Grantsville (10-2) vs. Juab (11-1)
- 3A state tournament semifinal
- Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (At Mountain View High School)
- Parry’s Power Guide: Grantsville by 5
- All-time series: Grantsville leads 13-11
- Coach vs. coach: First meeting between Grantsville’s Kody Byrd and Juab’s Mike Bowring
- Last meeting: Juab 41, Grantsville 20 (2016)
OREM — Even though Juab missed out on the 3A semifinals a year ago, the program appeared in five straight semifinals from 2013 to 2017 and will be no stranger to the big stage of the state tournament in this Saturday’s 3A semifinal.
As for its opponent Grantsville, it’s been a long, long time since the program has played this late in the season. In fact, the last time Grantsville reached the state semifinals was way back in 2005.
Grantsville has won nine straight games since a slow 1-2 start to the season, and naturally coach Kody Byrd said everyone is very confident heading into the rare opportunity for the program.
“We’re riding a pretty good high right now. Kids are pretty confident going in, but they know we’re not quite done yet and aren’t satisfied with what we’ve done yet,” said Byrd.
Since losing to North Sanpete and Manti in the first three weeks of the season, Grantsville has been averaging 38.8 points per game during its nine-game winning streak, including a 42-14 quarterfinal win over Richfield last week.
Juab, meanwhile, beat American Leadership 35-7 in the quarterfinals last week to march into the semis. Juab ranks second in 3A scoring offense this year at 35.9 ppg, and is the only semifinalist that didn’t lose to a fellow 3A team this year.
Juab’s only loss this season was a 24-0 setback to 5A’s Salem Hills back on Aug. 30. Like Grantsville, it is also riding a nine-game winning streak heading into the semifinals.
Juab played upper classification teams in its first three games, but in the nine games against 3A teams since the defense is only allowing 9.1 ppg.
“No question our defense is playing really well. We’re fast, we’re physical and for the most part we tackle well,” said Juab coach Mike Bowring.
He attributes a lot of Juab’s success this year to team chemistry. He said this year’s senior class won championships from sixth grade through ninth grade, and week in and week out they’re unselfish and they play for each other.
With two more victories, not only would this Juab senior class earn another championship for themselves but the first for Juab High School since the school started playing football 64 years ago.
Grantsville’s state title drought dates back to 1997, and back in the preseason there were questions whether this was the group to halt the multi-decade dry spell.
Grantsville’s 2,000-yard rusher from a year ago elected to focus on baseball this fall instead of playing football again, and replicating that production was a huge question mark heading into the season.
Ironically enough, the coaching staff took to the air to find it.
Grantsville quarterback Jackson Sandberg has passed for 2,158 yards and 26 touchdowns this season, a huge uptick from the 555 yards and five TDs from 2018.
“We knew going in what he was capable of. Last year this is kind of what we wanted him to do, but it wasn’t connecting and clicking,” said Byrd.
Sandberg has built a great rapport with receivers Ammon Bartley, Taylor Wood and Chace Gipson, and the results have been fun to watch every Friday night.
Just like with Juab, Byrd said the camaraderie within his team has been fantastic. Nobody cares who’s scoring the touchdowns, everyone is just thrilled to be winning football games and now playing in the semifinals.
Grantsville statistical breakdown
- Scoring offense: 32.0 ppg (5th in 3A)
- Scoring defense: 13.5 ppg (T-3rd in 3A)
- Passing leader: Jackson Sandberg (128-201, 63.7%, 2,158 yards, 26 TDs, 4 INTs)
- Rushing leaders: Trent Brown (140 carries, 702 yards, 5 TDs), James Fuluvaka (117 carries, 430 yards, 9 TDs)
- Receiving leaders: Ammon Bartley (61 rec., 1026 yards, 11 TDs), Taylor Wood (45 rec., 688 yards, 8 TDs)
- Tackles leaders: Ammon Bartley (58 tackles), Kaden Kelley (56 tackles)
- Sack leaders: James Fuluvaka (5.5 sacks), Austin Gray (5.5 sacks)
- Interception leaders: Kaden Kelley (4 INTs), Chace Gipson (3 INTs)
Juab statistical breakdown
- Scoring offense: 35.9 ppg (2nd in 3A)
- Scoring defense: 13.5 ppg (T-3rd in 3A)
- Passing leader: Zac Cowan (96-170, 56.5%, 1,348 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs)
- Rushing leaders: Cade Bowring (80 carries, 849 yards, 15 TDs), Trey Lund (78 carries, 488 yards, 8 TDs)
- Receiving leaders: Cade Bowring (27 rec., 463 yards, 7 TDs) Bodee Blackett (20 rec., 417 yards, 3 TDs)
- Tackles leaders: Rylan Watts (81 tackles), Blake Mangelson (52 tackles)
- Sack leaders: Dominic Davidson (6.5 sacks), Black Mangelson (5.5 sacks)
- Interception leaders: Louk Stevens, Wyatt Holdaway, Mitchell Allred (2 INTs)
Felts Facts for Grantsville High School
- All-time record: 403-460-21 (103 years)
- Region championships: 10 (1960, 1967 co, 1973, 1978, 1984 co, 1985, 1986, 1991 co, 1998, 2019)
- Playoff appearances: 42
- All-time playoff record: 41-38
- State championships: 3 (1992, 1996, 1997)
- State championship record: 3-5
Felts Facts for Juab High School
- All-time record: 299-330-3 (64 years)
- Region championships: 10 (1976 co, 1995, 1997, 2005 co, 2006 co, 2008, 2014, 2015 co, 2016, 2019)
- Playoff appearances: 36
- All-time playoff record: 24-35
- State championships: 0
- State championship record: 0-3