Preston Curtis gives East an offensive spark

SALT LAKE CITY — Opponents can't get too focused on stopping East (Salt Lake City) from running the ball. It ends up leaving them open to be burned by Preston Curtis on a deep route.

Kahuku (Hawaii) found out the hard way in a 38-15 loss to the Leopards last weekend. Curtis caught a pass from East quarterback Isaac Valles on the team's opening play from scrimmage. He promptly took it 80 yards for a quick touchdown and the Leopards never looked back.

"It was just the perfect situation for it," Curtis said. "They were expecting us to run right off the bat because we're a triple option team. It just caught them by surprise, opening up with a pass."

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It helps to have an athlete like Curtis to execute those sort of plays. He doesn't draw the attention focused on some of his teammates in the recruiting arena, but it is safe to say that Curtis is a crucial cylinder in the East offensive engine.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior is a starting wing back for the Leopards. For Curtis, it gives him a chance to be deeply involved in the triple option offense as a threat to run and catch the ball.

Curtis really emerged during his sophomore season, when he rushed for 279 yards and five touchdowns on 37 carries and had 101 receiving yards. A year later, Curtis rushed for 654 yards and nine touchdowns on 61 carries while adding another 207 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions.

What really sets him apart — and the biggest key behind his role in boosting the offense — is his intelligence on the football field.

"Not only is he a great athlete and a physically gifted athlete, he's a very cerebral player," East coach Brandon Matich said. "He understands the game. He sees things before they happen."

What stands out about Curtis is the fact that a bigger role in the offense has coincided with a boost in his production. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry in 2011. Curtis boosted that average to 10.5 yards in 2012.

Curtis admitted to feeling a little timid running the ball as a sophomore. Those feelings disappeared during his junior season when he saw how well the line blocked for him and how much things opened up for him down field.

These days, Curtis embraces playing at wing back. It lets him serve an important role in moving the chains and scoring points.

"I like how there's so much different stuff you can do out of it," Curtis said. "You can catch passes. You can get handoffs. You're really involved in all aspects of the game from that position."

His involvement isn't strictly limited to the plays he makes and the numbers he puts up. Curtis is also a team captain and important vocal leader for the Leopards. He is often the first one younger teammates turn to when they need direction on the field or in practice.

It's a role Curtis takes seriously. He wants to model how to do everything the right way.

"Everyone is always looking at how you practice and how your attitude is and the way you go into drills," Curtis said. "You can't be lazy because everybody is watching, so you have to do everything 100 percent."

Excelling at football for East is a Curtis family tradition. His three older brothers were all standouts for the Leopards.

Most recently, his brother Tanner — who played at Utah State before leaving for an LDS mission in 2012 — was instrumental in resurrecting the East program in 2010. He threw for 1,113 yards and ran 1,320 yards that season and had 29 combined touchdowns.

Matich believes based on potential alone, Preston Curtis could match Tanner in his impact. He labels him as the best athlete he has ever coached.

"I wish I had more Curtises coming up because it seems like every child in that family has special abilities," Matich said. "He may be the best of the four."

John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps.com. He is a former prep sports reporter with the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports.