No. 9 Wasatch (8-4) at No. 1 Salem Hills (10-1)
- 5A state tournament quarterfinal
- Friday, 4 p.m.
- Parry’s Power Guide: Salem Hills by 6
- All-time series: Salem Hills leads 4-1
- Coach vs. coach: Salem Hills’ Harry Schwenke leads Wasatch’s Steve Coburn 1-0
- Last meeting: Salem Hills 23, Wasatch 20 (Week 9)
SALEM — One of the surprise teams of the 2019 season, 5A’s top seed Salem Hills will look to keep things going this Friday and make school history in the process.
The Skyhawks have never advanced to the football semifinals, but that’s what they’ll look to achieve this Friday when they host region foe Wasatch in the 5A quarterfinals.
The game is a rematch of Salem Hills’ 23-20 win on a chilly night in Heber City last month, and a game both coaches expect to be just as tight.
“I think we’re pretty confident in what we do but anytime you play a team for a second time they’re going to up the ante a little bit more, but we’re prepared and keeping the kids focused,” said Salem Hills coach Harry Schwenke.
A return to its dominant defensive ways will be key. Through the first seven weeks of the season, Salem Hills was perhaps the best defensive team in 5A only allowing 8.9 ppg, but over the final three weeks of the season it gave up 30 points in a loss to Provo, 20 points in a win against Wasatch and 19 points in a win against Maple Mountain.
“I think we’re pretty confident in what we do but anytime you play a team for a second time they’re going to up the ante a little bit more, but we’re prepared and keeping the kids focused.” — Salem Hills coach Harry Schwenke
In last week’s second round game against Bountiful, the Skyhawks dominated defensively in the 24-7 victory.
Schwenke said the loss to Provo humbled his team a bit, but it has found its groove again after getting back to the basics.
Salem Hills could get a boost with the return of Jarret Elmer at quarterback. He broke the pointer finger on his throwing hand against Wasatch back on Oct. 10, and even though he finished that game Luke DeGraffenried has started in his place the past three games.
Elmer has passed for 1,724 yards and 18 TDs in nine games this year, and Schwenke said he’ll be a game-time decision on Friday.
Regardless of who gets the nod, Salem Hills’ offense can’t expect to turn it over three times like it did in the previous meeting against Wasatch and still win.
While Salem Hills is looking to punch its first semifinal ticket in school history, Wasatch is seeking its first semifinal appearance since 2009.
The Wasps have won three straight since the narrow loss to Salem Hills in Week 9, which includes a convincing 30-13 win at Highland in the second round last week.
“We feel good coming off last week’s win versus a traditional powerhouse. The kids are feeling pretty good about themselves and playing a familiar team,” said Wasatch coach Steve Coburn.
Wasatch is one of the most balanced offensive teams in 5A, but establishing the run with Zak Thacker will be the biggest key in the quarterfinals. Thacker epitomizes the definition of a workhorse back as he’s carried the ball 292 times for 1,464 yards and 15 TDs.
Only six running backs in the state have 200-plus carries so far this season, and he’s got 56 more than the back with the second most carries.
“He’s not really taken any big hits, they’ve been more glancing blows. He’s a tough kid and he’s trained real well and maintained his weight and strength and able to take the pounding that it takes to carry the ball 200-plus times,” said Thacker.
If Wasatch is getting first downs with a lot of those carries, that will help it control clock and field position in a game that could be very defensive.
Wasatch statistical breakdown
- Scoring offense: 29.3 ppg (12th in 5A)
- Scoring defense: 19.4 ppg (9th in 5A)
- Passing leader: Parker Quinton (123-218, 56.4%, 1,413 yards, 18 TDs, 11 INTs)
- Rushing leaders: Zak Thacker (292 carries, 1,464 yards, 15 TDs), Parker Quinton (121 carries, 494 yards, 10 TDs)
- Receiving leaders: Jake Gillman (39 rec., 499 yards, 4 TDs), Damien Skiby (31 rec., 368 yards, 9 TDs)
- Tackles leaders: Tyler Karl (77 tackles), Kobe McPhie (61 tackles)
- Sack leaders: Kobe McPhie, Ammon Tuttle (4 INTs)
- Interception leaders: Damien SKiby (4 INTs)
Salem Hills statistical breakdown
- Scoring offense: 33.8 ppg (4th in 5A)
- Scoring defense: 12.5 ppg (2nd in 5A)
- Passing leader: Jarret Elmer (116-211, 55.0%, 1,724 yards, 18 TDs), Luke DeGraffenried (28-53 52.8%, 409 yards, 2 TDs)
- Rushing leaders: Jordan Ware (148 carries, 1,058 yards, 8 TDs), Sam Hughes (114 carries, 982 yards, 7 TDs)
- Receiving leaders: Austin Hallows (26 rec., 511 yards, 4 TDs), Reed Johnson (25 rec., 460 yards, 8 TDs)
- Tackles leaders: Sam Hughes (79 tackles), John Nelson (42 tackles)
- Sack leaders: John Nelson (10 sacks)
- Interception leaders: Jake Meuter (8 INTs)
Felts Facts for Wasatch High School
- All-time record: 467-388-18 (96 years)
- Region championships: 20 (1931, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1964, 1966, 1967 co, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975 co, 1977 co, 1981, 1982, 1984 co, 1993, 1999 co, 2002, 2007 co)
- Playoff appearances: 49
- All-time playoff record: 31-48
- State championships: 0
- State championship record: 0-5
Felt’s Facts for Salem Hills High School
- All-time record: 64-66 (12 years)
- Region championships: 0
- Playoff appearances: 9
- All-time playoff record: 3-8
- State championships: 0
- State championship record: 0-0