Championship clashes
Among the four teams vying for championships this Saturday, Class 3A’s Juab seeks its first state football crown in 65 seasons. The Wasps take on Morgan, which claims six championships, but none since 1997.
In 2A, Milford makes its third straight title-game appearance. The Tigers, two-time defending Class 1A champs, have captured state laurels three times. They face Beaver, which has won 11 championships, the last in 2016. The Beavers, after losing in the semifinals last season, advance to the finals for the fourth time in five years.
Back for more
In the three larger classifications, seven of the 12 semifinalists repeat from last year. In Class 6A, defending champ Lone Peak returns for the fifth consecutive time — a school record — and for the ninth time in 10 seasons (missed in 2014). Corner Canyon, the defending 5A champion, is back for the third straight time (the last two in 5A). American Fork, the 2018 Class 6A runner-up, qualifies for the second year in a row.
In the Class 5A ranks, Orem, the two-time defending 4A champ, revisits Rice-Eccles Stadium for the third straight year. And in Class 4A, Dixie, Park City and Pine View are back for the second consecutive season — for Dixie, it’s the seventh time in eight years.
The other semifinalists
East (6A) returns to semifinal round for the fourth time in five seasons and the seventh time in nine years. Lehi (5A), which won it all in 2017, and Sky View (4A) appear for the second time in three seasons.
Meanwhile, Salem Hills (5A) advances to the semis for the first time in its 12-year history. Timpview’s (5A) most recent semifinal trip was in 2015, although this year marks the T-birds’ 13th semifinal in 18 seasons and the 17th in 24.
Eight of the semifinal teams display at least one championship trophy in their showcase. The four others, Park City (112th season), Pine View (37th), Salem Hills (12th) and Sky View (56th), still seek their first.
Current longest winning streaks
- Corner Canyon – 24 games
- Beaver, Park City – 12
- Juab, Sky View – 10
- Pine View – 9
A semifinal first
The Class 5A semifinals feature four teams from Utah County — the first time four schools from that county have monopolized a semifinal round. The last time all four semifinalists in a single classification came from the same county: 2005, when the final four in 5A were from Salt Lake.
Threats to top seeds?
In the history of the playoffs, just 16 teams have defeated unbeaten No. 1 seeds. Last year in the Class 4A quarterfinals, for example, No. 2 Park City ousted No. 1 Sky View which came into the game with a sparkling 10-0 record. This week, Lone Peak (vs. Corner Canyon) in 6A, Pine View (vs. Park City) in 4A and Milford (vs. Beaver) in 2A take a shot at joining that exclusive list.
Playoff matchup notes
Within each classification, games are ordered according to UHSAA bracketing and includes each team’s seeding.
Class 6A semifinals
Among the semifinalists in 6A, East claims 18 state championships, American Fork, two, Lone Peak, two and Corner Canyon, one.
- No. 1 Corner Canyon (12-0) vs. No. 20 Lone Peak (4-9)
Series history: Corner Canyon leads 1-0. The Chargers won 21-17 on Sept. 27 (week 7) at Corner Canyon.
Coach vs. coach: Corner Canyon’s Eric Kjar is 1-0 vs. Lone Peak’s Bart Brockbank.
Current winning streaks: Current winning streaks: Corner Canyon — 24 (tied for the seventh longest in state history and two games away from a tie for sixth), Lone Peak — 4.
Corner Canyon’s last semifinal: 2019, overcame Olympus 20-15 on its way to capturing the Class 5A crown.
Lone Peak’s last semifinal: 2019, blitzed Pleasant Grove 29-0 en route to winning the Class 6A title.
Corner Canyon’s playoff record (sixth appearance in seven seasons — missed in 2016): 12-4.
Eric Kjar’s playoff record at Corner Canyon (third appearance in three years): 8-1. He’s 20-8 overall (11th appearance in 11 years), including 12-7 at Jordan (2009-16). Semifinal record: 1-1 at CC and 2-4 overall, including 1-3 at Jordan. Two state championships, at Jordan in 2012 and at Corner Canyon in 2018.
Lone Peak’s playoff record (21st appearance in 24 seasons): 38-18.
Bart Brockbank’s playoff record (third appearance in three seasons): 9-1. Semifinal record: 1-1. State championship at Lone Peak in 2018.
Corner Canyon has matched its best-ever start and most wins set in 2014 and last year. Since 2017, the Chargers are 35-1.
- No. 6 East (10-3) vs. No. 7 American Fork (9-4)
Series history: East leads 5-2 since 1944.
Last meeting: American Fork won 57-45 on Sept. 4 (week 4) at East.
Coach vs. coach: East’s Brandon Matich and American Fork’s Aaron Behm are tied 1-1 (East eliminated American Fork in a 2017 quarterfinal, 67-31.)
Current winning streaks: East — 6, American Fork — 3.
East’s last semifinal: 2017, tripped Lone Peak 28-13 but lost to Bingham in the title contest.
American Fork’s last semifinal: 2018, got by Bingham 28-21 before falling to Lone Peak in the finals.
East’s playoff record (47th appearance in 106 seasons): 66-29-2.
Brandon Matich’s playoff record at East (10th appearance in 10 seasons, since 2010): 24-7. He’s 28-11 overall (14th appearance in 15 seasons), including 4-4 at Park City. Semifinal record: 4-2 at East and 4-4 overall, including 0-2 at Park City. Two state championships, at East in 2015 and ’16.
AF’s playoff record (41st appearance in 94 seasons): 32-38.
Aaron Behm’s playoff record (seventh appearance in 10 seasons, since 2010): 12-6. Semifinal record: 2-1.
East has captured its 13th 10-win season and its fourth in the past five years.
An American Fork win gives the Cavemen reached double-digit victories for second straight year, but for just the fifth time in the program’s 94 seasons. American Fork’s two state titles came in 1961 and ’62.
Class 5A semifinals
Timpview has 11 state championships, Orem, seven and Lehi, three.
- No. 1 Salem Hills (11-1) vs. No. 12 Orem (8-4)
Series history: Orem leads 5-4 since 2009.
Last meeting: Orem clobbered the Skyhawks 49-14 on Sept. 28, 2018.
Coach vs. coach: Orem’s Jeremy Hill is 2-0 Salem Hills’ Harry Schwenke.
Current winning streaks: Salem Hills — 4, Orem — 3
Salem Hills’ first semifinal.
Orem’s last semifinal: 2018, slammed Pine View 62-20 en route to its second consecutive Class 4A title.
Salem Hills’ playoff record (ninth appearance in 12 years): 4-8.
Harry Schwenke’s playoff record (third appearance in three years): 2-2, first semifinal.
Orem’s playoff record (55th appearance in 91 seasons): 59-47.
Jeremy Hill’s playoff record (fourth appearance in four years): 11-1. Semifinal record: 2-0. Hill has won 11 straight playoff games, tying him with Beaver’s Al Marshall (1979-82) and East’s Brandon Matich (2015-17) for the eighth longest playoff winning streak — by a coach — in state history. (Skyline’s Roger DuPaix owns the record: 23 victories in a row from 1995-2000.)
Salem Hills (11-1) set a school record for victories, surpassing 10 wins in 2014.
Five schools have won four playoff games over at least three straight seasons. Orem tries to become the sixth. The others: Skyline (five seasons, 1995-99), Timpview (four seasons, 2006-09), Juan Diego (three seasons, 2008-10), Northridge (three seasons, 2000-02) and Timpview (three seasons, 2012-14).
- No. 10 Timpview (10-3) vs. No. 11 Lehi (10-3)
Series history: Timpview leads 5-0 since 2005, all regular season games.
Last meeting: Timpview controlled the Pioneers 28-9 on Sept. 27 (week 7) at Timpview.
Coach vs. coach: Timpview’s Andy Stokes is 1-0 vs. Lehi’s Ed Larson.
Current winning streaks: Timpview – 5, Lehi – 5.
Timpview’s last semifinal: 2015, blasted Highland 49-27 before falling to East in the Class 4A title bout.
Lehi’s last semifinal: 2017, walloped Springville 41-21 en route to the Class 5A crown.
Timpview’s playoff record (39th appearance in 43 seasons): 74-27.
Andy Stokes’ playoff record at Timpview (second appearance in two years): 4-1. He’s 8-4 overall (fifth appearance in five years), including 4-3 at Dixie (2015-17). Semifinal record: 1-1, at Dixie.
Lehi’s playoff record (35th appearance in 98 seasons): 27-31.
Ed Larson’s playoff record at Lehi (fourth appearance in six seasons, since 2014): 8-2. He’s 8-7 overall (nine appearances in 14 seasons), including 0-2 at Provo (1993-94) and 0-3 at Timpanogos (2010-13). (Larson also coached at Ogden from 2004-05.) State championship at Lehi in 2017. Semifinal record: 1-0.
Timpview enjoys its 17th double-digit win season (in 43 years) and first since 2015. Lehi celebrates its sixth 10-win campaign (in 98 seasons) and first since 2017.
The margins of Timpview’s victories over Lehi, chronologically: 24, 28, 45, 35 and 19 points.
Class 4A semifinals
Dixie owns eight championships.
- No. 1 Park City (12-0) vs. No. 5 Pine View (9-2)
Series history: Tied 1-1. Pine View handled PC 24-8 in 1994, but Park City avenged with a 31-28 clipping on Nov. 3, 2001; both were Class 3A quarterfinal contests at Pine View.
Coach vs. coach: First meeting between Park City’s Josh Montzingo and Pine View’s Ray Hosner.
Current winning streaks: Park City — 12 (school record, surpassing 10 straight wins in 1981, 2006 and ’09, and tied for second-longest active streak), Pine View — 9.
Park City’s last semifinal: 2018, lost to Dixie 20-0. The Miners last reached the title game in 2001 where they dropped to Delta.
Pine View’s last semifinal: 2018, crushed by eventual state champ Orem 62-20. The Panthers last appeared in the finals in 2016 where they fell to Desert Hills.
Park City’s playoff record (44th appearance in 112 seasons): 32-43.
Josh Montzingo’s playoff record (fourth appearance in four years): 5-3. Semifinal record: 0-1.
Pine View’s playoff record (28th appearance in 37 years): 29-27.
Ray Hosner’s playoff record (16th appearance in 19 years, since 2001): 27-16. Semifinal record: 5-3.
Park City (12-0) set a school record for season victories, eclipsing 11 wins in both 2001 and ’09. The Miners enjoy their seventh double-digit win season and first since 2009.
A Pine View victory sends the Panthers to the championship game and gives Pine View its first 10-win season since 2016 and sixth in program history.
- No. 2 Sky View (11-1) vs. No. 3 Dixie (9-2)
Series history: Tied 1-1. Sky View slapped the Flyers 41-14 in 1986, but Dixie retaliated — four years later — with a 41-18 bombing on Oct. 26, 1990; both were first round games in Class 3A.
Coach vs. coach: First meeting between Sky View’s Chris Howell and Dixie’s Blaine Monkres.
Current winning streaks: Sky View — 10, Dixie — 4.
Sky View’s last semifinal: 2017, lost to Orem 28-12. The Bobcats advanced to the title game just once, in 1987, where they lost to archrival Mountain Crest.
Dixie’s last semifinal: 2018, silenced Park City 20-0 before dropping to Orem in the championship.
Sky View’s playoff record (28th appearance in 56 seasons): 17-27.
Chris Howell’s playoff record at Sky View (first appearance in first season): 2-0. He’s 4-2 overall (third appearance in four years), including 2-2 at Ridgeline (2016-18). First semifinal.
Dixie’s playoff record (46th appearance in 75 seasons): 66-37.
Blaine Monkres’ playoff record at Dixie (eighth appearance in nine seasons — 2008-14 and 2018-19, missed in 2010): 17-5. He’s 36-20 overall (24th appearance in 29 seasons), including 5-2 at Morgan (1990-93), 14-12 at Fremont (1994-2007), 0-1 at Riverton (2017). (Monkres also coached at Murray in 2016.)
Monkres’ semifinal record at Dixie: 3-2 and 5-8 overall, including 1-2 at Morgan and 1-4 at Fremont. Three state championships, at Morgan in 1993 and at Dixie in 2012 and ’14.
Sky View is 32-3 over three seasons with a sole loss each year — in the playoffs in 2017 and ’18. Sky View celebrates its seventh double-digit win campaign in 56 years of football and its fourth in five years.
A Dixie win rewards the Flyers with their 12th double-digit win season, third straight and fifth in eight years.
Class 3A championship
- No. 2 Juab (12-1) vs. No. 5 Morgan (11-1)
Series history: Morgan leads 12-3 since 1985.
Last meeting: Morgan nipped Juab 24-22 on Oct. 26, 2018 (Class 3A quarterfinal at Morgan). Juab’s last victory over the Trojans came in 2008; Morgan has won four straight games in the series.
Coach vs. coach: Morgan’s Kovi Christiansen is 5-1 vs. Juab’s Mike Bowring.
Current winning streaks: Juab — 10, Morgan — 3.
Juab quick facts
The Wasps began their football program in 1955; 65th season.
Finals record: 0-3. Playoff record: 25-35 (.417), 36th appearance.
Championship game history:
1997, lost to Grantsville 33-7 (Class 2A)
2004, lost to Juan Diego 33-14 (2A)
2014, lost to Judge Memorial 63-14 (3A)
Coach: Mike Bowring is 130-56 (.699) in his 16th season with the Juab, since 2004. He’s 176-86 (.672) in 23 seasons overall. He was 46-30 at Monticello (1997-2003).
Playoff record at Juab (15 appearances, missed only in 2012): 18-14 (.563). He’s 24-19 (.558) overall (21 appearances in 23 years), including a 6-5 record at Monticello.
Championship game record: 0-2 at Juab and 1-3 overall, including 1-1 at Monticello where he won the 2001 Class 2A championship.
Juab (12-1) has matched its school record for season victories set in 1997 (12-1). This year marks the Wasps’ sixth double-digit victory campaign in 65 seasons and its first since 2014.
Morgan quick facts
Morgan began its football program in 1928; 92nd season.
Finals record: 6-6. Last championship: 1997. Playoff record: 57-45 (.559), 52nd appearance.
Championship game history:
1940, defeated Richfield 20-7 (Class B)
1972, lost to Dixie 58-30 (2A)
1976, lost to Millard 20-14 in 3-OT (2A)
1977, defeated Delta 28-14 (2A)
1979, defeated Millard 59-14 (2A)
1980, lost to Lehi 7-6 (2A)
1983, defeated Hurricane 15-0 (2A)
1993, defeated San Juan 21-18 (2A)
1996, lost to Grantsville 7-0 (2A)
1997, defeated Ben Lomond 21-7 (3A)
2015, lost to Juan Diego 28-13 (3A)
2017, lost to Juan Diego 45-20 (3A)
Coach: Kovi Christiansen is 106-45 (.702) in his 13th season at Morgan, since 2007.
Playoff record: 14-12 (.538), 13th appearance.
Championship game record: 0-2.
Morgan last won 11 games in 2000 but hasn’t won more since 1997 when the Trojans went 13-0.
Morgan has claimed its 12th double-digit win season in its 92 years of football — and first since 2015.
Class 2A Championship
- No. 1 Beaver (12-0) vs. No. 2 Milford (11-1)
Series history: Beaver leads 53-10-2 since 1925.
Last meeting: Beaver humbled the Tigers 41-0 on Sept. 13 (week 5) at Beaver. The Beavers enjoy a six-game series winning streak going back to 2000; the Tigers last defeated Beaver in 1999.
Coach vs. coach: Beaver’s Jon Marshall is 1-0 vs. Milford’s Thane Marshall.
Current winning streaks: Beaver – 12 (tied for the second-longest active streak), Milford – 7.
Beaver quick facts
Beaver began its gridiron program in 1925 and played 11-man football through 1933. After a five-year break, the Beavers took up 6-man football from 1939-1948. They resumed the 11-man version in 1949; 79th season of 11-man.
Finals record: 11-10 (.524). Last championship: 2016. Playoff record (11-man): 71-41 (.634), 53rd appearance.
Beaver makes its 22nd championship-game appearance, a state record.
Championship game history:
1969, lost to Monticello 7-6 (Class B)
1970, defeated Monticello 22-0 (B)
1971, defeated Monticello 22-7 (B)
1972, lost to North Summit 16-0 (1A)
1973, defeated South Summit 30-0 (1A)
1975, defeated North Summit 12-6 in double-overtime (1A)
1976, lost to Kanab 27-7 (1A)
1977, lost to South Summit 16-6 (1A)
1979, defeated South Summit 24-9 (1A)
1980, defeated Park City 19-7 (1A)
1981, defeated Kanab 7-3 (1A)
1982, lost to Kanab 7-3 (1A)
1983, defeated Kanab 31-20 (1A)
1985, lost to Kanab 42-0 (1A)
1986, lost to Kanab 14-0 (1A)
1987, lost to Kanab 23-0 (1A)
1990, defeated Park City 12-7 (2A)
1992, lost to Grantsville 12-7 (2A)
2015, defeated South Summit 33-0 (2A)
2016, defeated South Summit 55-35 (2A)
2017, lost to South Summit 38-10 (2A)
Coach: Jon Marshall is 30-6 (.833) in his third season at Beaver.
Playoff record: 6-2 (.750) at Beaver.
Championship game record: 0-1.
Beaver’s 12-0 start has given the Beavers:
- a 15th double-digit win season and fourth in five years
- the most victories and best start since 1979 (12-0 undefeated season)
- a chance to match the school record for victories and best-ever start: 13-0 in 1973.
Milford quick facts
Played from 1925 through 1931, then resumed in 1949 after playing 6-man football from 1939-48; 78th season of 11-man football.
Finals record: 3-1 (.775). Last championship: 2018. Playoff record (11-man): 21-30 (.412), 34th appearance.
Championship game history:
1993, defeated Altamont 21-13 (Class 1A)
1994, lost to Rich 12-6 (1A)
2017, defeated Duchesne 28-14 (1A)
2018, defeated Duchesne 45-14 (1A)
Milford relishes its third straight and third-ever double-digit win season.
Coach: Thane Marshall is 50-17 (.746) in six seasons at Milford, since 2014.
Playoff record: 9-3 (.775), sixth appearance. Marshall enjoys an eight-game winning streak in the playoffs, which ties him for the 14th longest all-time.
Championship game record: 2-0.
Milford hopes to play spoiler and become the 60th team to ruin another school’s perfect season in the championship game. (East was the last team to achieve that feat, in 2016, when the Leopards defeated Springville.)
In addition, Milford’s only loss this season was to the Beavers. In the history of the playoffs, a team has avenged its only season setback in the championship game 15 times. Milford hopes to become the 16th. The last squad to accomplish that was also Milford, in 2017. The Tigers lost to Duchesne during the regular season, but defeated the Eagles in the title bout.
Player update — season stats
Here’s where this year’s crop of players rank in the top-20 in all-time season performances. The list is alphabetical by school and then by player. An asterisk indicates the player’s team has concluded its season.
* Alta’s Cinco Lucero:
- Passing attempts — 11th (429)
- Passing yards-per-game — 13th (313.2)
- Completions — 13th (252)
American Fork’s Devin Downing:
- Receiving yards — seventh (1,574) and 117 away from the top-5
- Touchdown receptions — 11th, tied (20), one away from the top-10 and two from the top-5
- Reception yards-per-game — 12th (131.2) and 2.9 yards-per-game out of the top-10
- Receptions — 19th (88) and six short of the top-10
Corner Canyon’s Conner Lewis:
- Extra points — 11th, tied (72) and one out of the top-10 and seven from the top-5
* Fremont’s Brandon Baray:
- Yards-per-peception — 18th (27.0)
Milford’s Bryson Barnes:
- Touchdowns-responsible-for — 13th, tied (54) and two short of the top-10
Milford’s Bret Beebe:
- Receiving yards — 16th (1,472) and 83 shy of the top-10
- Touchdown receptions — 17th, tied (19), four away from the top-10
- Receptions — 18th (89) and five short of the top-10
* Olympus’ Chase Hopkins:
- Consecutive 100-yard rushing games – 15th, tied with six others (9)
Pine View’s Macloud Crowton:
- Passing yards-per-game – fourth (355.5)
- Touchdown passes – Ninth, tied (45) and three short of the top-5
- Passing yards — 12th (3,910) and 73 away from the top-10. (This season, he leads the state in passing yards and ranks third nationally.)
- Completions — 19th, tied (239) and nine shy of the top-15.
* San Juan’s Shaw Nielson:
- Completions — 14th (251)
* Wasatch’s Zak Thacker:
- Rushes — fourth (301)
Player update — career stats
Here’s this week’s update on players who rank in the top-20 (or close enough) in all-time career performances that Felt’s Facts has been tracking this season. The list is alphabetical by school and then by player. An asterisk indicates the player’s team has concluded its season.
American Fork’s Devin Downing (2018-19):
- Touchdown receptions — 10th (35) and six away from the top-5
- Receiving yards — 13th (2,882) and 102 yards short of the top-10
- Receptions — 14th, tied (167) and 14 away from the top-10
* American Leadership Academy’s Fielding Morley (2017-19):
- Touchdown receptions — 20th, tied (29)
Corner Canyon’s Cole Hagen (2017-19):
- Touchdown passes — Eighth, tied (80) and four away from seventh
- Touchdowns responsible for — 12th (100) and five short of the top-10
- Total offense — 15th (8,581 yards) and 196 shy of the 14th place
- Passing yards — 19th (6,875) and 168 short of the top-15
Corner Canyon’s Noah Kjar (2017-19):
- Receptions — 10th (181) and 13 away from ninth
- Receiving yards — 11th (2,921) and 63 yards short of the top-10
* Hunter’s DaiSean Cash (2017-19):
- Completions — 11th (508)
- Passing attempts — 11th, tied (881)
- Total offense — 20th (7,615 yards)
- Passing yards — 20th (6,612)
Lone Peak’s Nate Ritchie (2017-19):
- Field goals — 12th, tied (22) and two short of breaking into the top-10
Milford’s Bryson Barnes (2016-19):
- Touchdown passes — State record (136)
- Touchdowns responsible for — second (185), but 28 short of the state record (held by Jordan’s Austin Kafentzis, 2011-14)
- Total offense — third (13,283 yards) and 328 yards from overtaking second place
- Passing yards — third (11,333) and 39 yards away from second
- Passing completions — fourth (655), but 96 short of third
- Passing attempts — fourth (1,128) and 26 shy of third
Park City’s Mark McCurdy (2018-19):
- Touchdown receptions — 20th, tied (29) and four away from the top-10
Felt’s Facts welcomes questions — email utahprepfb@gmail.com.