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There is plenty of history between these two teams. Dixie ended Springville's season last year in the first round of the playoffs with a thrilling 40-36 victory after beating them in week one of that season 21-3. The teams met again to kick off the 2009 season with Springville getting revenge 21-14. The Red Devils were down 14-0 but stormed back with 21 unanswered points to get the win.Now both teams take 7 game winning streaks the turf of Rice-Eccles with the winner advancing to the 4A state championship game. The Rebels received good news this week when star quarterback Mike Sharp was reinstated after being ejected from their quarterfinal win over Bonneville. Sharp was ejected for, what officials thought was, throwing a punch. After the UHSAA staff reviewed a number of tapes from different angles they opted to overturn Sharp's ejection.
Why is Sharp's return to the lineup such a big deal? He has completed 74 percent of his passes for almost 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns while he is just 57 yards short of a 1,000-yard rushing season while carrying the ball for 13 touchdowns. That is a lot of offensive production by one player. His absence would have been devastating for the Flyers who average 30 points a game. Especially when you consider how good Springville is defensively. The Red Devils have allowed just 12.5 points a game and held the Flyers to half their average in week one.
The Springville offense is very dangerous with the ability to score through the air in a high scoring shootout or the ability to grind out a win on the ground in a close game like they did against Woods Cross in the quarterfinals. Judging by their game in week one this should be a very close contest.
