Game Preview Capsule: Pine View at Snow Canyon

GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Pine View (2-1, 0-0) at Snow Canyon (2-0, 0-0)
Previous Meeting: Pine View 30, Snow Canyon 13 (Oct. 17, 2012)
Broadcast: Triplecast: STGNews.com/KCEC Baja Ch. 22/KDXU Radio Am-890, Devin Dixon on play-by-play

PANTHERS
Pine-view-smClassification: 3AA, South Region
Coach: Ray Hosner (13th year, 103-38 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last game: Lost to Lehi 36-33
Players to watch: RB Pano Tiatia should be back from junior world championship boxing in the Ukraine, though Tristan Duran has done a fine job (318 yards in three games). LB Kaden Creager leads the team in tackles. QB Kody Wilstead leads the state with 375 yards passing per game and had 406 last week. WR Jack Bangerter is fifth in the state in all classifications with 416 receiving yards, which is tops in 3AA.
PPG: 37.7
PAPG: 24.7
Trend: A lot of people were surprised to see the Panthers lose to Lehi, though the Pioneers are much improved from years past. Pine View could not stop Lehi’s tight spread option (oxymoron?) in the first half. Halftime adjustments slowed the flow, but the fact remains that Lehi had 474 rushing yards using a very similar offense that Pine View will see this week vs. Snow Canyon. LBs Creagen, Thor Katoa and Justice Santiago will be key against the speedy Warriors.

WARRIORS
snow-canyon-smClassification: 3AA, South Region
Coach: Marcus Matua (1st year, 2-0 overall)
Offense: Single Wing/Spread
Last game: Beat Shadow Ridge 25-6 (two weeks ago)
Players to watch: RB Zach Kennedy is an athletic specimen and will try to do what Lehi’s Caden Calton did to the Pine View defense last week (347 yards on 38 carries). RB Connor Parry should be back from injury as well. LB Brady Sargent has been impressive on defense. QB Warner Rigby has only attempted 19 passes in two games, but perhaps SC throws a bit more with time to work on it on the bye week. Sam Slivers filled in for Parry and had 93 rushing yards, plus scored a defensive TD.
PPG: 23.0
PAPG: 3.0
Trend: A bye week before a rivalry game is never a bad thing. Plus this SC defense seems legit. Most folks are wondering if the Warriors preseason schedule has been noteworthy. San Juan, a 2A school, is 1-2. Shadow Ridge rebounded from the Snow Canyon loss to blow out Rancho 47-2 last Saturday. The Mustangs only scored one TD on the Warriors. Still, evaluating the Vegas schools is always a crapshoot. We’ll find out if Snow Canyon is the real deal tonight.

GAME OUTLOOK
A new coaching staff and a mystery preseason followed by a bye week leaves Snow Canyon cloaked in a riddle. Of course, the Panthers have their own questions, especially on defense after last week’s porous effort vs. Lehi. This is why we love prep football. It’s anyone’s guess what will happen. The wise money is on an offensive shootout. SC’s defense will be tested vs. the pinpoint passing of Wilstead. Meanwhile, PV’s defense showed improvement in the second half vs. Lehi, but appears to be vulnerable against the run. A bye week and home field should help Snow Canyon, but this game could come down to the last possession.

STGnews (record) PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (18-2) — Pine View
Darren Cole (15-5) — Snow Canyon
Parry’s spread: Pine View by 9

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Twitter: @oldschoolag

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