If one of the participating programs didn't have a direction in front of its school's name, it'd be easy to mistake the Class 5A football playoffs for the Region 2 pigskin tournament.
Of the four semifinalists, only West Jordan does not belong to the loaded league, which still has two of its tri-champs — Alta and Brighton — and fourth-place Skyline playing. All teams from Regions 1 (Davis /Weber counties) and 4 (Utah County) have been eliminated.
The Jaguars' path to the 5A football final four was made a bit easier when Jordan, another of the Region 2 champs, stumbled in the first round against surprise Pleasant Grove. But you won't find a 5A coach around who'd tell you the West Jordan squad got off easy and doesn't belong among the state's elite — even coaches in South Jordan, whose eliminated Bingham team got a good scare from the Jags in the regular season, would likely admit that.
The funny thing is that West Jordan, the third-place team from Region 3, faces an even bigger surprise team in the semis than itself. Though nobody should be all that surprised that Skyline made it this far, it's hard not to be when considering the Eagles flapped around on one wing at the end of the regular season while losing four consecutive contests for the first time in 20 years.
If Skyline wins that semifinal, then an all-Region 6 grand finale would be assured. Southeastern Salt Lake Valley rivals Brighton and Alta square off against each other in their second grudge match of the season.
Here's a look at the enticing 5A semifinals, to be held Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium:
WEST JORDAN vs. SKYLINE, 1:30 p.m.: If the Jaguars look a little wide-eyed and the Eagles appear at home on the Utes' field, it makes sense.
This is the first time in West Jordan's 25-year history that its football team has made a semifinal appearance. Heck, this is only the school's seventh winning season and its best year since 1992 (the only other time it won nine games).
By the way, Jaguars, the stadium is located up on the hill, just below the big "U" on the mountain and above Salt Lake City on the University of Utah campus. If you get lost, call Roger DuPaix or one of the other Skyline coaches. Their Eagles, after all, are old stand-bys in the semifinals. Incredibly, Skyline is making its 13th straight semifinal showing, its 15th in 16 years, and its 26th overall in a 44-year span. They've played on more college turfs than some college players.
Whether or not that wealth of experience from old graduates will help on the gridiron this year obviously remains to be seen. But Skyline does have the there-every-year intimidation factor going for it, not to mention the fact the Eagles have downed two ranked teams, Lone Peak and Hunter, to snap out of their losing skid.
Having a standout player like quarterback Matt Marshall helps, too. The skilled senior passed for a touchdown and rushed for another score in helping the Eagles thump Hunter in the quarterfinals. For the season, he has passed for 844 yards and six scores, and rushed for 983 yards and 17 TDs. He's the latest Marshall to succeed at Skyline, as both his older brother, Grady, and his dad, Steve, helped Skyline win titles, eight and 36 years ago, respectively.
James Johansen, Toa Taeoalii and Kalama Molisi complement Marshall on offense, while Ben Marlowe, Travis Corrigan, Taylor Sedillo, Chase Pendley, Brian Vaaulu and Siale Hautau are among the team's defensive stoppers.
Skyline's defense will have its hands full against West Jordan's potent running attack. The Jaguars have a pair of hard-to-stop 1,000-yard runners in Mike Meifu and Anthony Tincher. Meifu rushed for 137 yards and four touchdowns in the Jags' win over the Vikings last week. On the year, he has gained 1,202 yards and scored 21 times on the ground. Tincher is just as dangerous, having rushed for 1,029 yards, gained another 192 through the air while scoring 17 times.
Making West Jordan all the more tough to defend, quarterback Ryan Wilson (459) and Scott Leach (573) have combined to rush for another 1,000-plus yards. Wilson has passed for 871 yards and has scored 13 touchdowns, helping West Jordan average 32.5 points an outing.
Tincher and Wilson will also be counted on to thwart Skyline's tricky option. They are the teams' top two tacklers, with 6.4 and 6.0 stops a game, respectively. Leach and Meifu are also top defenders for the Jaguars, who'll count on the likes of Alex Pederson, Cody Brems, Dustin Littlefield, Eric Richardson and Justin Blackmore as well.
Whether it's good news for Skyline, good news for West Jordan or one of the other semifinalists or no news at all, check out this trivial tidbit provided by Utah prep football historian George Felt: Either Skyline or the team that's beaten Skyline in the playoffs during the past 18 seasons has gone on to take state. The only way that won't repeat itself is if West Jordan wins today and goes on to lose next Friday.
Records: West Jordan, 9-3 (3rd in Region 3); Skyline, 7-5 (4th in Region 2)
Playoff path: Skyline beat Lone Peak, 14-10, and Hunter, 28-7; West Jordan beat Viewmont, 14-7, and Pleasant Grove, 34-7.
All-time series: Fourth meeting; West Jordan leads 2-1
Last time: West Jordan defeated Skyline, 31-24, in 1994.
BRIGHTON vs. ALTA, 5 p.m.: This game would be fun to watch if nothing was on the line and they were playing it in someone's back yard on Thanksgiving morning. But put these rivals together on a college field with a spot in the 5A championship at stake . . . you'd better hold on tight, it's gonna be a fun ride.
The first time these next-door opponents stepped between the lines, it was a doozy of a game. Alta spoiled Brighton's homecoming when Blake Tillotson picked off a pass in the final minute to clinch a Hawk victory, 21-16 back in the middle of September.
The game had some gamesmanship going on, as was reported in the Deseret Morning News after the Sept. 16 game. A Brighton administrator made no new Alta friends by letting loose a bunch of balloons the Hawks had made and tied to the stands, citing district regulations. Alta made a late appearance after getting warmed and psyched up at its school a few miles away before the game.
Both teams can take some positives from the first game. For instance, Alta's Braden Hansen-led defense held Brighton prep superstar Mike Hague mostly in check until he broke loose for a 91-yard touchdown run. Aside from that, the Bengals' offensive highlight was a booming 57-yard field goal by Coleman Peterson, who leads the state with nine field goals.
If Alta's defense can repeat that type of stifling performance, it would certainly bode well for the Hawks' chances of returning to the state finals for the first time since 1988. But Brighton's banking on lightning not striking twice, and the Bengals, led by Hague, quarterback Matt Marietta and receiver Mike Hicken, haven't scored fewer than 30 points since beating Jordan the following week, 24-21.
Overall, the two teams are remarkably well matched. Brighton averages more points (36.0 compared to 30.42), but the squads' defenses are neck-and-neck, giving up just over two touchdowns a game (15.18 for Brighton, 16.25 for Alta).
The Hawks have a dangerous 1-2 offensive duo in running backs Boston Walbeck (887 yards, 14 TDs) and Austyn Whittenburg (744, eight TDs). And Steve Bowen has been a steady if not studly force for the Hawks. The quarterback has thrown for 1,502 yards on 96-for-186 passing (51.6 percent) and 15 touchdowns, while scrambling for another 304 yards and four TDs. His top receivers are Brian Cameron (358 yards, 15 catches), Nick Hatch (315 yards, 21 catches) and Walbeck (219 yards, 17 catches).
The Bengals seem to be a one-man show with BYU-bound Hague, who's rushed for 1,844 yards and an eye-popping 26 touchdowns. But Marietta moved the ball around decently to Matt Hamilton and Brent Grunander in the quarterfinal win over No. 1 Bingham. It could take that team concept to help the Bengals get back to the finals for the first time since the Reno Mahe era back in 1997. This is Brighton's third semifinal in four years.
Records: Brighton, 10-1 (Tied for 1st in Region 2, 3rd seed after coin toss); Alta, 9-3 (Tied for 1st in Region 2, 2nd seed after coin toss).
Playoff path: Brighton beat American Fork, 31-19, and Bingham, 31-24; Alta beat Spanish Fork, 58-12, and Fremont, 26-17.
All-time series: 29th meeting; Brighton leads 17-11
Last time: Alta beat Brighton, 21-16, on Sept. 16.
E-mail: jody@desnews.com