GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Dixie (1-1, 0-0) at Riverton (2-0, 0-0)
Previous Meeting: This is the teams first meeting (5A Riverton opened in 1999)
Broadcast: None
FLYERS
Classification: 3AA, South Region
Coach: Blaine Monkres (24th year, 169-89 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last game: Beat Lehi 51-28
Players to watch: Welcome to the party, QB Ammon Takau. He shared the starting job the first game, but his 404 yards of total offense and five TDs last week clinched it for him. Takau, our SportsRadio/STGNews player of the week, completed his first TD pass to Jaden Harrison, the same guy he beat out for the QB job. Harrison is playing the slot for Dixie. Lukas Hildebrandt had a breakout game with 7 recpts., 95 yds. and 2 TDs. Dixie has a lot of weapons. DE Braxton Ipson will miss a couple of weeks with an MCL injury, but it could have been much worse.
PPG: 35.5
PAPG: 24.5
Trend: It was a nice win for Dixie last week, but the Flyers defense gave up a lot of points. Losing Ipson hurts, too. He is a difference-maker. Still, Dixie is learning a lot about this year’s team in the preseason clashes. The Flyers drew the first region bye and will play a non-leaguer against Canyon View next week. The starters will only play half that game (CV is bad), so this Riverton game is important for Dixie in helping get reaady for region. Offensively, the Flyers look a lot like last year’s state championship team.
Silverwolves
Classification: 5A, Region 4
Coach: Mike Miller (16th year, 102-64 overall)
Offense: Wing-T
Last game: Beat Madison (Ida.) 33-3
Players to watch: The Silverwolves love to run the football and they’re good at it. Riverton has amassed 867 rushing yards in two games, both blowout wins. FB Paden Cayias leads the team with 141 yards, but four other players have at least 100 yards or more this young season, including QB Connor Henderson. But don’t ask the Silverwolves to pass the ball. Henderson has completed just 7 of 25 passes for 115 yards and no TDs this year. LBs Preston Crapo and Sam Davis have combined for 41 tackles in two games.
PPG: 40.0
PAPG: 5.0
Trend: Riverton was 6-5 last year and is trying hard to take it to the Bingham/Alta level. The Silverwolves run a Wing-T (think Hurricane), only with a no-huddle pace. Coach Miller has said his team lacks size, but has speed and athleticism, which is probably why they run the no-huddle.
GAME OUTLOOK
Dixie’s conditioning will get a real test this week. Riverton hopes to wear all its opponents out in the first half with that hard and fast offense. The best way to slow them down is to force 3-and-outs. On the other side of the ball, Dixie’s offense was spectacular last week. Can they do it again. The speed of the Silverwolves has to be a concern. Both offenses will probably be able to move the ball. A shootout could be in the making.
STGnews (record) PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (13-1) — Riverton
Darren Cole (11-3) — Dixie
Parry’s spread: Riverton by 13
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