Click photo to enlarge
Above, Jordan's Taylor Smith ended Brighton's hopes of winning with his interception in the remaining minutes of the game. Jordan defeated Brighton 35-30. A play-in football game between Brighton High School and Jordan High School. The winner gets into the state tournament, the loser is done for the season. The game was played at Hillcrest High School.

So here it is.

Highland and Mountain Crest. Top seed in Region 5, against the top seed in Region 6. In the second round.

Some would think that scenario's unfair. Others, such as Springville coach Scott Mitchell, didn't have a problem with the early matchup pitting two top seeds against each other, saying "You have to play somebody good at some point. It may as well be now."

So now that the pleasantries are out of the way, it's a fact that this game promises to be the best game in the state when it comes to the second round of the playoffs.

There are stars on each side.

Mountain Crest boasts sensational junior quarterback Alex Kuresa, one of the best players in the state period. All Kuresa's

Prep sports blog
 Journey to the Top:
Jennifer Gustavson, Maggie Thach, Tony Jones
The latest post:
done this season is throw for almost 3,000 yards and toss 32 touchdown passes, and he's not the only great player the Mustangs have.

Alex Knowles, Matt Stewart and Tyler Weese have all amassed over 40 catches this season, with Weese totaling over 1,000 receiving yards. Knowles and Weese have combined for 26 touchdown catches.

Highland's almost as star-studded. Toi Taufa's a stud at running back. He's rushed for 1,166 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

Mason Keller's solid if not spectacular at quarterback and junior Nate Fakahafua's a game-changer at receiver. He's got Division I size, speed and talent.

Both teams have won their share of tough games. Mountain Crest defeated Sky View while the Rams have

Advertisement
beaten Bountiful and Woods Cross. The key for Highland is to make Kuresa as uncomfortable as possible.

He's so elusive that he's going to make plays regardless. But if he's not chewing up big chunks of yardage through the air, it makes the Mustangs a lot less effective.

For Mountain Crest, shutting down Taufa is the key. Do that, and the rest of the team suffers.

tjones@sltrib.com

Football schedule

Class 5A

Quarterfinals Friday

» Pleasant Grove at Davis, 3:30 p.m.

» Lone Peak at Hunter, 4 p.m.

» Cottonwood at Alta, 4 p.m.

» Syracuse at Bingham, 4 p.m.

Class 4A

Quarterfinals Friday

» Spanish Fork at Timpview, 3 p.m.

» Mountain Crest at Highland, 2:30 p.m.

» Bonneville at Dixie, 2 p.m.

» Woods Cross at Springville, 3 p.m.

Class 3A

Quarterfinals

» Morgan at Hurricane, Saturday, 1 p.m.

» Delta at Park City, Friday, 4 p.m.

» Bear River at Wasatch, Friday, 4 p.m.

» Cedar at Juan Diego, Friday, 4 p.m.

Class 2A

Semifinals

Saturday, at SUU

» Grand vs. South Summit, 11 a.m.

» San Juan vs. South Sevier, 2 p.m.

Class 1A

Semifinals

Saturday, at Snow College

» Monticello vs. Duchesne, 10:30 a.m.

» Rich vs. Milford, 1 p.m.

All-state voting

Coaches, submit your all-state football ballots at www.tribpreps.com. Look for the "prep links" at the left of the page. The Tribune will verify the authenticity of each ballot.