3A playoffs
Union at Ben Lomond
Coming off its first regular-season winning record since 2000, the Ben Lomond Scots are looking forward to maintaining momentum in the playoffs on Friday as the No. 6 Scots host No. 11 Union Cougars in the 3A first round.
These teams met back in Week 8 this season, with the Scots beating Union Cougars 23-10. Ben Lomond comes into the game with a 6-4 record while Union struggled with a 1-8 record this year. Ben Lomond QB Manase Tuatagaloa has thrown 28 touchdowns this season and will be a key player, along with wide receiver Davian Munoz, who has bagged 14 TDs.
The Scots’ defense will heavily rely on Rohan Green and Cadence Hayman, both of whom have 50-plus tackles. On the other hand, Union’s offense revolves around its quarterback, Gannon Labrum, accounting for a team-high of 11 passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns.
However, the Cougars, who are allowing an average of 31 points while scoring an average of 17 points per game, would need significant improvements to overcome a Ben Lomond team that averages 26 points scored and 23 points against per game. The winner of this matchup will face the No. 3-seeded Morgan in the second round of the tournament on Oct. 27.
Carbon at Grantsville
After a regular season of mixed fortunes, No. 5 Grantsville hopes to turn over a new leaf beginning with the 3A first round this Friday. Its record stands at a balanced 5-5 as its offense averaged 15.6 points while the defense allowed 22.1.
In contrast, the No. 12 Carbon Dinos have had a difficult season with a 1-9 record. They’re averaging only 7.8 ppg while allowing 48 ppg. The Dinos’ offensive leaders, Tony Wilson and Stockton Kennedy, and defensive player Deagan Richards will hope to stem the tide against the Cowboys’ redemption march.
For Grantsville, the combined prowess of QB Dallen Van Vliet with his 670 total passing yards and four TDs, and RB Jayden Atkinson’s 695 rush yards and two TDs could prove crucial. On the defense, Krue Warren, with his tally of 54 tackles and one interception, could pose a significant challenge. This constitutes the first time the Dinos and the Cowboys go head to head since their 2018 regular-season game that Grantsville won 47-23.
North Sanpete at Juab
In the first round of the 3A playoffs, No. 10 North Sanpete is set to face off against No. 7 Juab. The Wasps, hoping to utilize last year’s program experience that led to a runner-up finish, enter the tournament amid a challenging season with an overall record of 5-5. The Hawks, on the other hand, only went 2-8.
In their previous matchup in Week 7, Juab demonstrated its offensive firepower in a 35-17 win. Wasps’ QB Austin Park, with his season record of 1,454 yards and 13 touchdowns, will be a key player for Juab. On the other hand, North Sanpete’s defensive leaders, Odin Laupapa and Kash Cook are expected to put their best foot forward to curtail Park’s scoring prowess.
On the offensive front, North Sanpete will bank on its top rusher, Kash Cook, who has accumulated 326 yards and two touchdowns this season. Similarly, Juab’s defensive strength will be determined by Porter Anderson and Porter Jackson, who have combined for 188 tackles and eight sacks this season. The winning team of this clash will advance to play against No. 2 Manti on Oct. 27.
Juan Diego at Ogden
The Ogden Tigers will host the Juan Diego Soaring Eagle in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament on Friday, Oct. 20. The matchup is a rematch of a Week 8 game which saw Juan Diego defeat Ogden 31-28 in double overtime.
The No. 8 Ogden Tigers hold a 4-6 record this season, while the No. 9 Juan Diego Soaring Eagle stand at 3-6. Over the season, Ogden has averaged 23 points per game while allowing roughly 21 points. Comparatively, Juan Diego has struggled offensively, averaging just 18.4 points per game while allowing a hefty 32.
Offensively, key players include Ogden’s Max Trujillo, with 824 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and Kire Thompson, who contributed 963 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. For Juan Diego, Antonio Archuleta, with 536 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and Hayden Mezenen, with 544 passing yards and five touchdowns, will take center stage.
On the defensive side, look out for Ogden’s Gordy Allred, who has secured 59 tackles and three sacks this season, against Juan Diego’s Toby Hardin with his tally of 50 tackles. The winner of this first-round game will face top-seeded Richfield in the next round.
2A playoffs
ALA at Providence Hall
In the first round of the Class 2A state tournament, the No. 6 Providence Hall Patriots (6-4) will host the No. 11 American Leadership Eagles (1-9). The Patriots wrapped up the regular season with a loss at South Summit, while the Eagles are looking forward to disrupting their losing trend that has followed them since their opening victory this season.
The two teams previously clashed in Week 7, which ended favorably for the Patriots with a score of 47-32. The Patriots offense is led by Tui Fonua, who’s passed for 13 touchdowns, with Aaron Barlow hauling in five of those TDs. The Eagles have struggled, but Kannon Huntsman has managed an impressive 15 rushing TDs throughout the season, a factor the Patriots will be wary of.
The winner of this crucial match will step into the second round to face No. 3 Layton Christian.
Grand at Judge Memorial
It’s been a tough regular season for both No. 9 Grand (2-8) and No. 8 Judge Memorial (2-7), but one of the two can put a positive spin on it in the 2A first round this Friday. The winner advances to face No. 1 San Juan in the quarterfinals.
Grand, with a small mountain to climb, heads into the contest after closing its regular season on a surprisingly triumphant note against South Sevier, breaking a six-game skid. The Red Devils will be banking on quarterback Austin Paris, who has stood out, as he’s passed for 10 touchdowns.
Judge Memorial, although enduring a rough season, is not without bright spots. The three-pronged attack of Thomas Gutierrez, Tyrese Boyce and Henry Thompson has been a strength. Gutierrez, leading the Bulldogs’s passing efforts, has passed for six touchdowns. These teams last met in the 2022 regular season, with Judge winning 41-26.
South Sevier at Delta
The Delta Rabbits are hoping for a repeat of the regular-season success when they face South Sevier in the 2A first round. Having finished the regular season with a 5-5 record, Delta will be looking to replicate its previous 48-6 win over the Rams to launch a deep playoff run.
Quarterback Hunt Robinson, with his pivotal role in Delta’s offense, has thrown for 1,415 yards and 24 touchdowns this season and will be crucial in their battle against the Rams. Running backs Blade Brandow and Kadance Lovell have also proven their mettle with rushing yards of 542 and 387, respectively. South Sevier, on the other hand, enters the playoffs on the back foot following a 1-8 season.
As they gear up to face Delta, the Rams will be relying on quarterback Cannon Barney, who threw for 997 yards and eight touchdowns this season. In the face of Delta’s defensive line, he certainly has his work cut out for him. The winner of this playoff opener will face No. 2 South Summit in the quarterfinals.
1A playoffs
Parowan at Gunnison Valley
No. 9 Parowan travels to No. 8 Gunnison Valley in the opening round of the 1A playoffs. The game is a rematch of a Week 5 regular-season meeting, which Gunnison Valley secured with a 36-19 win.
Parowan enters the playoffs with a 1-9 record, averaging 12.1 points per game over the season while giving up a considerable 42.8 points. It will be looking forward to altering the narrative. Conversely, Gunnison Valley brings a 5-4 record to the match, having demonstrated a steady offense with 29.6 points per game while defensively it allows 28 points per game.
Parowan leans on rushers Hunter Bettridge and Brennan Church, who have accumulated nine total touchdowns across the season. Gunnison Valley is led by Pearson Judy, who notched 1,148 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, and Tyson Tucker, who yielded 550 yards and eight touchdowns.
The winner will square off against the No. 1 seed Beaver in the second round on Oct. 27.
North Sevier at Milford
The first round of the Class 1A state tournament poses a challenge for No. 10 seed North Sevier as it travels to face No. 7 Milford on Friday. North Sevier enters the match with a 1-9 record and a six-game losing skid, whereas Milford carries a three-game defeat streak, ending their season at 4-6.
North Sevier is led offensively by James Crowley, who has recorded a pair of TDs this season. Meanwhile, Milford wields an impressive passing threat, headed by Kielen Tsosie, who averages 205.4 passing yards per game and 26 total TDs. Adding fuel to the fire, this game is also a rematch from the previous year’s Class 1A first round, where Milford won easily, 59-34.
The winner won’t have long to celebrate as it will meet the formidable No. 2 seed, Duchesne, in the second round slated for Oct. 27.
This report was compiled with the assistance of ChatGPT.