This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
It was ugly. Walk-out-of-the-theater bad. Never-eat-there-again-in-your-life terrible. The two-week span could have broken Logan.
In the preseason, the Grizzlies were projected as contenders for the state championship in their first season in the 3AA classification. Then they lost to Sky View 42-6 and followed up with a 49-0 setback against Mountain Crest the ensuing week.
Logan was 1-2 with two embarrassing losses to crosstown rivals. Overrated? That early in the season, it was still unconfirmed exactly how good Sky View (10-0) and Mountain Crest (8-1), both of which play in Class 5A, were going to be this season.
Logan's confidence never wavered though, and, if anything, the losses allowed players to regroup and reassess weaknesses before beginning competition against their own classification.
"Without question," said Logan coach Mike Favero when asked if the two losses proved beneficial in the long run. "That's why we played them, knowing both Sky View and Mountain Crest had two of their better teams they've had in 20 years I've been around. I was well-aware of what we were getting into."
Logan, which is the only program yet to lose to competition within the classification, strung together seven consecutive wins against 3AA opponents by an average margin of victory exceeding 25 points.
"As tough as those losses were, they didn't define us or stop us from playing our best football at the end of the year," Favero said. "That's always been our philosophy, is getting tougher and trying to peak come postseason."
Hunter Horsley, whom Favero labeled in the preseason as one of the most athletic quarterbacks to roam the halls at Logan, has lived up to the billing by throwing for 1,893 yards and 23 touchdowns while running for 959 yards and 10 touchdowns. Spencer Corbett, Hartman Rector, Devin Palmaffy-Marion, Kaden Jones and Colton Hatch provide numerous options for Horsley in the throw-game.
Defensively, the Grizzlies are deep in every layer, particularly with Troy Murray in the trenches and Eric Laub in the secondary.
However, until proved otherwise, the 3AA title goes through the south. Dixie (2014 and 2012), Desert Hills (2013) and Hurricane (2011), before 3A was split into two classifications the following year, have accounted for the past four championships. The Flyers, which locked down the No. 1 seed from the south, would qualify for as a dynasty with their third title in four years.
Unlike last season, when Dixie snaked the bracket as the fourth-seed, the pressure is on to repeat. The Flyers, who did not play Logan this year, would meet the Grizzlies in the championship if both advanced.
"The focus is always to win if we're expected to or if we aren't," said Flyers running back Tre Miller. "We have to stay humble about it."
Miller entered 2015 as the leading rusher in the state of Utah, and he hasn't disappointed in his senior campaign, totaling 1,323 yards on the ground with 12 touchdowns. In his first season behind center, Zak Harrah has accumulated 2,096 yards through the air along with 25 touchdown strikes, most to Jaden Harrison, Bret Barben and Hobbs Nyberg.
"Too many weapons on offense," Miller said when asked what makes Dixie such a tough matchup. "You have to choose to stop the run or chose to stop the pass. You can't do both."
Logan, Dixie, Desert Hills and Tooele were rewarded with bye weeks in the opening round, which is scheduled to get underway on Friday afternoon with four games.
Desert Hills has struggled to stay healthy the entire year. Nephi Sewell, arguably the best player in the program, suffered a potentially career-ending neck injury in the first game of the season, while three-year starting quarterback Nick Warmsley was held out during the 42-12 loss against Logan on Oct. 14.
"That was very deceptive. They're a much better team than what that game looked like," Favero said. "They're really impressive."
Warmsley, who captained the Thunder to the title as a sophomore, has thrown for 1,485 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Marco Jordan has scampered for 542 yards and five scores. Five different defenders contributed to 14 interceptions, which with how much Logan and Dixie air it out, could prove as an advantage.
The Buffaloes posted their second consecutive seven-win season under the direction of Kyle Brady, who guided the program to the state title in 2002 as a player. The next step is postseason success. Tooele has lost five straight games in the first round/quarterfinals since the 2003 season.
Tooele has rushed for 2,807 yards and 33 touchdowns this season, Lincoln Powers, Carver Jaramillo, Ryan Brady and Demetrius Smith sharing the lion's share of the carries.
"Everyone will tell you this: In the playoffs you better play really good football," Favero said. "You better have a luck on your side. … Like any tournament — anybody can win it if you get hot at the right time."
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
Prep football schedules
All games Friday, except where noted
Class 5A
First round
• Pleasant Grove (6-4) at Jordan (8-2), 4 p.m.
• Syracuse (4-5) at Sky View (10-0), 2:30 p.m.
• Fremont (5-4) at Davis (9-0), 4 p.m.
• Brighton (7-3) at Herriman (7-3), 5 p.m.
• Roy (5-3) at Hunter (6-4), 3 p.m.
• West Jordan (5-4) at Lone Peak (10-0), 5 p.m.
• American Fork (5-5) at Bingham (9-1), 5 p.m.
• Viewmont (5-5) at Mountain Crest (8-1), 4 p.m.
Class 4A
Tuesday's play-in games
• Salem Hills 7, Maple Mountain 6
• Skyline 14, Cyprus 0; Skyline 7, Hillcrest 6
• Box Elder 7, Bonneville 0; Box Elder 21, Woods Cross 14
First round
• Murray (6-4) at Provo (8-2), 4 p.m.
• Box Elder at Springville (9-0), Saturday, time TBD
• Spanish Fork (5-5) at East (7-2), 3:30 p.m.
• Alta (7-3) at Kearns (8-2), 3 p.m.
• Salem Hills at Highland (6-3), Saturday, time TBD
• Corner Canyon (3-6) at Olympus (7-3), 4 p.m.
• Skyline at Timpivew (8-1), Saturday, time TBD
• Bountiful (6-4) at Wasatch (8-2), 5 p.m.
Class 3AA
First round
• Judge Memorial (3-7) at Cedar (4-5), 5 p.m.
• Snow Canyon (4-5) at Stansbury (7-3), 5 p.m.
• Pine View (5-4) at Bear River (3-7), 5 p.m.
• Park City (5-5) at Hurricane (5-3), 5 p.m.
Class 3A
Tuesday's play-in game
• Delta 48, Canyon View 26
Quarterfinals
• Delta at Juan Diego (9-1), Saturday, time TBD
• Union (5-5) at Juab (8-2), 5 p.m.
• Emery (4-5) at North Sanpete (6-4), 5 p.m.
• Manti (5-4) at Morgan (8-2), 5 p.m.
Class 2A
Quarterfinals
• Enterprise (5-5) at South Summit (9-0), 2 p.m.
• Summit Academy (6-4) at San Juan (6-3), 3 p.m.
• Millard (5-5) at Beaver (8-1), 6 p.m.
• Grand (6-4) at North Summit (6-3), 6 p.m.
Class 1A
Quarterfinals
• Milford (5-4) at Duchesne (7-2), 3 p.m.
• Altamont (4-6) at Kanab (7-3), 5 p.m.
• Layton Christian (2-8) at Diamond Ranch (8-0), 4 p.m.
• Monticello (5-5) at Rich (4-5), 4 p.m.