GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Dixie (7-2, 4-2) at North Sanpete (5-5, 3-2), tonight, 5 p.m.
Previous Meeting – Dixie 15, North Sanpete 14 (Aug. 19, 2005)
FLYERS
Classification: 3A, Region 9
Coach: Blaine Monkres (23rd year, 164-88 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last week: Bye (lost to Snow Canyon 28-21 two weeks ago)
Players to watch: QB Blake Barney is nursing a hand injury, so his passing may be hampered somewhat. But the Flyers should be able to run on the Hawks with RBs Taylor Berry and Joseph Takau. WRs Drew Batchelor, Mitch Wilkisnon and Lukas Hildebrant should be open all day as well.
PPG: 38.9
PAPG: 20.4
Team stats: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/high-school-sports/mens-football/dixie-stats
Trend: We’re still perplexed at how Dixie lost to Snow Canyon. Certainly the Warriors have a decent team, but Dixie had been averaging 40-plus points and scored about half that against the Warriors. Barney has had two weeks to take care of that hand and should be good to go, though the Flyers should have an easy time of it, even on the road.
HAWKS
Classification: 3A, Region 12
Coach: Matt Roberts (first year, 5-5 overall)
Offense: Wingback, pro-set
Last week: Beat Delta 34-18
Players to watch: The Hawks prefer to run the ball, but can put it up. QB Brady Wheeler has about 500 passing yards, but also has run for 122. RBs Brady Walker and kaden Poulson have combined for 1,675 yards and 15 touchdowns this year. Poulson is also the top receiver on the team (21-255 and four TDs). DB Hunter Atkinson has four interceptions this season.
PPG: 18.0
PAPG: 19.8
Trend: North Sanpete ended up with the No. 2-seed, but got whipped this year by Snow Canyon, Bear River, Wasatch and Spanish Fork. The most telling games for Region 9 fans were a 13-7 win at Canyon view and a 34-3 loss at home against Snow Canyon. The Hawks would have finished sixth or seventh in Region 9.
GAME OUTLOOK
Last time these teams played (2005), Dean Mills was catching passes from Logan Bleazzard. Since then, the Flyers have spent four years in 4A, gotten a new coach and put a video-game like stamp on the spread offense. It’s hard to imagine North Sanpete slowing Dixie down unless Barney is hurt more than Dixie is letting on or unless there’s another blizzard in Utah County tonight. Even so, Dixie should win this one big.
STGnews PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (37-7) — Dixie
JA/Keric Seegmiller (36-8) — Dixie
Region 9 standings: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/high-school-sports/mens-football-standings
Region 9 leaders: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/high-school-sports/mens-football-leaders