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SALT LAKE CITY — There have been 12 teams this year that have tried to beat East; all of them failed. The Leopards enter the 4A semifinals with a perfect 12-0 record with an average margin of victory of 36 points. No team has come closer than 18 points, and that was Alta in week one.
Can any of the remaining three teams in 4A challenge a team that many believe is the best in state, regardless of classification? We will find out beginning Thursday afternoon.
Olympus (10-1) vs. No. 1 East (12-0), 2:30 p.m.
This feels like David vs. Goliath. East is a team loaded with several players who have committed to play at the next level for BCS schools. Olympus doesn't have any.
The Titans have shown they won't back down from any challenge and they won't be intimidated on Thursday. They shared the Region 7 title with Orem and Corner Canyon but lost a coin flip and had to travel for the first round of the playoffs.
The Titans knocked off Springville on the road with a miraculous double hook and lateral with just two seconds left on the clock. Olympus then made the trip to Logan and knocked off the No. 2 team in the state.
Olympus is led by running back Coleman Meier, who has had a season worthy of MVP consideration. He has rushed for 1,218 yards and 17 touchdowns. That doesn't account for his return yards and his five touchdown receptions.
The Titans have also been stout on defense, ranking fourth in 4A in scoring defense. Jeff Faletoi has been fantastic with 53 tackles, 10 sacks and three interceptions, including an interception return for a touchdown in the win over Logan.
To pull off the upset they will have to do what no other team has been able to do: Slow down the East offense.
The Leopards rank first in scoring offense in the entire state and are loaded with weapons in both the pass and run game.
Wisconsin commit Ula Tolutau just passed the 2,000-yard mark on the ground and 29 touchdowns. If you find a way to contain him the Leopards can hand the ball off to Preston Curtis, who has 872 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. There is also running back Malaki Solovi who has 733 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. They also have a dual threat quarterback in Isaac Valles who has rushed for 637 yards and six touchdowns and completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,677 yards and 16 touchdowns. His top target is tight end Joe Tukuafu, who is committed to play at Utah. He has 36 catches for 681 yards and eight touchdowns.
The defense, which is also loaded with talent, features Stanford commit Christian Folau who has 142 tackles and 11.5 sacks and leads a defense which gives up just 15 points per game (second in 4A).
East is a heavy favorite, but Olympus has the talent and the heart to make things interesting.
KSL prediction: East 42, Olympus 10
No. 4 Woods Cross (11-1) vs. No. 3 Timpview (11-1), 6:30 p.m.
While East dominated the competition and Chase Nelson put up huge numbers for Logan this season, the defending 4A state champions have quietly put together another dominant season.
Timpview is 11-1 and returns to the semifinals for the seventh time in the last eight years. They crushed region competition by an average score of 45-7. Just three weeks ago they crushed Lone peak 29-6. Lone Peak has advanced to the 5A Semifinals with wins over Syracuse and Alta.
Because East has been so good, Timpview is rarely talked about as the team to beat in 4A. They look to have the talent to give East a run.
The offense is led by dual-threat quarterback Britain Covey, who rushed for 1,111 yards and 16 touchdowns and completed 69 percent of his passes for 1,413 yards and 22 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Timpview has not lost since he was named the starter in week 3.
Covey isn't the only 1,000-yard rusher for the Thunderbirds; Kendall Tuua has rushed for 1,063 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Thunderbirds lead 4A in scoring defense, giving up just 12.3 points per game. Isaiah Nacua is one of the top-rated prospects in the West and leads the Timpview defense with 18 sacks. Gave Reid isn't far behind with 13.5 sacks. Pio Stowers is another playmaker on defense with six interceptions and three sacks to go along with 64 tackles.
Timpview will face another 11-1 team whose only loss is to East.
Woods Cross has reached the semifinals for the first time since 1993. The Wildcats have been very balanced on offense and like to spread the ball around to a number of skill players. There are 15 different players on offense who have scored touchdowns.
The Wildcats have a number of athletes who star on both sides of the ball. Xequille Harry leads the team in receiving with 31 catches for 697 yards and eight touchdowns. He is also a defensive leader with six interceptions.
Braxton Gunther leads the team in rushing with 745 yards and eight touchdowns and tackles with 63. Tomasi Giles has scored six times at the fullback position and also leads the defense with nine sacks.
Timpview clearly has an edge when it comes to depth, but Woods Cross has plenty of talented athletes that will allow the Wildcats to give the Thunderbirds all they can handle.
KSL prediction: Timpview 35, Woods Cross 28
