SALT LAKE CITY - Juan Diego can join elite company this season. They can become just the 6th school in Utah history, and just the 4th in the modern era to win four consecutive state football championships.

Achieving that milestone won't be easy; in fact, this team may face a more difficult path than the previous three Juan Diego teams.

Realignment has added some talented teams to the 3A classification. Spanish Fork and Stansbury have moved down from 4A and become instant contenders in 3A. Delta, Cedar and Desert Hills are all worthy contenders that could give Juan Diego a challenge.

And then there is Hurricane. A fourth consecutive post- season meeting between these two 3A powers would be epic. But unlike the last three classics, they would meet this time in the semifinals. The clash seems inevitable but a couple teams will do their best to see that the rematch never happens.

Here is a look at the matchups in the 3A quarterfinals.

Grantsville (7-4) at Hurricane (10-0) 5 p.m.

The Hurricane Tigers are on a mission. They have been one play away from winning a state title for three consecutive seasons. Heartbreaking losses in the last three state championship games could have deflated most programs but it has only seemed to make this program stronger. They are sick of having to ask questions about it. They seem determined to breakthrough and win their first 11 man state title.

This may be their most talented team. Their backfield is loaded with stars led by Brian Scott who has rushed for 1,128 yards and 24 touchdowns. Speedster Adam Thompson averages 11 yards per carry and has found the end zone 9 times and Weston Yardley averages 12 yards a carry and scored 6 times. That's a lot of production out of the backfield. Hurricane makes no secret what they plan to do on offense. They will run it down your throat and dare you to stop them.

That is the challenge for the Grantsville Cowboys who are enjoying their best season since reaching the state championship game in 2003. They started the season 0-3 but an overtime win over Morgan sparked a 5-game winning streak and a 2nd place finish in region 11. They are led by Ky Fisher who has rushed for 10 touchdowns on offense and sacked the quarterback 5 times on defense.

Grantsville faces a difficult challenge Friday traveling 277 miles to face the No. 1 team in the state. They will be heavy underdogs against the Tigers. Hurricane can't afford to look past the Cowboys to a possible rematch with their nemesis Juan Diego in the semifinals.

KSL Prediction: Hurricane 42, Grantsville 7

Spanish Fork (8-3) at Juan Diego (10-1) Friday 4:00 p.m.

Juan Diego might be better than they were last year when they won their 3rd consecutive 3A state championship. The 2011 team is giving up 3 fewer points per game and has been much more explosive on offense scoring nearly 11 more points per game. That is bad news for 3A teams hoping to end Juan Diego's dynasty. On offense, Brock Garn has made a seamless transition from quarterback to running back. He is a triple threat in the Soaring Eagle offense. He ran for a touchdown, threw for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass in their first round win over Dixie. He has accounted for 19 touchdowns this season. Dakota Cox is the team's leading receiver and tackler with 82. Defensively they hold their opponents to just 7.91 points per game and have three consecutive shutouts.

That defense will face their toughest test of the season on Friday. As good as Juan Diego is on defense Spanish Fork is similarly good on offense. They have averaged 34 points per game this season against tough competition. Hayden Neilson is a three-year starter at Quarterback for the Dons and has thrown for 2,464 yards, 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He also has 616 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Running back Christian Taele has also had a big year rushing for 1,204 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Dons played a difficult schedule for a 3A team with games against Logan, American Fork, Springville, Delta and Judge. They hope that tough schedule prepared them for games like this against Juan Diego.

KSL Prediction: Juan Diego 21 Spanish Fork 7

Cedar (5-5) at Delta (10-1) Friday 5 p.m.

Delta has one of the smallest enrollment numbers in 3A yet they have qualified for the playoffs for a state-record 37th consecutive season. They don't just qualify for the playoffs; they usually win in the playoffs. The Rabbits have reached the quarterfinals they have advanced to the quarterfinals in 7 consecutive seasons. Since becoming a 3A school in 1993 the Rabbits have reached the semifinals nine times taking state in 2001 and 1995. They have failed to win a playoff game just 4 times in 19 seasons. That is an impressive run they hope to build on this postseason. Their option attack is led by quarterback Colin Christiansen and running backs Christian Hatch and Kayden Hughes. Hatch rushed for 1,009 yards and 10 touchdowns while the three combined for 29 rushing touchdowns. Christensen has also starred on defense leading the team in interceptions with 6. The defense allows just 13.7 points per game.

The Rabbits will host a Cedar team that is playing as well as anyone in 3A. The Redmen got off to a rough start thanks to a very difficult schedule. They faced American Fork, Highland, Skyline and Hurricane and started the season 0-4. Now that tough schedule is paying off as they've won five of their last six including dominant wins over Desert Hills and Judge. The key to their 2nd half surge is the play of quarterback John Ursua. He was one of the most exciting players last season leading Westlake to the 4A playoffs. During the offseason he moved to Cedar City and is having the same impact on the Redmen. He has rushed for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing 9 touchdown passes.

These teams both run the option and play a blue collar style of football. It may feel like looking into the mirror for both teams but it should provide for a fantastic quarterfinal matchup.

KSL prediction: Cedar 21 Delta 14

Desert Hills (7-3) at Stansbury (9-1) Friday 5 p.m.

5th ranked Stansbury is one of the best stories of the high school football season. The Stallions have found success after making the move from 4A to 3A. They have 9 wins this season after winning just three games in their first two seasons combined. On offense they average 36.5 points per game. Only Hurricane and Juan Diego have scored more points in 3A. On defense they give up only an average of 10 points per game which only trails Juan Diego's 7.91 points per game. The Stallions high-scoring option attack is led by quarterback Chase Christensen who has rushed for 1,117 yards and 18 touchdowns. On defense they are led by Jeremy Cafe who has 12 sacks and Colton May who has 96 tackles and 3 interceptions. They are big, fast and physical outscoring their opponents by an average of 26 points per game.

Stansbury has been impressive but they have only faced one ranked opponent all season, a 21-6 loss at Delta. Facing Desert Hills in the quarterfinals is a chance to prove to the rest of the state that they are legit contenders.

The Thunder are loaded with talent and got off to a great 6-1 start this season. But injuries began to pile up and the Thunder suffered blowout losses to Hurricane and Cedar knocking them out of the top five in 3A. A first round playoff win over Park City may have them back on the right track. They are led on offense by running back Mike Needham who has rushed for 959 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has rushed for more than 100 yards five times this season and if healthy will test that fast and physical Stansbury defense. Desert Hills is led on defense by Nate Brinker who has 8.5 sacks and Peter Brown who has 93 tackles.

This is one of the best quarterfinal matchups regardless of classification with the winner earning the first semifinal berth in school history.

KSL Prediction: Stansbury 21 Desert Hills 17

Email: jjensen@ksl.com

Twitter: @JJSportsBeat

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