Fremont (7-4, 3-4) at Bingham (9-1, 5-0)
5A State Tournament first round
Saturday, 3 p.m.
Parry's Power Guide: Bingham by 17
All-time series: Bingham leads 4-3.
Last meeting: 2006 regular season, Bingham won 44-20
It's only fitting these teams are meeting in the playoffs.
For seven straight years from 2000 to 2006 Bingham and Fremont played each other in the preseason. Both coaches said they looked forward to the match-up every year knowing their players were in for a great test.
Ironically enough, they didn't end up playing each other this year.
Both schools agreed to bypass this year's game so they could play out-of-state teams in a doubleheader in Cedar City in Week 3. Bingham ended up beating Kahuku, Hawaii whereas Fremont beat Dorsey, Calif., 27-7. Eight weeks later Fremont and Bingham finally meet.
Defending 5A state champion Bingham is a huge favorite in this game. Led by BYU signees Justin Sorensen and Austin Holt, not to mention 2007 Mr. Football candidate Sam Langi, the Miners are a major force once again. Offensively they average just over 36 points and only surrender 11.8 ppg.
Fremont is no doubt happy to still be playing. After starting the season 3-0, Fremont promptly lost four of five before closing the season with wins over Syracuse and Clearfield. That created a rematch with Clearfield in Tuesday's play-in game, and Fremont again won easily 33-14.
As good as Chase Moore was in the two Clearfield games, he'll have to be even better if Fremont is to have any chance against Bingham.
Fremont Silver Wolves statistical breakdown
Scoring offense: 24.4 ppg
Scoring defense: 14.3 ppg
Passing leader: Chase Moore (157-285, 55.1%, 2,128 yards, 20 TDs)
Rushing leader: Dalton Aiken (71 rushes, 275 yards, 2 TDs)
Receiving leader: Derek Monkres (66 receptions, 1,069 yards, 7 TDs)
Tackles leader: Brandon Bennett, Blake Jenkins (79 tackles)
Sacks leader: Mitch Newey (2 1/2 sacks)
Interceptions leader: Wes Hulse (5 interceptions)
Note: Fremont's yardage stats and defensive stats to do not reflect Tuesday's play-in game
Bingham Miners statistical breakdown
Scoring offense: 36.1 ppg
Scoring defense: 11.8 ppg
Passing leader: Logan Cantwell (34-81, 42.0%, 574 yards, 8 TDs)
Rushing leader: Sam Langi (139 rushes, 1,329 yards, 17 TDs)
Receiving leader: Austin Holt (24 receptions, 429 yards, 5 TDs)
Tackles leader: Forrest Dabb (84 tackles)
Sacks leader: Forrest Dabb (3 sacks)
Interceptions leader: 10 players tied with 1
Fremont game-by-game results
08/17/07 ... Fremont 22, East 17
08/24/07 ... Fremont 21, Mountain Crest 3
09/01/07 ... Fremont 27, Dorsey, Calif. 7
09/07/07 ... Layton 23, Fremont 13
09/14/07 ... Northridge 31, Fremont 27
09/21/07 ... Viewmont 7, Fremont 0
09/28/07 ... Fremont 37, Weber 7
10/05/07 ... Davis 7, Fremont 6
10/12/07 ... Fremont 33, Syracuse 20
10/19/07 ... Fremont 49, Clearfield 21
10/23/07 ... Fremont 33, Clearfield 14
Bingham game-by-game results
08/17/07 ... Bingham 34, Skyline 7
08/24/07 ... Bingham 23, Alta 20
09/01/07 ... Bingham 27, Kahuku, Hawaii 0
09/07/07 ... Jordan 36, Bingham 35
09/14/07 ... Bingham 31, Lone Peak 3
09/21/07 ... Bingham 44, West Jordan 13
09/27/07 ... Bingham 40, Kearns 6
10/04/07 ... Bingham 42, Riverton 12
10/12/07 ... Bingham 30, Hunter 7
10/18/07 ... Bingham 55, Copper Hills 14