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4 A Utah Football Tournament Brackets

4A Semi-finals Game News

Highland Dominates on D Takes Semifinal Game vs Timpview 30-6

4A Quarterfinal Game News

Timpview wins tough game vs a strong Box Elder Team 35-22 and moves on to meet Highland in the Semis!

Timpview Mauls Murray 49-28 and moves on to the quarter finals

Football playoffs continue
11/03/2000
By DARNELL DICKSON

The Daily Herald

PROVO -- The Timpview football program has been one of the most successful in the state ever since Chad Van Orden took over nearly 11 years ago.

Two state championship trophies (1991 and 1997) have taught Van Orden one thing.

"The playoffs are all about showing up on one day," Van Orden said. "Whoever can maintain control of the ball and not turn it over usually ends up winning.

"You just keep trying to do that in each round."

Van Orden's regular-season approach with his No. 1-ranked team is unique.

"We never talk about the rankings," Van Orden said. "We always look at regular season games in relation to how it can help us in the playoffs. Our goal is always to be playing consistent, solid ball by the last week of October and try to make a run to a state title."

Saturday, Van Orden's team takes on Box Elder (9-2), which blasted East 42-14 in Round 1.

"Their league (Region 4) was really balanced," Van Orden said. "There really wasn't a dominant team and four of their five teams won first-round games.

"Box Elder has a good running game and some speed on the outside. They score a lot of points and they don't make a lot of mistakes.

Northridge at Orem: Football fans will see one of the state's best receivers -- and he's only a junior.

Northridge wideout Daniel Coats had a 202-yard game earlier this year and is complemented by another fine receiver, Tyson Stevenson. The trigger man for Northridge's explosive offense is quarterback Jase McCormick.

The Orem defense, which has struggled as of late, will be severely tested.

Mountain Crest at Lone Peak: The Mountain Crest ground game has been quite potent this season. Tailback Adrian Stewart (5-foot-9, 200 pounds) has gained 1,540 yards and scored 14 touchdowns this season, including a 305-yard outing early in the season against 5A Davis.

The fullback is 6-5, 285-pound Jake Kuresa, a surprisingly agile athlete with soft hands who also stars on the Mountain Crest basketball team.

That powerful tandem will test Lone Peak's defense, which gave up 28 points to Fremont last week, but only 68 rushing yards.

 

UtahPreps Picks 'Em

By: UtahPreps.com Staff Date: 11/2/2000 After going 26-6 in last weeks picks, and a perfect 8-0 mark in 5-A, UtahPreps.com Senior Editor Ryan Hatch will once again attempt to handicap the playoffs with his predictions for the quarterfinal round of the 2000 state football playoffs.

Note: The point spreads indicated are merely for entertainment purposes.

Class 5-A

Brighton (10-1) at Skyline (9-1) - The Bengals had to fight for their lives last week to squeak by West Jordan while the Eagles went into cruise control over Riverton. Steve Tate and Matt Cannon will be too much for the Bengals defense to contend with. Skyline by 14

Alta (7-2) at Hunter (6-4) - Other than a loss to Bingham in the final game of the regular season, Hunter is playing some great football and the Hawks have been consistently solid all year. Should be the best game in 5-A this week. Hunter by 3.

Northridge (7-3) at Orem (8-2) - Last week I called the possibility of an upset in the Mountain Crest-Cyprus game, but didn't go out on a limb and pick the Mustangs. This week I'm picking Northridge in my upset special. Northridge by 7.

Viewmont (8-3) at Bingham (9-1) - The Miners have a balanced offensive attack with Dusty Stoker running the ball and Jeff Tait passing. Viewmont has Trent Henderson which is a lot, but not enough. Bingham by 10.

Class 4-A

Box Elder (9-2) at Timpview (10-0) - Timpview is just leaps and bounds above any other team in 4-A with an explosive offense and a solid defense. Timpview by 14.

Highland (9-1) at Bonneville (8-2) - The Lakers won the coin toss in this battle of No. 2 seeds, but Highland looks like it is finding its offense to support its No.1 ranked defense. Highland by 10.

Olympus (6-4) at Logan (9-2) - After a nice win over Pleasant Grove last week, the season will come to an end after this one. The Grizzlies will attack a vulnerable Oly defense. Logan by 14.

Mountain Crest (7-3) at Lone Peak (9-1) - After shocking previously undefeated Cyprus last week, the Mustangs are in for a rude awakening in Alpine. Lone Peak by 14.

Prep football capsules 11/03/2000 PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW

CLASS 4A

Timpview (10-0), No. 1 seed from Region 6

FIRST ROUND: def. Murray 49-28

SATURDAY: At home against Box Elder (9-2), 1 p.m.

HISTORY: 0-0

LAST MEETING: Never met.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Consistency has been the key for Timpview this year. Every week Cade Cooper, Dane Church, Bryant Atkinson, Jake Garrard and Jason Owen are just too many weapons for opponents to handle.

PREDICTION: Timpview 41, Box Elder 21

FOOTBALL GAME THE SKINNY TRIBUNE PICK  11/1/00
   

Box Elder at Timpview Could be a shootout if weather's good; T-Birds may have to play four quarters Timpview by 10    Highland at Bonneville Lakers' prolific offense gets a big-time test, as does Region 4's perceived dominance Highland by 7    Olympus at Logan Oly got 'em 9-6 on Sept. 1, but Logan should have just enough to win Logan by 2    Mountain Crest at Lone Peak Knights' QB Sam Burgess begins MVP bid, but coach won't let him talk L.P by 14

By NOLAND PARRY
SPECIAL TO JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
Parry’s Power Guide to High School Football
Quarterfinals
by Noland Parry
Week Ending Nov. 3, 2000
Favored Team Rating Diff. Rating Underdog

4A
Highland 75.3 14.4 60.9 BONNEVILLE
LOGAN 61.9 0.7 61.2 Olympus
LONE PEAK 76.2 16.4 59.8 Mtn. Crest
TIMPVIEW 77.4 16.1 61.3 Box Elder

UtahPreps Picks 'Em

By: UtahPreps.com Staff Date: 11/2/2000 After going 26-6 in last weeks picks, and a perfect 8-0 mark in 5-A, UtahPreps.com Senior Editor Ryan Hatch will once again attempt to handicap the playoffs with his predictions for the quarterfinal round of the 2000 state football playoffs.

Note: The point spreads indicated are merely for entertainment purposes.

Class 5-A

Brighton (10-1) at Skyline (9-1) - The Bengals had to fight for their lives last week to squeak by West Jordan while the Eagles went into cruise control over Riverton. Steve Tate and Matt Cannon will be too much for the Bengals defense to contend with. Skyline by 14

Alta (7-2) at Hunter (6-4) - Other than a loss to Bingham in the final game of the regular season, Hunter is playing some great football and the Hawks have been consistently solid all year. Should be the best game in 5-A this week. Hunter by 3.

Northridge (7-3) at Orem (8-2) - Last week I called the possibility of an upset in the Mountain Crest-Cyprus game, but didn't go out on a limb and pick the Mustangs. This week I'm picking Northridge in my upset special. Northridge by 7.

Viewmont (8-3) at Bingham (9-1) - The Miners have a balanced offensive attack with Dusty Stoker running the ball and Jeff Tait passing. Viewmont has Trent Henderson which is a lot, but not enough. Bingham by 10.

Class 4-A

Box Elder (9-2) at Timpview (10-0) - Timpview is just leaps and bounds above any other team in 4-A with an explosive offense and a solid defense. Timpview by 14.

Highland (9-1) at Bonneville (8-2) - The Lakers won the coin toss in this battle of No. 2 seeds, but Highland looks like it is finding its offense to support its No.1 ranked defense. Highland by 10.

Olympus (6-4) at Logan (9-2) - After a nice win over Pleasant Grove last week, the season will come to an end after this one. The Grizzlies will attack a vulnerable Oly defense. Logan by 14.

Mountain Crest (7-3) at Lone Peak (9-1) - After shocking previously undefeated Cyprus last week, the Mustangs are in for a rude awakening in Alpine. Lone Peak by 14.


Saturday, November 4th at 1 pm, Timpview will take on the Box Elder Bees in Quarterfinal action

The Bees are 9-2 and ranked 3rd in a very strong Region 4 which has 4 teams out of the 8 in the quarters.

Here is the article describing the Bees win over East

Bees bounce back from poor start, win

Sunday, October 29, 2000

By JON YORGASON
Standard-Examiner correspondent

BRIGHAM CITY -- It may not have been a case of divine intervention, but it kind of appeared that way.

With the struggling Box Elder Bees trailing East 14-9 midway through the third quarter, a large, bright rainbow appeared in the sky immediately following a light rain.

On the next play from scrimmage, not longer than a minute after the arrival of the rainbow, Box Elder quarterback Dan Richards connected with wide receiver Kelly Nebeker for a 74- yard touchdown pass play that changed the momentum of the game and propelled the Bees to a 31-14 victory and a spot in the state 4-A playoff quarterfinals.

Perhaps the rainbow wasn't a sign from above, but at that point in the game, the Bees needed help from somewhere.

For the entire first half, the Leopards had manhandled the Bees. It took just three plays and 65 seconds for East to first find the end zone. On the opening play of the game, Tom Bunnell scooted 44 yards to the Box Elder 19 yard line. Two plays later, Eric Aikhionbare took it in from 18yards out to give the Leopards a quick 7-0 lead.

Brett Kearl hit a 25-yard field goal for the Bees to cut the lead to 7-3 after one quarter. But East responded in the second period with another touchdown, this time a 42-yard burst up the middle by running back Kime Lao.

From all indications, Box Elder, one of this season's surprises, was headed for an early exit from the state playoffs.

But all of that changed in the second half. On the Bees' first possession of the third quarter, Richards capped a seven-play, 57-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run to bring the Bees to within five points. It would stay 14-9 until late in the third quarter when Nebeker's big touchdown put the Bees (9-2) ahead for good.

"It was a little dive inside pass," said Roesler. "Their linebacker saw it coming and our running back is supposed to fill, but he didn't fill fast enough, so Danny threw off his back foot straight up in the air and it was a perfect pass."

"Big plays will turn around a whole football game," Nebeker said. "I credit our offensive line for giving us time to throw that ball."

After that play, it was all Box Elder. The Bees, behind the running of juniors Colt Mund and Nick Greene, added 14 points in the fourth quarter, while a strong Box Elder defense kept the Leopards out of the end zone.

Mund added to the Bees' lead with an eight-yard touchdown run with 4:07to play. Reserve running back Devin Rose completed the scoring with a15-yard scamper with just over a minute left.

"I had no idea we'd score 31 points," Roesler said. "The kids came through. We were kind of small out there compared to those guys and it took us a while. We were on our heels in that first half trying to keep up with them."

Mund finished with 104 yards on 21 carries, while Greene had his best running game of the season, amassing 101 yards on 13 carries.

Greene also scored a two- point conversion and had an interception. Richards completed7-of-15 passes for 144 yards, with one TD and one interception.

The Bees will face Timpview next week in the state quarterfinals

PREP FOOTBALL NOTES: Region 4 Flexes Muscles in First Round Tuesday, October 31, 2000 BY JAY DREW THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE  The Mountain Crest Mustangs said they were not a typical fifth-place team, then proved it with a 16-6 whipping of previously undefeated Cyprus on Friday in a Class 4-A first-round football playoff game.  Having missed the playoffs, Weber and Sky View, the sixth- and seventh-place teams in Region 4, must be wondering what might have been after watching their leaguemates go 4-1 in first-round games. And fourth-seeded Fremont got a brutal draw -- at second-ranked Lone Peak -- or the league might have made a clean sweep.   "You never know how good your league is until you get to the playoffs, but we had a feeling Region 4 was pretty good," said Mountain Crest coach Dan Cox. "Sky View is one heck of a football team, and [the Bobcats] won only one game" in Region 4.  Class 4-A could have an all-Region 4 semifinal next week, but that would take some major upsets. Region champion Logan appears safe at home against inconsistent Olympus, while the Bonneville-Highland game is a toss-up. Mountain Crest and Box Elder will be decided underdogs at Lone Peak and Timpview, respectively.    Semifinal Sites?   Next week's Class 4-A and 5-A semifinals will be at Brigham Young's Cougar Stadium and Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, but the Utah High School Activities Association will not decide which games are at which stadiums until after this week's quarterfinals. Most likely, the 5-A will be at Utah and the 4-A at BYU, because the only remaining 5-A team from Utah County is Orem and two of the expected 4-A semifinalists, Timpview and Lone Peak, are in Utah County. But each site may feature a 4-A and a 5-A game.

Prep Football Leaders -- Best of Week 11 Tuesday, October 31, 2000  

RUSHING YARDS  Name School Att. Yds. TDs  Brett Albrecht Beaver 16 324 3  Mike Nelson Canyon View 32 283 1  Garan Fabrizio Jordan 18 201 3 Jared Moultrie Clearfield 17 195 1  Garett Cundick Highland 15 183 4 Michael Holton Highland 18 157 2  D. Filimoeatu Snow Canyon 27 157 3  Storm Singleton Delta 10 144 1  Steve Tate Skyline 4 144 2  Chad Smith Lehi 20 139 2  Phillip Tuttle Millard 15 130 2  Cameron Eliason Delta 18 121 3  Todd Whimpey Morgan 12 115 2   Nic Fonua Hunter 24 110 1  Sam Burgess Lone Peak 19 110 1 

PASSING YARDS  Name School Yds ,mp. TD  Jess Wight Bonneville 299 15-33 3  Cade Cooper Timpview 293 17-26 4  Bret Groneman Springville 278 17-29 4  Adam Beus Fremont 230 22-47 2   Clay Barnes Provo 197 16-32 2 Farley Crofts San Juan 190 17-24 2  R. Zimmerman Mtn. Crest 184 13-27 1  Ben Williams Alta 172 8-14 3  Alan Maughn Timpanogos 162 15-28 2  Dan Richards Box Elder 156 7-15 1  Jeff Barben Snow Canyon 151 11-17 1   Jase McCormick Northridge 134 8-10 2  Sam Burgess Lone Peak 111 9-14 2 

RECEIVING YARDS Name School Rec. Yds TD  Dane Church Timpview 9 173 3  Mike Bennett Logan 3 140 1   Robbie Gueck Springville 6 111 1  Mike Shaw Fremont 8 102 2  Brandon Perkins Alta 4 97 2  Carson Pollastro Carbon 3 93 1  Brett Burtenshaw San Juan 7 84 1  Alex Coombs Orem 3 62 0  Dan Coats Northridge 5 61 2  Tyson Stevenson Northridge 3 61 0  Preston Robinson Alta 3 57 1

SPECIAL TEAMS/DEFENSE  Name School Highlight  Kyle Brady Tooele 92-yard kickoff return  Trevor Russell Clearfield 92-yard kickoff return  Justin Palmer Bear River 86-yard kickoff return  Robbie Gueck Springville 85-yard kickoff return  Dominic Lewis Carbon 85-yard kickoff return  Wayne Latu Provo 85-yard kickoff return  Scott Nixon Millard 50-yard kickoff return  Scott Nixon Millard 80-yard punt return  Mike Millward Skyline 78-yard punt return Robbie Gueck Springville 99-yard int. return  Brian Robinson Lone Peak 30-yard int. return   Wes Marshall Beaver 27-yard int. return  Scott Shepherd Bingham 20-yard int. return  Tyler Johnson So. Summit 97-yard fumble return Scott Judd West Jordan 46-yard field goal  Audie Smoot South Summit 38-yard field goal  Darren Harris Hunter 38-yard field goal  Matt Albrecht Beaver Made 19 tackles  Aaron Marshall Beaver Made 13 tackles  Brett Albrecht Beaver Made 12 tackles  Rance Pickering Enterprise Made 12 tackles  Travis Shumway San Juan Made 10 tackles  Cole Palmer San Juan Made three sacks Mark Johnson Manti Two interceptions  Curtis Nelson Bear River Two interceptions  Chad Williams Clearfield Rec. fumble in end zone  Joe Fitisemanu Taylorsville Rec. fumble in end zone Tuesday,

October 31st, 2000 UC Journal

Two big playmakers have been named this week's Little Caesars Athletes of the Week.

This week's male Athlete of the Week is Timpview wide receiver Dane Church, who put up some huge numbers in just one half last Friday against Murray in the T-Birds' 49-28 first-round win.  Church caught eight passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone, and finished with nine catches for 173 yards. His touchdown catches were bombs of 42, 43 and 31 yards. The performance put Church over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

Here is what appeared on utahpreps.rivals.com bulletin board about the Bees

. posted on 10/30 6:27 pm
re: What kind of Team is Box Elder?
Richards the QB #1 is very short and can't throw the ball real well. If he's going to throw it's to Nebeker #14, a RB, or sometimes Davis #6. He won't really look for anyone else. Also he's nursing a groin pull. Mund #2 is obviously the best player. They like to pound away in the middle with him. Then they go to Greene #21, or Anderson #4 around the outside. On defense Anderson is the best lineman. I would probably pass more than run if I were you. Especially with that awesome QB you have. Pass in the direction of Taylor #8, he can't play worth a cr**. If they even play him any more. The Bees' main weak spot is probably the big play, a lot of big runs, passes, and kick returns have hurt them this year. Also their punting game sucks. Their longest punt might be 40 yrds. No joke. They gave up 2 safties to Bonneville because of their punting game. GO T-BIRDS, all the way!

THE ZUKE PREDICTS

Now it's time to pick the state champion of the 5A, 4A and 3A.

Let me give you a head start.

5A Champion

Do you know that all politicians have people write the speeches for them?
With that in mind, I thought I'd help Orem coach Alex Jacobson out and write
his speech that he'll deliver after their season ends next week.

"Men, it was a great year. We were picked last and won region. The Brighton
game ... Well, never mind. But it was a great year."

You Orem fans can stay with your Tigers, but me and all the gang at Mountain
View and Timpanogos are going with Skyline.

Zuke's pick: Skyline

4A Champion

I've done some calculating on Timpview, trying to figure out what their
offense could do if it ever plays a full game. This is what I came up with.

Cade Cooper: 480 yards passing, 12 touchdown passes.

Dane Church: 230 yards receiving seven touchdowns

Bryant Atkinson: 200 yards receiving five touchdowns

Jake Garrard: 175 yards rushing three touchdowns

Jason Owen 150 yards rushing two touchdowns.

"But Zuke," you say, "that adds up to 10 touchdowns passing and five
rushing. A total of 15 touchdowns per game?"

Yep. Questions?

Zuke's pick: Timpview


Friday night hype info box

10/30/2000

FRIDAY NIGHT HYPE

Top individual prep football performances in the first round
of the state playoffs

Robby Gueck, Springville

Caught 6 passes for 111 yards and scored three touchdowns -- one

receiving, one on a 103-yard interception return and one on a 90-yard

kickoff return -- in Springville's 26-25 loss to Bonneville.

Sam Burgess, Lone Peak

Ran for 115 yards and a touchdown, passed for 105 yards and another

score in Lone Peak's 42-28 victory over Fremont.

Matt Mower, Lone Peak

Two touchdowns, 66 yards on 12 carries against Fremont.

Mike Sorenson, Lone Peak

One touchdown rushing, one receiving against Fremont.

Cade Cooper, Timpview

Completed 17 of 26 for 293 yards (241 in the first half) and fired four

touchdown passes in Timpview's 49-28 win over Murray.

Dane Church, Timpview

Caught 9 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns against Murray.

Alex Coombs, Orem

Scored twice (3-yard run, 46-yard reception) as Orem beat Copper Hills

28-20.

Jonny Harline, Orem

Had two of Orem's seven sacks against Copper Hills.

Chad Smith, Lehi

Ran for 139 yards, scored twice in Lehi's 30-0 blanking of Emery.

Wayne Latu, Provo

Scored on a 92-yard kickoff return in 56-28 loss to Highland.

Storm Singleton, Delta

Ran for 124 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in 43-0 shutout of

Canyon View.

Camron Eliason, Delta

Had 139 yards and two scores on 18 carries against Canyon View.

Alan Maughan, Timpanogos

Was 15 of 28 for 162 yards and two touchdowns in Timpanogos' 30-13

loss to Bingham.

Kory Drew, Pleasant Grove

Accounted for 151 of team's 256 yards and scored only touchdown in

P.G.'s 14-7 loss to Olympus.

Kyle Lynn, Juab

Ran for 102 yards and a touchdown as Juab upset Rich 15-8.

Cade Anderson, Manti

Ran for 68 yards and two touchdowns as Manti upset South Sevier 13-7.

This Story appeared in The Daily Herald on Monday, October 30, 2000 12:00:00 AM

Prep football roundup First Round

Provo Daily Herald 10/28/2000

LOGAN 20

AMERICAN FORK 13

LOGAN -- Logan (9-2) scored a late touchdown to break a 13-13 tie and oust American Fork (5-5) from the Class 4A playoffs.

American Fork had tied the score at 13 on a 3-yard run by Matt Hammer in the third quarter. But Logan scored in the fourth to get the victory.

American Fork 6 0 7 0 -- 13

Logan 0 13 0 7 -- 20

AF--Derek Beardall 2 run (kick blocked)

L--Bennett 60 pass from Lowe (Merrill kick)

L--Merrill 30 FG

L--Merrill 36 FG

AF--Matt Hammer 3 run (kick good)

L--Bohn 7 run (Merrill kick)

HIGHLAND 56

PROVO 28

SALT LAKE CITY -- Provo put on a late charge, but it wasn't enough to overcome Highland (9-1) in the Class 4A playoffs.

Highland jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but Provo (3-7) scored 14 quick points in the third quarter. Wayne Latu started things off with a 92-yard kickoff return and Clay Barnes added a 1-yard touchdown run a bit later to cut the deficit to 21-12.

But Highland came back to score another touchdown and regain control. Dustin Hofheins scored two late TDs for Provo.

Barnes was 16 of 32 for 197 yards, but was sacked eight times. Provo was held to minus 34 yards rushing.

"They have by far the best defensive line we've seen all year," Provo defensive coach Brian Preese said.

Hofheins rushed for 75 yards on 11 carries. Special teams played well for Provo.

Provo 0 0 20 8 -- 28

Highland 14 7 14 21 -- 56

H--Holton 16 run (James kick)

H--Cundick 1 run (James kick)

H--Cundick 1 run (James kick)

P--Latu 92 kickoff return (kick failed)

P--Clay Barnes 1 run (pass failed)

P--Jenkins 62 pass from Holton (James kick)

H--Cundick 4 run (James kick)

P--Dustin Hofheins 2 run (Koop pass from Barnes)

H--Holton 20 run (James kick)

H--Mailei 4 run (James kick)

P--Hofheins 47 run (Hofheins pass from Barnes)

H--Cundick 50 run (James kick)

Daily Herald 10/27/00

LP makes amends Last year's first-round loss a distant memory

10/28/2000

By DARNELL DICKSON

The Daily Herald

HIGHLAND -- Don't remind the Lone Peak football program of past playoff failures.

That happened to somebody else.

Lone Peak (9-1) piled up 452 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers Friday afternoon, earning a 42-28 victory over Fremont in the first round of the Class 4A football playoffs.

According to Lone Peak coach Monte Morgan, last year's stunning first-round upset loss to Cyprus was not a motivating factor.

"I think every kid feels like this year's team is their team," Morgan said. "If they look at last year's loss, they'd say, 'That's not us.' "

Still, Morgan admitted the fans and newspapers all remember that 26-14 loss to Cyprus, when Lone Peak came into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed from Region 6.

Friday wasn't Lone Peak's first playoff win -- that was two years ago against Logan -- but it might have been the school's most important one.

As always, Lone Peak spread the scoring around -- Matt Mower and Mike Sorenson each scored two touchdowns -- and took advantage of its opponent's mistakes.

Mower's second touchdown run ignited a 2 1/2 minute, 21-point Lone Peak outburst in the second quarter.

Brian Robinson picked of a Fremont pass and scooted 31 yards for a touchdown, and, after a Jace Birchall fumble recovery, Sorenson added a 1-yard scoring run for a 28-7 Lone Peak lead with 7:28 to go in the first half.

But Fremont quarterback Adam Beus, who was 23 of 35 for 226 yards and accounted for all four of his team's touchdowns, kept making the game interesting.

On a fourth-and-1 play, Beus tried a quarterback sneak. Finding nothing inside, Beus turned left and sped 38 yards down the sideline to make it 28-14.

Lone Peak wasted no time in answering that score. Matt Jensen found Brian Burrows wide open on a reverse pass for 55 yards. Moments later, Sam Burgess hooked up with Sorenson in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown and a 35-14 halftime lead.

The two teams combined for 483 first-half yards, including 326 by Lone Peak. Fremont (7-4), which tied for second in Region 4, closed the gap to 35-21 with 5:42 to go in the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Ryan Nay.

But a 22-yard run from punt formation by Lone Peak's Nathan Empy set up Burgess' 11-yard scoring scamper.

That run made the score 42-21 going into the fourth quarter.

Fremont 7 7 7 7 -- 28

Lone Peak 7 28 7 0 -- 42

LP--Matt Mower 5 run (Stephen Webster kick)

F--Mike Shaw 11 pass from Adam Beus (Brandon Anderson kick)

LP--Mower 5 run (Webster kick)

LP--Brian Robinson 31 interception return (Webster kick)

LP--Mike Sorenson 1 run (Webster kick)

F--Beus 38 run (Anderson kick)

LP--Sorenson 20 pass from Sam Burgess (Webster kick)

F--Ryan Nay 2 run (Anderson kick)

LP--Burgess 11 run (Webster kick)

F--Shaw 16 pass from Beus (Anderson kick)

Oly eliminates PG

10/28/2000

By KEVIN R. CURTIS

Herald Correspondent

PLEASANT GROVE -- Long after the game clock struck zeroes, the Pleasant Grove players remained on the field.

Their faces were dripping with both sweat and tears.

They huddled in pairs, threes and fours -- consoling each other, wishing the outcome of their 14-7 loss Friday night to Olympus could somehow, someway be different.

Pleasant Grove coach Bill Mikelson perhaps summed it up best: "I hate to lose, I just plain hate to lose," the veteran coach said.

On the other side, Olympus coach Mike Miller knew he had avoided the proverbial bullet.

"We were very fortunate tonight," Miller said.

Last year, P.G. eliminated Olympus from playoff competition in football, basketball and baseball. "People were talking all week about the Pleasant Grove jinx," Miller said.

But in this game, the curse seemed reversed as Olympus' two scores came after P.G. turnovers.

The first came on a punt that hit a P.G. defender who was in perfect coverage position.

Four plays later, Olympus' Chris Handley plunged over from 1-yard out for a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, P.G. marched 65 yards in 10 plays to the Olympus 1-foot line. Cory Drew appeared to have scored on a 13-yard scamper, but was marked down just short of the goal line. The next play was a fumbled snap which Olympus recovered.

"We just didn't get in the end zone," Mikelson said. The 7-0 score stood until late in the third quarter when a 12-play, 61-yard drive by P.G. was capped by a 1-yard Drew touchdown. Drew added the extra point for the tie.

The two teams then traded punts and again fortune found Olympus. With 4:10 left in the game, Olympus punted the ball to the P.G. 2-yard line. Three plays later Olympus forced a P.G. punt.

That's when Casey Evans burst through the line and blocked Drew's punt. The ball dribbled around the end zone before squirting out at the 1.

That's all Olympus needed as Cameron Nelson plunged over on the next play and Handley added the extra point for a 14-7 lead with just 3:10 left in the game.

Pleasant Grove 0 0 7 0 -- 7

Olympus 7 0 0 7 -- 14

O--Chris Handley 1 run (Preston Thomas kick)

PG--Kory Drew 1 run (Drew kick)

O--Cameron Nelson 1 run (Thomas kick)

CLASS 4-A PLAYOFFS: Cyprus' Dream Season Comes to End

Saturday, October 28, 2000

BY DAVID L. JOHNSON THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE     MAGNA -- One year after barely making the playoffs and upsetting top-ranked Lone Peak, the Cyprus Pirates found themselves on the other end Friday -- undefeated, going into this year's Class 4-A tournament.     But an undaunted Mountain Crest upset the Pirates 16-6, deflating Cyprus' whirlwind season.     "We can't take anything away from them," said Henry Akalaonu, a Mustang defensive lineman. "They came in here    undefeated. But we were ready for them."     Akalaonu helped lead a stifling Mustang defensive line, which put pressure on Pirate quarterback Casey Miller and effectively stopped running back Curtis Ash.     "We matched up well against their offensive line," Akalaonu said. "But we didn't give up. We have our coaches to thank."     In a defensive battle, the Mustangs scored nine points in the first quarter and were kept from scoring again until late in the fourth.     But the Pirates faced the plague they gave opponents all year: tough defense. The offense had trouble getting started behind Miller, who threw three interceptions.     Mustang coach Dan Cox came out aggressively against Cyprus, going for a fourth-and-inches play on his own 27-yard line, only two minutes into the game.     "We knew we had to get in here and get something started," Cox said. "They are tough to run against."     Mustang quarterback Ryan Zimmerman led the offense to a touchdown on its first drive, completing seven of eight passes    for 71 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown to Chris Sorenson.     Jake Kuresa, a 285-pound fullback, was a serious offensive threat coming out of the backfield with soft hands. He was Zimmerman's go-to guy in must situations. Mustang running back Adrian Stewart pounded the ball against a dogged Pirates defense, helping Mountain Crest keep its offense on the field and control the ball.     The Pirates' only touchdown came with 1:48 remaining, with Miller running the ball in on a 26-yard scramble.        Mountain Crest 16, Cyprus 6        Mountain Crest (7-3) 9 0 0 7--16    Cyprus (10-1) 0 0 0 6--6     MC--Sorenson 15 pass from Zimmerman (kick failed)     MC--FG Schroeder 34     MC--Stewart 4 run (Schroeder kick)     C--Miller 26 run (pass failed)

Timpview (9-0), No. 1 seed from Region 6

FIRST ROUND GAME: At home against Murray (5-5).

HISTORY: Timpview leads series 4-0.

LAST MEETING: Timpview defeated Murray 21-6 in Week 3 this year.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Remembering to show up for game.

PREDICTION: Timpview 41, Murray 13

Lone Peak (8-1), No. 2 seed from Region 6

FIRST ROUND GAME: At home against Fremont (6-3).

HISTORY: 0-0

LAST MEETING: Never met.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Trying to shake last year's first-round meltdown will be difficult, but Lone Peak hasn't let down all season. These guys are ready.

PREDICTION: Lone Peak 28, Fremont 14

Pleasant Grove (7-3), No. 3 seed from Region 6

FIRST ROUND GAME: At home against Olympus (5-4).

HISTORY: Pleasant Grove leads series 2-0.

LAST MEETING: Pleasant Grove defeated Olympus 18-15 in a 1999 first-round playoff game.

KEYS TO VICTORY: The defense will be tested against Olympus' running game, but Olympus won't know how to stop Kory Drew and Co. on offense.

PREDICTION: Pleasant Grove 24, Olympus 8

Provo (3-6), No. 4 seed from Region 6

FIRST ROUND GAME: On the road at Highland (8-1)

HISTORY: Highland leads series 5-1.

LAST MEETING: Highland defeated Provo 24-23 in overtime in the state semifinals in 1990.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Provo receivers need to make catches early in the game to give Clay Barnes confidence, and Dustin Hofheins must run inside effectively against a very good defense.

PREDICTION: Highland 20, Provo 7

Springville (4-6), No. 5 seed from Region 6

FIRST ROUND GAME: On the road at Bonneville (7-2).

HISTORY: Bonneville leads 1-0.

LAST MEETING: Bonneville defeated Springville 35-31 in the 1998 state quarterfinals.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Springville's passing combo of Bret Groneman and Robby Gueck can be handful, but the young defense will have to play out of their heads against a talented Bonneville team.

PREDICTION: Bonneville 36, Springville 22

American Fork (4-5), No. 6 seed from Region 6

FIRST ROUND GAME: On the road at Logan (8-2)

HISTORY: American Fork leads series 2-0.

LAST MEETING: American Fork defeated Logan 19-17 in the first round of the state playoffs in 1997.

KEYS TO VICTORY: American Fork needs a strong running output to pull off an upset, which they did last year in beating Mountain Crest.

PREDICTION: Logan 21, American Fork 7

Picking the Prep Football Playoffs

Thursday, October 26, 2000 SL TRIBUNE

FOOTBALL GAME THE SKINNY TRIBUNE PICKRiverton at Skyline Eagles dance with (and all over) Wolves Skyline by 35    West Jordan at Brighton Bengals' better "D" will decide this epic first-rounder Brighton by 3    Clearfield at Alta Rested Hawks face weary Falcons, but an upset is possible Alta by 1    Layton at Hunter Riled up Wolverines will take frustrations out on Layton Hunter by 14    Copper Hills at Orem Tigers could be vulnerable if Grizz QB J.D. Westphal gets hot Orem by 6    Taylorsville at Northridge Northridge won 38-0 in August, but T-Ville has improved a lot Northridge by 3    Jordan at Viewmont Jordan's superior running game should wear down the Vikings Jordan by 7    Timpanogos at Bingham Miners' defensive backfield is suspect, but offense isn't Bingham by 14    Murray at Timpview Explosive T-Birds won 21-6 on Sept. 1, should prevail again Timpview by 15    East at Box Elder Rematch of memorable '95 title game should go Bees' way again Box Elder by 17    Springville at Bonneville Matchup of proficient passing attacks could be a shootout Bonneville by 14    Provo at Highland Scoring on Highland's vaunted defense will be a minor victory for Bulldogs Highland by 21    American Fork at Logan Ryan Bohm's the bomb and Logan likes its draw Logan by 12    Olympus at Pleasant Grove It's not hoops, but Vikes still love meeting Titans early Pl. Grove by 11    Fremont at Lone Peak Tough first-round draw for sack-happy Knights; Beus beware Lone Peak by 4    Mountain Crest at Cyprus Pirates' magic should continue one more game, but just barely Cyprus by 1

UtahPreps.com Staff posted on 10/26 5:04 pm
4-A Picks
Every week throughout the 2000 high school football season, UtahPreps.com Senior Editor Ryan Hatch has made his game predictions. Now it’s time to see if his picks can stand up when it counts: the first round of the playoffs. Note: The point spreads indicated are merely for entertainment purposes. Class 4-A Murray (5-5) at Timpview (9-0) – The T-Birds may be the best team in the state and are looking to prove it. Timpview by 28. East (6-4) at Box Elder (8-2) – Running back Colt Mund will run all over a weak Leopards defense. Box Elder by 14. Springville (3-8) at Bonneville (7-2) – Bonneville has way too many weapons for Springville to deal with. Besides, it will be the Red Devils second game in three days. Bonneville by 21. Provo (3-6) at Highland (8-1) – The best defense in the state goes up against a recently stagnant offense. Highland by 17. American Fork (3-6) at Logan (8-2) – Logan is peaking at the right time and running back Ryan Bohm is cruising to all-state numbers. Logan by 14. Olympus (5-4) at Pleasant Grove (7-3) – Kory Drew may be one of the best players you’ve never heard of. Pleasant Grove by 10. Fremont (7-3) at Lone Peak (8-1) – If the Knight’s defense can stop Fremont quarterback Adam Beus then it should be a blowout. If not it will be a game. Lone Peak by 10. Mountain Crest (6-3) at Cyprus (10-0) – I’m not going to call the upset, but Mountain Crest is a very good team and Cyprus needs to play an overall solid game to beat them. Cyprus by 7.

City of Magna Abuzz Over10-0 Pirates

Thursday, October 26, 2000 SL TRIBUNE

Happy football days are back again in Magna.     The Cyprus High School Pirates are undefeated, ranked No. 4 in the state by The Salt Lake Tribune and itching to prove they are No. 1.     Lloyd Beck remembers the last time the Pirates were No. 1 -- "Didn't have to worry about the polls then; we won the state title," crows the 82-year-old Beck, who lives with his wife, Wanda, right across the street from the old Cyprus High football field located on Merton Way.     Yellow and gold pride oozes from every nook and cranny -- from Colisimo's Standard Market on the westside, to Ken's Sandwich Shop on the Eastside, to Francesco's on the south, to the Grub Box on the north.     The Pirate players come mostly from middle-income, middle-of-the-road families. "Kids here haven't changed in 50 years," says lifelong resident John Sudbury. "A few name changes maybe, but the work ethic has been passed down through several generations."     There has been a major change on the football field under the direction of Sonny Sudbury, John's brother, who served 26 years as a coach at Bingham High School.     Sonny was prodded into "coming home" this year, with John the head cheerleader. "I told him this group of kids was special, that I had coached them to a Ute Conference title as ninth graders," John says.     Yes, yellow and gold runs deep, Sonny says. "I had a great life at Bingham. But I'm a westside Magna kid. And I watched what these coaches had done with the junior programs. So, I came home again."     Home to where Joltin' Joe Rinaldi, Myron Philpot, Spiro Papanikolas, Kay Reid, Gus Klekas, Myron Bertoch, Russell Mandelas, Dick Monson, Sam Hill, Bud Knight and Lee Kirk helped coach Joe Cowley earn the school's only football title in 1944. "I remember sitting in the snow at Ute Stadium with my wife [Wanda] and watching Joltin' Joe return a kickoff 97 yards in the final minutes to beat Lehi," says Beck.     Home to where coach Al Mercer and his Pirate gridders compiled a storied run from 1946 to 1952, playing for the state title in 1947, 1949 and 1951.     Magna sports historian Harry Klekas talks nonstop in reciting the names of "great Pirate heroes" from five decades ago. Like, for instance, Jack Frazier, Sharon Rushton, Tony Rinaldi, Dale Simon, Fred Buckner, Nellie Peterson, Dick Henderson, John Arrigo, Gus Thurman, Skip Johnson, Bobby Harkness, Bruce Egan, Bill Klekas, Darrell Brady and Ken Strong.     There always was somebody around to steal the Pirates' thunder. A guy named LaVell Edwards helped Lincoln High turn away the Pirate title bid in 1947. In 1949, it was Judge Memorial and in 1951 coach Taft Watts and his Millard Eagles relegated Cyprus to second.     But none of those Pirate teams went 10-0, a record Sudbury's team takes into Friday's home quarterfinal duel against Mountain Crest. "The town is in an uproar," says Beck. Wins over the likes of East, Olympus and Highland from "the other side of town" have stoked the coals.     Sonny says luck has played a big role. "We block a kick and beat Olympus; we surprised Highland with a spread offensive formation; we blocked a punt and beat East."     John says the operative pronoun is "we." These Pirates, he says, always have been "we conscious rather than I conscious."     Last week, Sonny figures Cyprus came of age on a game-saving, goal-line stand at West. Seniors Mike Nay, Nery Sanchez, Danny Astill, Orlando Pulou, Verlin Maughan, Brandon Webb, Bryan Hammond, Curtis Ash, Andy Staples, Shawn Griffel and Casey Miller orchestrated the stand. "They'll remember that the rest of their lives," says Sonny Sudbury.     What the Pirates have done, says Sudbury, is "bring the town together. I can see it and feel it, so can the kids. Whatever happens in the playoffs, they have found their niche in school history."     Right alongside Joltin' Joe Rinaldi.

Utah State 4A Football Playoffs

2000 PLAYOFFS

CLASS 4A

First Round

Friday  Oct. 27, or Saturday, Oct. 28

(At home sites, all times TBA)

Murray (5-5) at Timpview (9-0)--at Timpview Friday at 3 PM

East (6-4) at Box Elder (8-2)

*Spanish Fork (3-6) or Springville (3-6) at Bonneville (7-2)

Springville whips SF in playoff game
10/25/2000

By DARNELL DICKSON

The Daily Herald

PAYSON -- This time, there was no question.

Springville held on to beat Spanish Fork 28-25 last Thursday to force a Region 6 playoff game but left no doubt who was the better team with a 38-14 victory at Payson on Tuesday afternoon.

Trailing 14-7 near the end of the first half, Springville (4-6) ran off 31 straight points and finally got a strong performance from its much-maligned defense.

Provo (3-6) at Highland (8-1)

American Fork (4-5) at Logan (8-2)

Olympus (5-4) at Pleasant Grove (7-3)

Fremont (7-3) at Lone Peak (8-1)

Mountain Crest (6-3) at Cyprus (10-0)

*Spanish Fork and Springville will play Tuesday with the winner earning the No. 5 seed from Region 6. American Fork won a coin flip to earn the No. 6 seed.

Quarterfinals

Saturday, Nov. 4

Home sites

Semifinals

Friday, Nov. 10

TBA

Finals

Friday, Nov. 17

Weber State