GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Desert Hills (1-1) at Canyon View (1-2)
Previous Meeting – Desert Hills 39, Canyon View 2 (Sept. 9, 2011 at DH)
THUNDER
Classification: 3A, Region 9
Coach: Carl Franke (first year, 1-1 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last week: Beat West 35-3
Players to watch: RB Bridger Cowdin rushed for over 300 yards in a freshman game last year. This is varsity now, but Thunder fans have to be encouraged by his 100-yard effort against East. QB Ty Rutledge is putting up some sick numbers. Last week the senior had 213 passing and 96 rushing yards. WRs Brad Wulfenstein and Jordan Hokanson get open for Rutledge, too.
PPG: 24.0
PAPG: 20.5
Trend: A flag-fest is never fun, though last week’s was made more tolerable by virtue of the fact that the Thunder were whipping West. It was the second most-penalized game in Utah high school history. If the Thunder can clean that up, the rest of their program looks solid. There’s a lot of football left, but Rutledge is making an early case for player of the year consideration.
FALCONS
Classification: 3A, Region 9
Coach: Alex Huxford (fifth year, 7-33 overall)
Offense: Spread, pro-set
Last week: Lost to North Sanpete 13-7
Players to watch: Coach’s son QB Koy Huxford has been decent, passing for about 200 yards a game so far. But his eight interceptions leads the state. RB Stetson Dearden is averaging 84 yards a game (at about 7 yards per rush), so the Falcons have moved the ball. WRs McCoy Johnson and Dallin Dastrup are Huxford’s fave targets, combining for 20 catches and 290 yards this season.
PPG: 18.3
PAPG: 22.0
Trend: The opponents have been weak and the Falcons have still managed just one victory. But reports from Iron County say that Canyon View has gotten serious in the weight room and that’s the bottom line to turning around a football program. The pity is that the Falcons play in the best football region in 3A, so even with improvement it may be hard to find a region win this year. They need to play their best football at home.
GAME OUTLOOK
:
The underdog in us makes us almost want to root for the Falcons to get a win or two. After all, it’s been five years since they won a region game. DH has a new coach and a new defense and the game is at CV. But after what the Thunder did to 5A West last week, it’s hard to believe Canyon View has much of a chance tonight.
STGnews PREDICTION
Andy Griffin — Desert Hills
Jeff Ames — Desert Hills