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SALT LAKE CITY — I use to say whenever getting ready for a matchup of a No. 1 and 2 team that the hype is so much better than the game itself. However, I can't say that this season when it comes to high school football.
On September 6, 3A's No. 1 Manti played at No. 2 Grantsville. The game surpassed any hype from earlier in the week as the Cowboys beat the Templars 34-33 in overtime when Manti went for the two-point conversion and failed.
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Brighton head coach Ryan Bullett/RB Osa Masina
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That brings us to this week. The hype is building for another one versus two matchup in 5A. Undefeated Bingham at home with undefeated Brighton. Even though these two have had numerous battles over the years, this will be the first time they face each other since the 2005 season when the Bengals came away with a 31-19 playoff win.
Even without playing each other in the last eight years, they are still very familiar to one another.
"Ryan Bullett (Brighton head coach) was my assistant when I was at Cyprus and we talk to each other all the time," head coach Dave Peck said Monday night on my radio show.
When I asked if they have talked this week he said, "Yes we have."
Coach Peck also knows all about Bengal running back Osa Masina, who rushed for 253 yards and four touchdowns in last week's win over Alta. "I coached Osa at the seven-on-seven camp in Las Vegas," Peck said.
When you look at these two teams they are very similar. They are both averaging 39 points per game. The Miners defense is only allowing 11 points per game, while Brighton's defense gives up only 13.5. So who has the edge? If home field advantage is any indication, the Miners have the edge as they have not lost a game on their home field since 2007.
There is plenty of hype leading up to one versus two. Here's to expecting, or at least hoping, the game lives up to the "billing."
Game Night Live on KSL 5 will broadcast live from Bingham field from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday night. Leading up to kickoff you can watch the game streaming live on ksl.com
Click above to listen to interviews with Bingham Head Coach Dave Peck and Bingham LB Nick Heninger and Brighton head coach Ryan Bullett/RB Osa Masina from "High School Game Night" Monday night on ESPN 700.
