High school football: 5A playoff preview

Class 5A

Upper Bracket

West Panthers (7-3) @ No. 5 Riverton Silverwolves (9-1) Friday, 6 pm

Riverton enjoyed the best start in school history (8-0) and the best record in school history (9-1). Now they hope to accomplish another first for the school that opened in 1999; a win in the playoffs. The Silverwolves have reached the postseason in five previous seasons only to see their season end in the first round. On offense their strength is the run. Tua Laei is their leading rusher this season piling up 848 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 9.42 yards per carry but several backs will carry the ball including quarterback Eric Thoreson, Skyler Fullmer, Tate Linford and Stratton Brown will all get carries. The Silverwolves are solid on the line of scrimmage where 6-3, 285 pound Anthony Crawford anchors the line on both sides of the ball. On defense a coach described them to me as physical, tough and gritty.

The Silverwolves may be looking in the mirror Friday night. West also likes to run the football. Anetipa Vaisagano rushed for 1,021 yards this season and scored 14 touchdowns while averaging 10 yards a carry. He is joined in the backfield by Eric Takenaka who scored 7 touchdowns on the ground this season. Like Riverton, West is also very physical on both sides of the ball. The Panthers have some nice wins against Juan Diego and Hunter.

Just because these teams like to run doesn't mean they don't score points. Both teams average more than 30 points per game. This should be a tough physical game and West will be a good test for Riverton but the Silverwolves have more depth which should allow them to hold off the challenge from the Panthers

Prediction: Riverton 27 West 14

Most exciting players to watch: Tua Laei, RB Riverton, Anetipa Vaisegano RB West

Syracuse Titans (6-3) @ No. 3 Lone Peak (9-1) Friday, 3 pm

The Lone Peak Knights just completed an undefeated run through Region 4 and have to be very confident heading into the 5A Playoffs. A two point loss to Highland back on September 3rd is the only thing separating them from a perfect regular season. Quarterback Chase Hansen has provided a huge boost to the Knights offense after transferring from American Fork. He is the team's leading rusher with 776 yards and 6 touchdowns while completing 64 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns. They also get huge production from Talon Shumway who has rushed for 10 scores, caught a touchdown pass and thrown for 5 as the team's backup quarterback. While the offense has stars the Knights pride themselves on defense. They held their opponents to just 13 points a game which is impressive when you consider the high powered offenses they had to face this season.

Lone Peak drew a tough first round opponent in Syracuse. The Titans took Fremont and Davis to overtime and since those two losses they have dominated their opponents. They are stingy on defense giving up just 10.56 points per game. Braxton Lucero picked off four passes and returned two for touchdowns while Hunter Dimmick leads 5A in sacks with 12. On offense, quarterback Tyler Jacobsen rushed for 563 yards and 3 touchdowns and also passed for 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has athletes to throw the ball to in Lucero, Diante Mitchell, and Shane Russell while running back Miles Persinger runs behind a big physical offensive line.

This game should be low scoring and a defensive score could prove to be the difference in the ball game. In close games like this in the playoffs you have to go with the home team.

Prediction: Lone Peak 14 Syracuse 10

Most exciting players to watch: Talon Shumway, RB/QB Lone Peak, Braxton Lucero, WR/DB Syracuse

Pleasant Grove @ No. 4 Fremont Silverwolves (8-1) Sat. 1 pm

Before the season many penciled in Davis as the Region 1 champion but instead Fremont surprised everyone but themselves by knocking off the Darts on their home field and claiming the region crown. The Silverwolves swept through Region 1 thanks to their ability to win close games. They beat Syracuse in overtime and Northridge in double overtime. They also survived a scare from Weber winning 10-7 and led Davis by only one point for most of the game. Their star on offense is running back Nick Vigil who led 5A this season with 1,176 yards rushing. Defensively the Silverwolves are solid giving up just 13.56 points per game.

For Pleasant Grove this has been a down year after the success they have enjoyed in recent years. After losing several players to graduation who earned division I scholarship offers, their streak of 4 straight seasons with a winning record comes to an end. They are one of just two teams to qualify for the 5A playoffs with a negative scoring differential. The fact that they played one of the toughest schedules in the state hasn't helped. Three of their four non-region games were against Timpview, Riverton and Bingham, in that order, to start the season. Add region contests with Lone Peak and Jordan and it all adds up to a brutal schedule.

The Vikings have shown a lot of heart recently knocking off Alta on the road just to keep their playoff hopes a live and then beating Brighton to earn a spot in the playoffs. Thanks to their tough schedule Fremont won't intimidate them but going on the road and upsetting the Region 1 champs may be too much to ask

Prediction: Fremont 14 Pleasant Grove 7

Most exciting player to watch: Austin Heder LB Pleasant Grove, Nick Vigil RB Fremont

Kearns Cougars (7-3) @ Skyline Eagles (5-4) Fri. 4 pm

The Kearns Cougars have quietly put together a successful season. They won 7 games this season for the first time since 1993 and are enjoying just their 3rd winning season since winning a state championship in 1989. They have won 4 in a row since losing to Bingham and enter the playoffs with plenty of confidence. They are led by quarterback J.R. Finai who has rushed for 13 touchdowns and has thrown for 8 more. The Cougars are big and physical at the line of scrimmage.

Skyline Head Coach Roger Dupaix just coached his state record 400th game. He has led Skyline to 22 straight winning seasons. Mike Pell runs the option for Dupaix at quarterback while the Eagles leading rusher is Andy Rounds who averages 10 yards per carry and reached the end zone 7 times. It's no secret what Skyline wants to do. It's up to the Cougar defense to stop it.

This may be the most evenly matched first round matchup in 5A. This game should be very close and turnovers could be the difference in the game. Head Coach Bill Cosper may have his kids on the brink of a breakthrough and it wouldn't surprise me if they won but it's hard to go against Dupaix and the Eagles. They are 35-0 all-time at home in the playoffs.

Prediction: Skyline 28 Kearns 24

Most exciting player to watch: Andy Rounds, RB Skyline J.R. Finai QB Kearns

Lower Bracket

Jordan Beetdiggers (7-3) @ Davis Darts (8-1) Friday 4:30 pm

You won't find a first round playoff matchup with more contrast in style than Jordan vs. Davis. The Darts are known for their defense. They have held their opponents to just 9.89 points per game. Only Bingham, at 8.89 has allowed fewer points per game in 5A. They also have perhaps the top college prospect in Utah in the class of 2012 in defensive end Tanner Hinds.

Jordan is known for their high scoring offense led by quarterback McCoy Hill. He is just 31 yards short of a 1,000-yard rushing season while he has passed for more than 2,600 yards and 20 touchdowns. In one game this season he accounted for more than 500 total yards. Only once this season did Jordan fail to score 24 points or more in a game including 30 against Lone Peak, a team who ranks 6th in 5A in average points allowed per game.

The Beetdiggers also gain confidence from a 27-17 win over Region 1 champion Fremont, a team that defeated Davis 14-6 just two weeks ago. Davis can gain confidence from last year's experience. They lost a heartbreaker to Viewmont in week 7 then won 5 straight games to reach the state championship game. Experience is great but the key to a Davis win might be its offense. In the three games they played this season against other 5A playoff teams they averaged just 9 points per game. Quarterback Gavin Fowler and the Darts offense has to do better than that against Jordan or their season will end early. I have a feeling they will.

Prediction: Davis 21 Jordan 14

Most exciting player to watch: Daniel Moffat, WR Davis McCoy Hill QB Jordan

Herriman Mustangs (4-6) @ No. 2 Cottonwood Colts (9-0) Fri. 4pm

Cottonwood has dedicated this season to the memory of their head coach Teko Johnson who passed away last summer. They have been playing inspired football all season starting with their dramatic come-from-behind victory over Alta in week one. Josh Lyman has taken over the program as head coach and they haven't skipped a beat.

Their offense is averaging 43 points per game led by sophomore quarterback Cooper Bateman who already has a scholarship offer from Utah. He has thrown 17 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. The Colts also have one of the top running backs in the state in Naden Hosea. He has rushed for 1,023 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, Cottonwood has given up just 14 points per game. Rich King leads the team with 8.5 sacks, Ben Heimuli is drawing interest from big name colleges, and Kami Sofele and James Washington have returned interceptions for touchdowns.

Herriman has qualified for the postseason in it's first year of existence. Veteran head coach Larry Wilson has a tremendous resume and has done a fantastic job establishing this program. Their offense is led by running back Francis Bernard who leads the team with 722 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns. In a must-win game against West Jordan on October 13th, Bernard rushed for 200 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Reaching the post-season will only help the Mustangs program in the future, as their young players will gain valuable experience. But Cottonwood is a talented, motivated and well-coached bunch. It's hard to see them having a letdown in this game.

Prediction: Cottonwood 49 Herriman 7

Players to watch: Ben Heimuli DE Cottonwood, Naden Hosea RB Cottonwood

Hunter Wolverines (7-3) @ No. 1 Bingham Miners (9-0) Sat. 2:30 pm

Bingham has been lauded as the best high school football team in state history. So far they have backed up that statement. At last count this team has 13 players with Division I scholarship offers. They are not only undefeated but they have destroyed their opponents. Their average margin of victory is 43.22 points per game. They trailed at halftime only once.

They have a chance to break the state scoring record. 3-year starter Harvey Langi at running back leads the offense. He is the most highly recruited player in the state in the 2011 class. Langi has rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the third straight season. He has 15 rushing touchdowns this season and is averaging 9 yards a carry. The Miners offense is also very balanced thanks to the play of quarterback Stefan Cantwell. He can beat teams with the run or his arm. He has completed 61 percent of his passes and thrown 18 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His talented receiving corps led by Brady Measom and Josh Smith has made big plays this season. Cantwell has also scored 4 times on the ground and has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his last two games.

Defensively they are even better. They have held their opponents to just 9 points per game. It's virtually impossible to run against their front seven. Their roster on defense reads like a "Who's Who" list on Scout.com or Rivals.

Hunter is as big and physical a team as there is in the state. They love to line up and smack teams in the mouth. They may have the biggest offensive line in the state led by BYU commit Ului Lapuaho. They make holes for their high-powered run game led by Equasi Tavo and Leva Bloomfield. Defensively they are one of the best in the state giving up just 12 points per game. Tevita Bloomfield, a Utah commit, leads the defense.

The Wolverines do have size but their strength, the run game, plays right into the strength of the Miners defense, which is stopping the run. Without the ability to spread the field with the passing game it could be a long Saturday afternoon for Hunter.

Prediction: Bingham 56 Hunter 7

Players to watch: Harvey Langi, RB Bingham, Tevita Bloomfield, RB/LB Hunter

Northridge Knights (8-2) @ Alta Hawks (4-6) Fri. 4pm

This has been a disappointing season for the Alta Hawks. They were expected to be the team to challenge Bingham for the state title. Instead they suffered their first losing season since a 4-6 finish in 2004. Playing the toughest schedule in the state took its toll. Les Hamilton will step down as head coach at the end of the season to pursue a business opportunity in Chile. He established himself as one of the best coaches in the state winning back-to-back state championships in 2007 and 2008. His players would love nothing more than to give him a win in his final home game. The Hawks have talent but turnovers have hurt them badly this season. On offense, they will rely on the talent of running back Taylor Eyring to open things up for the pass game. Eyring has rushed for almost 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. Defensively, linebacker Nik Wolford leads the state with 133 tackles while BYU commit Rhett Sandlin and Austin Lee anchor a very solid secondary.

Northridge is just two or three plays away from an undefeated season. They lost at Davis by just three points and took Region 1 champion Fremont to double overtime before falling 27-21. Brock Johnson leads the Knights offense and defense. As a running back he has rushed for 806 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively he leads the team in tackles with 109. The defense as a group gives up just an average of 12 points per game.

It wouldn't be a surprise if Alta found a way to get Coach Hamilton another win setting up another Bingham vs. Alta game but Northridge looks to be too good to let that happen.

Prediction: Northridge 24 Alta 21

Players to watch: Rhett Sandlin DB, Alta Brock Johnson RB/DB Northridge

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