says Langi. "It pressures me sometimes. A lot of people ask but I'm just gonna play out this season and see how the season goes and keep looking at other colleges and take my trips and stuff. Just wait until im a little bit older. That's what my decision will come down to."
This former offensive lineman is focused on getting even better this season and has impressed his teammates in the process.
"Harvey is blessed, said Miners defensive end Baker Pritchard. "He gets faster everytime I see him. He always gets faster."
Harvey isn't the only big time talent on this nationally ranked team. Senior offensive lineman Tuni Kanuch is committed to BYU. Junior defensive end Baker Pritchard has also committed to BYU where his brother Iona played as a true freshman. Also, junior linebacker Manoa Pikula has been offered by BYU. But Coach Peck is quick to point out that his team is more than just four players.
I think it's a reflection of our program," Peck says. "We can single out the four because they already have the D-1 offers but it takes a lot of guys out here busting their butt, working hard, and following the rules to have a great program."
With this much talent, the goal every year at Bingham is to do something special by winning a state title. Last year they came up five points short against their hated rival Alta.
"That feeling is still burning right now," says Langi. "I sleep on that at night and it's not good at all. It haunts you every time you see an Alta kid, an Alta shirt. Everytime you see that team anywhere you just get tense."
"Our motto this year is right here, right now," Peck says. "We're not talking about the fact that we lost it a year ago. It's about just coming out on a daily basis and being the best we can, then just let the chips fall where they may."
The memory of that game is all the motivation the Miners need as they begin a new season they hope will be something special.
"That's what keeps us running right now." says Baker Pritchard. "That's what keeps us wanting more."
"I think we're ready this year, actually, I know we're ready this year," says Langi.
The Alta/Bingham rivalry has become the biggest in the state with attendance at last years State championship game exceeding 20,000. The rivalry will continue when the Miners host the Hawks on August 28th.
The Miners also have the opportunity of a lifetime on September. They will take on the No. 1 ranked high school in the country Trinity (TX) at the brand new state of the art Dallas Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by Fox Sports Net.
