This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

We're more than halfway through the high school football season, and Tom and I cannot shake one another. We're both tied with identical records, while Brennan, although nine games behind, has started to pick routine winners. This week brings several critical region matchups that could not only determine seeding, but could potentially decide whether teams actually qualify for the postseason.

Needless to say: This is a big week.

SEASON STANDINGS

MANTI AT NORTH SANPETE

North Sanpete's offense is on fire. The Hawks posted 55 points against Carbon and followed up with the big "seven-oh" in a 70-36 whipping of rival Delta. Spencer Applegarth: Remember the name. He's relatively unknown because he plays for a smaller enrollment program, but he's duel threat runner with the combination of power and speed. He's already rushed for nearly 900 yards and seven touchdowns, while quarterback Zac Lee — although struggling with ball safety, throwing nine interceptions — has already reached the 1,000-yard plateau with 16 touchdown passes. Manti, however, has dominated the series lately — winning four straight. The Templars seemingly always have a stable of quality backs, and that's no difference this season, with Derek Wright, Mac Stevens and Kayden Stevenson all splitting reps in the backfield.

PREDICTIONS

Trevor Phibbs: North Sanpete

Tom Wharton: North Sanpete

Brennan Smith: North Sanpete

TAYLORSVILLE AT WEST JORDAN

Bingham, Brighton and Jordan will capture the top three seeds from Region 3. Doesn't matter what order: Those three are going dancing. Copper Hills and Cottonwood have yet to win a game. Taylorsville and West Jordan for an intents and purposes are fighting for the final postseason seed tonight. Taylorsville quarterback Dane Leituala leads the 5A classification and is second in the state in rushing with 1,052 yards as a freshman. The Jaguars have wins against Mountain View, Skyline and Cottonwood, and although the Warriors don't have an ideal record — it would be the biggest win of the season for West Jordan for an array of reason: Mostly moving into that fourth spot.

PREDICTIONS

Trevor Phibbs: Taylorsville

Tom Wharton: West Jordan

Brennan Smith: Taylorsville

LOGAN AT TOOELE

Logan had no business being on the field against Sky View and Mountain Crest, but to the Grizzlies credit, those two programs are both ranked in the top 10 statewide and have yet to lose a single game. Logan returned to playing programs within the same classification and dominated Judge Memorial and Ben Lomond. Now Tooele is of different caliber than both of those programs. The Buffaloes are currently in a stage where they're winning games they're supposed to and losing games they're supposed to. That's a characteristic of a good team but not a great team. The two styles of play couldn't be more conflicting. Logan wants to hurry-up and spread the ball around in the spread and Tooele wants to grind the clock down with a methodical rushing attack.

PREDICTIONS

Trevor Phibbs: Logan

Tom Wharton: Tooele

Brennan Smith: Tooele

DIXIE AT DESERT HILLS

Similar to Logan, Desert Hills displayed what happens when it plays teams within the 3AA classification. After losing against 5A's Jordan and Roy, the Thunder routed Hurricane. Dixie, however, is no Hurricane. These programs have combined for the past three state championships, with Dixie sandwiching the Thunder's title in 2013. Dixie won last season at home, 17-16. Don't expect the same type of low-scoring affair this time around. Both teams can put up huge numbers.

PREDICTIONS

Trevor Phibbs: Desert Hills

Tom Wharton: Desert Hills

Brennan Smith: Dixie

OLYMPUS AT KEARNS

Kearns is out to prove it's not a product of its weak schedule. The Cougars have an opportunity to start 6-0 for the first time in program history, but Olympus serves as the toughest test yet. Kearns needs to stop Titans' running back Quinn Meier. That much is obvious. Meier has rushed for 729 yards — reaching 100 yards in every game — and scored six touchdowns. Kearns isn't without firepower either. Sione Finau has rushed for 11 touchdowns and Graden Luckart and Shay Reid have combined for seven touchdowns and 40 receptions.

PREDICTIONS

Trevor Phibbs: Kearns

Tom Wharton: Kearns

Brennan Smith: Kearns

SPANISH FORK AT MAPLE MOUNTAIN

Spanish Fork has experienced heartbreak this season. The Dons' two losses against Orem and Springville both occurred late in the fourth quarter, when they were either tied or leading, and were by a combined five points. Maple Mountain also suffered a close loss — the only one this season for the Eagles — against Springville. This game has the making of a defensive slugfest.

PREDICTIONS

Trevor Phibbs: Maple Mountain

Tom Wharton: Maple Mountain

Brennan Smith: Maple Mountain

BRIGHTON AT JORDAN

Defensive slugfest is not how you would describe this game. Brighton prevailed 78-76 in triple overtime last season, and both teams pride themselves on putting big numbers on the board. This game will come down to which team can make one or two defensive stops. Turnovers, as always, will play a massive role in which program ultimately sends the other reeling in the Region 3 race.

PREDICTIONS

Trevor Phibbs: Jordan

Tom Wharton: Brighton

Brennan Smith: Jordan

— Analysis by Trevor Phibbs