2016 Utah Shock

 

The 2016 RMFL season will look different from that of 2015 with a split league between the 

Great North and the Big 9.  As for the new format, the Utah Shock have joined the RMFL Big 9 

under the direction of new owner and GM, Darrell Baranowski.  In 2015, the Utah Shock started 

the season with a 3-0 record, but finished at 5-3 and were defeated by the Wasatch Revolution in 

the first-round of the playoffs by a final tally of 43-14.  

 

This season, Baranowski and the Shock look to complete their championship run behind new 

leadership and many new additions.  “The Shock will keep the spread in our arsenal,” said 

Baranowski of the 2016 team.  “But we have added so much talent to the offense this year.  

We’ve already worked other formations into the playbook, including the use of Tight Ends.”  

These talented new additions to the offense that Baranowski mentions have multiple years of 

RMFL experience with the former Utah Stealth organization from season’s past.  Running backs 

IK Ubani and Matt Mann add depth to the offensive backfield despite the loss of veteran back 

George Allums.  Last season, Ubani ran for the Wasatch REV and amounted to 195 rushing 

yards and two touchdowns on 44 carries.  Mann was the leading rusher for the Stealth in 2015, as 

he rushed for 158 yards on 41 carries.  “It would be border criminal behavior to have IK Ubani 

and Matt Mann in the backfield and not get a healthy amount of run plays into the plan,” said 

Baranowski in regards to these additions.  “Anyone who has been on the opposite side of the ball 

can tell you about contact with these gentlemen.”  However, Allums has not yet returned to the 

Shock for the 2016 season.  Last season, Allums led the Shock offense on the ground with 88 

carries for 476 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Those who are returning to the Shock offensive 

backfield with certainty are JJ Moncada and Sio Mafi to reinforce the previously mentioned 

Ubani and Mann.  Mafi ran for 120 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while Moncada 

produced 76 yards on 19 carries last season.

 

In addition, the Shock offense will also look to add veteran quarterback Jeff Wissler behind a 

strong offensive line.  “The average O-Lineman is 6’3” and 296 pounds of fast and strong,” 

stated Baranowski in regards to Wissler’s new line.  Wissler played the last several seasons with 

the Utah Stealth where he had won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.  In 

commenting on the talents of Jeff Wissler, Baranowski stated, “Maybe there’s some partiality to 

old guys still balling but stats and records don’t lie.  He’s an RMFL champion and he’s still got 

it; his timing and finesse puts the ball right where it needs to be.  It helps tremendously that he is 

a respected veteran and fills a much needed leadership role on and off of the field.”  Last season, 

Wissler completed 87 of his 170 pass attempts for 908 yards and 10 touchdown passes.  Graham 

Smith, one of Wissler’s main targets from last season on the Stealth, will also be joining the 

Shock offense for the 2016 season.  Smith caught 10 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in 

2015.  Wissler’s targets include the likes of Smith as well as returning starters in Chris Hooper 

and Sam Thomas.

 

The Shock offense has also integrated the abilities of Coach Tre Bailey, an RMFL veteran with 

many years of coaching experience at various levels, to help create an effective group to compete 

in the RMFL Big 9.  “With the resources we have,” said Baranowski, “We will make the 

offensive adjustments in real time to keep moving the ball forward.  We’re deep enough in line 

and skill positions to keep everyone fresh.”  Baranowski continued, “Our challenge, like many 

RMFL teams, is to ensure we travel well and not get complacent when we play a team that 

popular opinion tells us is less competitive and end up choking.”

 

The Shock defense will be under the direction of head coach and defensive coordinator, Suka 

Ahio.  Last season, the Shock defense finished in the top 5 in the RMFL allowing just 15 points 

per game.  Veteran leader Euguene Hess rejoins the Shock defense and has been getting reps at 

cornerback.  Hess was the RMFL leader in interceptions last season with 5 alongside Idaho 

Mustang defensive back David Pasquella.  The Shock also look to their new additions on defense 

with former Stealth cornerback and RMFL veteran Jay Junior.  In 2015, Junior had 15 tackles 

and 6 pass deflections, and also had reps on offense with a touchdown catch from Wissler.

In addition to some of the returning starters from last season and veteran acquisition from the 

former Stealth, the Shock look to add new faces to the RMFL in defensive linemen Al Lapuaho 

and Tee Finau.  These two additions add size and strength to the defensive front, as well as their 

experience in the NFL with various organizations.  “2016 may not be a breakout year for them 

because they’ve already broken out to the Dolphins, Steelers, Patriots, Cowboys, and Texans’ 

squads,” said Baranowski of his new defensive linemen, “But it will be exciting to have them at 

the line of scrimmage.  You can’t overstate the importance of linemen.”  The Shock also add 

new safety Kori Lopati to help Junior and Hess in the defensive secondary.  “After seeing how 

he treats teammates during preseason practice, it will be interesting to see how opponents make 

out,” stated Baranowski on Lopati.

 

For the Shock, it has been a transition from one season to the next with new ownership following 

the departure of Kyto Khouang, who looks to make a possible appearance on the Nevada 

Warriors along with former Shock receiver Matt Thornton.  Along with the replacement of 

ownership, the Shock were set to make changes at the quarterback and running back positions 

with the departure of Jordan Wager, who will be joining the Brigham Sting for 2016, and the loss 

of George Allums.  In commenting about the recent changes to the Shock organization, 

Baranowski stated, “Our replacements have been made, but the most difficult or stressful was 

probably backfilling running back George Allums.  George is a great running back but he is also 

family and a positive influence on the team; leadership by example goes a long way.  The Shock 

held #20 in reserve for the longest and had to get a definite [third] “no” from George before 

letting the requesting player have that number.”  Of course, the Shock have found players to help 

with the loss of Allums with IK Ubani and Matt Mann joining the team due to their departure 

from the Stealth organization that had folded following the 2015 season.

 

Furthermore, the Shock have also added new talents in Kaleo Laita at receiver and corner, Ricky 

Bailey at receiver and quarterback, Kalani Nihipali to help the secondary and receiver areas, and 

offensive lineman King Tuipolotu.  “They are great athletes who can, with the right program and 

leadership, actually use this league as a stepping stone to the next level,” said Baranowski.  “If 

we can serve them in this capacity and fulfill this need, we can stop getting sidetracked by 

ridiculous “Professional Development” leagues watering down semi-pro football in the region 

every couple of years.”

 

Despite some of the losses to the Shock organization, they look to bounce back from last season 

and produce a winning program with their new additions on offense, defense, the coaching staff, 

and at the ownership level of the team.  The 2016 RMFL season begins on April 2 with the Utah 

Shock traveling to Las Vegas to compete against the new expansion team, the Las Vegas 

Raiders.  This will be the first of the Shock’s two games in Las Vegas, as they will have to travel 

back two weeks later to face the Vegas Trojans on April 16.  “We are especially excited for the 

Trojans game,” said Baranowski.  “It will be an opportunity for a cohesive RMFL team to play 

against the Trojans’ regular roster.  We already know that they will be a tough team and we 

welcome their level of competition.”  

 

The Shock will also feature two difficult battles with powerhouse organizations from last season.  

First, the Shock will be matched against the two-time defending RMFL Champions, the Wasatch 

Revolution, on April 30; then, on May 21, the Shock will host the Zion Lionz, who were 

defeated by the REV in the championship last season.  “The Shock always looks forward to the 

REV and Lionz, even though those games haven’t gone well at all in the past couple of years,” 

said Baranowski.  “We like playing against talent and it helps us avoid the Shock curse of 

playing to our opponent’s level.  They force us to play better.”  Look for the 2016 Utah Shock to 

take the field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 2.