East football

A 31-13 win in the first round of the playoffs seems worthy of a football team's stamp of approval. But that wasn't the case for East high when the Leopards topped Orem last week. It was a slow start that East escaped in time to make the final score a bit deceiving.

There was a fumble lost on East's first snap of the game, there were more than 100 yards of penalties in the first half and a lack of attitude in the first two quarters. Quarterback Jason Cook isn't sure what to blame. Focus in practice was good, he said. And East wasn't overlooking Orem, who it had beaten 41-17 earlier this season. Cook—who was one of several starters to sit out the Leopard's final regular season game against Logan with their playoff positioning wrapped up—believes that not playing in two weeks may have had an effect.

Whatever the cause, East knows it needs to come into Friday's matchup against Skyline with a little more focus and a little more attitude from the start. The Eagles are a disciplined and physical team that can get its opponent in trouble quickly with little opportunity to change momentum.

"It will be fun," Cook said. "I know a lot of guys on our team know a lot of guys over there."

West football

West football hadn't won a playoff game in 14 years before it topped Riverton 21-10 October 28 at Gean Plaga Stadium. It looked like it would be at least 12 years when West failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the first half and found themselves in the locker room at halftime down 10-0 and looking for answers.

But one break led to another in the second half and soon the Panthers were rolling toward a historic win. The running game kept churning forward and a couple of big plays swung the result West's way.

"Our team thrives on momentum," coach Justin Spencer said.

Spencer is hoping to rev up the momentum Friday against Syracuse, the surprise quarterfinalist in 5A and maybe all of the state after shocking Alta 16-10 in the first round. While it may be a shock to most of the state that Syracuse beat Alta, it isn't to Spencer who coached a playoff game with Kearns against Syracuse.

"That was no fluke," he said. "When you have a defensive team like Syracuse, you're always going to be in the game."

Spencer took over as coach at West three seasons ago with a plan to always be taking steps toward the ultimate goal of a state championship, whether they were baby steps or giant steps. A win Friday and a semifinals appearance would qualify as a giant step. —

Player of the Week: Sione Houma, Highland football. Houma's first-round playoff performance looked similar to his 2010 playoff surge when he helped Highland to a state championship. The fullback carried 11 times for 203 yards and three scores in a 42-20 win over Maple Mountain. Remember last season when Houma rushed for 760 yards and five touchdowns in four playoff games? The 4A classification has its hands full again this fall.

The Big Number: Three: touchdowns scored by Miles Ellis in a 45-21 Judge Memorial loss to Cedar in the first round of the playoffs. Ellis put up a strong performance in a shocking loss that surely rattled the Bulldog seniors. Ellis will always be able to brag that he went out with a bang, rushing for scores two and three yards and catching a 58-yard touchdown pass.

The Big Game: Skyline at East, football, Friday, November 4, tbd. Both of these teams have the elements—a strong ground game and tough defense—necessary for a state title run. But only one of them can keep that potential run going. East is looking to rebound from a lethargic yet easy win and Skyline is looking to advance to the semifinals in its first season back in 4A.