GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Pine View (4-4, 2-3) at Bear River (5-3, 3-2), today, 3 p.m. at Snow College
Previous Meeting – Bear River 47, Pine View 14 (3A State championship, Nov. 19, 2004 at U of U)
PANTHERS
Classification: 3A, Region 9
Coach: Ray Hosner (12th year, 98-37 overall)
Offense: I-back and spread
Last week: Beat Canyon View 56-0
Players to watch: RB Prentiss Miller needs about 400 yards to reach a milestone 2,000 for the season. QB Kody Wilstead is hoping to gain some consistency heading into the final week of the season and perhaps a playoff spot. We’re still waiting for one of the PV receivers to step up and have a huge game. Cason Prisbrey seems the most likely candidate, though TE Gage Afatasi has played well lately.
PPG: 27.8
PAPG: 22.0
Team stats: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/high-school-sports/mens-football/pine-view-stats
Trend: The Panthers destroyed Canyon View and seem to be hitting their stride as we get deep into the season. The last three weeks the Panthers are averaging about 40 points a game and getting Wilstead back makes the passing game a real threat. Pine View needs to win its last two games to assure itself of a winning season, something the Panthers have only done once the past three years.
BEARS
Classification: 3A, Region 11
Coach: Chris Wise (11th year, 66-54 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last week: Beat Grantsville 21-0
Players to watch: QB Kyle Zundel is a dual-threat guy, with 1,275 passing yards and 634 rushing yards this season, collecting a combined 23 touchdowns along the way. No one lese has more than 200 rushing yards this season for the Bears. Colton Jensen is his favorite target, with 25 catches and averaging more than 19 yards per reception. WR Garrett Fronk has scored six times from his WR spot.
PPG: 27.8
PAPG: 18.3
Trend: The Bears are one of those teams that whips the bad opponents (Ben Lomond and Ogden), but can’t quite hang with the big boys (Stansbury, Morgan). Still, Coach Wise is a cagey veteran who knows this time of year is when you need to make things happen. The Zundel-Fronk duo brings to mind that 2004 championship game when Jason Zundel and Colton Fronk helped Bear River blast the Panthers.
GAME OUTLOOK
It’s been too long for Pine View fans to think about revenge for the 2004 title game, hasn’t it? Nevertheless, both these teams should be in the playoffs and so this game should serve as a vehicle to try and help develop some consistency heading toward the postseason. It is a non-region game, so pray that no one gets hurt.
STGnews PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (32-5) — Pine View
Jeff Ames (32-5) — Pine View
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