This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In an effort to get fans ready for this weekend's high school football playoffs, here's a closer look at the Class 3AA and Class 3A matchups, with thanks from maxpreps.com for the statistics. Previews on the other classes will appear later in the week.
Class 3AA quarterfinals
Snow Canyon (7-3) at Juan Diego (10-0), 4 p.m. Friday • The Soaring Eagle are one of five undefeated teams left in the state. They rely heavily on the run, led by seniors Chase Williams (911 yards), Cole Nelson (894 yards) and Jesse Springer (669 yards). The Soaring Eagle running game averages 326 yards per game. The defense only is allowing 13.5 points per game, while the Soaring Eagle have scored at lead 35 points in the team's last eight games. The Warriors lost two of their last three — 7-3 to Desert Hills on Oct. 16 and 28-13 to Dixie on Oct. 25. Connor Parry and Zach Kennedy lead Snow Canyon with nine rushing TDs apiece. The teams' lone common opponent is Tooele, which Juan Diego beat 49-6 on Sept. 27 and the Warriors downed 38-9 on Nov. 1.
Cedar City (5-6) at Dixie (8-2), 5 p.m. Friday • The Flyers suffered a pair of losses to larger schools early in the season before reeling off seven consecutive wins, including a 41-0 rout of Cedar City on Oct. 16. Junior Ammon Takau is leading the offensive attack at QB. He's thrown for 2,039 yards and 21 scores while running for 411 yards and five TDs. And the Flyers know how to win — they're the defending Class 3A state champs. Cedar City has won its last two to earn another shot at the Flyers despite only averaging 12.3 points over its last three games.
Desert Hills (8-2) at Stansbury (7-3), 5 p.m. Friday • The Stallions get a shot at earning redemption for their season-opening loss to the Thunder, and this time the Stallions are the hosts. The Thunder shut down Stansbury 12-0 to open the season behind 168 yards and a score on the ground from Bridger Cowdin. Sophomore QB Nick Warmsley has thrown for 1,331 yards and 10 scores while adding 426 yards on the ground. Stansbury likes to keep it on the ground and will need Alex Mackay to deliver. The senior has rushed for 1,031 yards and 13 TDs this season, and he's gained at least 120 yards in his last five games.
Hurricane (2-9) at Pine View (7-2), 5 p.m. Friday • A quick glance at the records could lead one to think it will be a blowout. But the teams played Oct. 10, and the Panthers held on for a 34-31 win. Pine View needed Kody Wilstead to throw for 480 yards and four TDs to subdue the Tigers, who got 209 yards and four TDs on the ground from Jeremiah Ieremia. He gained all those yards on 18 carries. So can either defense find a way to stop the opposition's star?
Class 3A semifinals
Juab (8-3) vs. Judge (9-2), 4 p.m. Friday at SUU • Wasps junior QB Nick Robins likes to throw the ball — 2,082 yards and 29 TDs this season — but Juab also can smack a defense with the run behind Dalton Harmon's 795 yards and nine scores. It will be a worthy test for the Bulldogs, who have allowed an average of 9.2 points, including two shutouts, over the last five games. And there's nothing wrong with Judge's offense, which features seven players who have rushed for at least 200 yards this season. Senior QB Kaden Elliss leads the attack with 774 yards and 15 TDs on the ground and another 629 yards and eight TDs through the air. The teams have played four common opponents — Judge beat all four, while Juab went 3-1. Judge outscored the common opponents (Delta, North Sanpete, Manti and Grantsville) 165-48, while Juab outscored them 167-109. The team that beat Juab and lost to Judge? Manti.
Morgan (9-2) vs. Manti (9-2), 4 p.m. Saturday at SUU • More than half of both teams' games were against common opponents, so it's possible to look there to get a glimpse inside this one. Both teams lost to Judge — Morgan a 28-14 setback, while Manti a 49-20 defeat. The Trojans beat the other five teams, while Manti also lost to Grantsville (34-33 in overtime). Morgan only has allowed more than 18 points once this season — the loss to Judge. And Manti hasn't been held to less than 20 points this season. Morgan must slow down senior Kamren Fowles, who rushed for 411 yards and five TDs against Juab last month. —
Playoff schedule
Class 5A
Friday's quarterfinals
3 p.m. • Alta at Lone Peak
4 p.m. • Pleasant Grove at Jordan
5 p.m. • Brighton at Herriman
5 p.m. • Riverton at Bingham
Class 4A
Friday's quarterfinals
3 p.m. • Olympus at Logan
3:30 p.m. • Corner Canyon at East
3:30 p.m. • Sky View at Timpview
4 p.m. • Salem Hills at Woods Cross
Class 3AA
Friday's quarterfinals
4 p.m. • Snow Canyon at Juan Diego
5 p.m. • Cedar City at Dixie
5 p.m. • Desert Hills at Stansbury
5 p.m. • Hurricane at Pine View
Class 3A
Friday's semifinal
at Southern Utah University
4 p.m. • Juab vs. Judge
Saturday's semifinal
at Southern Utah University
4 p.m. • Morgan vs. Manti
Class 2A
Saturday's semifinals
at Southern Utah University
11 a.m. • Grand County vs. North Summit
1:30 p.m. • South Summit vs. Beaver
Class 1A Friday's semifinals
at Southern Utah University
11 a.m. • Diamond Ranch vs. Duchesne
1:30 p.m. • Rich vs. Kanab