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Pick Six: A closer look at this week’s prep football state title games

(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) East's Johnson Hansen (6) tackles Bingham's Ryan Wood (2) during their game earlier this season.

Here are the three state championship games that will be contested at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium.

2017 Class 6A football state championship game matchup

It’s fitting that the two best teams in the state will play for the state title. The Miners are trying to follow in South Summit’s footsteps and finish the year undefeated. Bingham took down East 48-17 in Week 2, but it seems irresponsible to think this meeting will be a blowout. Bingham’s defense isn’t allowing points, just like usual. The Miners’ last three opponents have scored one touchdown apiece, and Tanner Merrill returned an interception for a touchdown in the Miners’ state semifinal win over Herriman. Bingham last lost to a Utah opponent in the 2015 state semifinals. East put together a state-record 752 yards in its state quarterfinal win over American Fork but only managed 227 yards total in its 28-13 win over Lone Peak in the state semifinals. The Leopards did run for 379 yards against the Miners in Week 2, but senior Sioni Molisi accounted for 228 yards in that one. Molisi missed the state quarterfinals and only played at the end of the state semifinal. Turnovers crushed East in the Week 2 matchup. The Leopards turned over the ball five times, including three fumbles in the first half. They must clean up those or the game likely will get out of hand. East’s defense can’t be ignored either. The Leopards sacked Lone Peak quarterback Brock Jones nine times in the state semifinals, which helped account for the minus-18 yards rushing for the Knights.

TribPreps coverage • Maddie Lee and Kevin Morriss

2017 Class 5A football state championship game matchups

Skyridge pulled off quite the rally to become just the fifth school in its second year to reach the state title game. The Falcons are trying to become the first to win it. QB Jayden Clemons connected with Nathan Upham for two passes covering 69 yards in 23 seconds for the winning touchdown. Clemons finished with 263 yards and four TDs through the air. It was his most passing TDs and second most passing yards in a game this season. The Falcons have averaged 48.5 points over their last four games. And the Skyridge defense, led by Brayden Togiai’s 14 total tackles, did sack Corner Canyon’s Zach Wilson three times in the state semifinal win. The defense is going to be tested by Lehi quarterback Cammon Cooper, who is headed to Washington State. Cooper has thrown for 4,464 yards and 53 TDs this season, including 330 yards and five TDs against Springville in the state semifinals. And the Pioneers ran the ball well against Springville. Carsen Manookin topped 1,000 yards this season by gaining 163 against Springville. Both teams have the ability to score a ton of points if a shootout breaks out — Skyridge’s season high is 60 points, while Lehi scored 72 in the season opener.

TribPreps coverage • Jon Clifford and Kevin Morriss

2017 Class 4A football state football championship matchup

The Mustangs offense has leaned heavily on quarterback Brady Hall to move the ball this season. He’s thrown for 2,866 yards and 30 TDs while running for another 827 yards and nine scores. But it was Beau Robinson who shouldered the load in Mountain Crest’s 17-7 win over Stansbury in the state semifinals. He carried 21 times for 117 yards and a score. Hall still threw for 139 yards and ran for 49 yards against the Stallions, but his 188 yards was well below his average of 284.1 yards combined per game. Orem’s defense did a good job bottling up Sky View’s running game — the Bobcats only gained 64 yards on 21 carries — but surrendered 246 yards passing. Orem will counter with an offense that’s averaging 40.4 points over its last five games. Junior receiver Puka Nacua sits one TD catch short of tying the state record (24). He caught seven passes for 55 yards and a score in the Tigers’ win over Sky View. It broke a streak of four games with at least two TD catches. QB Cooper Legas was held under 200 yards passing and to less than two TD passes for the first time this season. He also threw two interceptions, but he did run for two scores.

TribPreps coverage • Tom Wharton and Kevin Morriss