GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Dixie (9-2, 4-2) at Juan Diegon(12-0, 5-0), tonight, 6:30 p.m.
Previous Meeting – Juan Diego 41, Dixie 0 (Oct. 28, 2011, State first round)
FLYERS
Classification: 3A, Region 9
Coach: Blaine Monkres (23rd year, 166-88 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last week: Beat Stansbury 20-13
Players to watch: QB Blake Barney’s didn’t throw the ball real well last week at Stansbury, but ran it well, as did the rest of the Dixie squad. With the snow flying, it will be interesting to see if Dixie can pass it against Juan Diego. They’re probably going to have to.
PPG: 37.5
PAPG: 18.7
Team stats: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/high-school-sports/mens-football/dixie-stats
Trend: The Flyers have been playing pretty well and really are every bit as good as the Soaring Eagle. But confidence is a funny thing and the Flyers may be lacking some against a team that blasted them a year ago. Then again, there is the revenge factor. We’ll find out which is stronger.
SOARING EAGLE
Classification: 3A, Region 10
Coach: John Colosimo (26th year, 175-103 overall)
Offense: Flex-bone
, wing-T
Last week: Beat Hurricane 38-0
Players to watch: QB Nick Markosian has been injured some this season, but still managed 832 yards and 10 TDs this year. He’s also rushed for 516 yards. No doubt, Juan Diego wants to run the ball. They have two excellent backs in Chase Williams (886 yards, 16 TDs) and Jessie Springer (800, 7). Defensively, Dakota Cox is a beast with 124 tackle sand four sacks this year, while safety Walter Kauhaahaa has 79 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
PPG: 36.7
PAPG: 7.1
Trend: Wow, have these guys been good this year. Nobody’s been close to them since the preseason. JD has shut out three of its last four opponents and is still scoring in the 30s on a regular basis. Most of the Salt Lake media has already annointed the Soaring Eagle as the state champs. We will see.
GAME OUTLOOK
Heavy snow in the Salt Lake City area could change the entire outlook of this game, but earlier games have shown that you can still pass in this kind of weather. Certainly Juan Diego is heavily favored tonight, but Dixie is Region 9’s last chance to represent in the state finals.
STGnews PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (41-10) – Juan Diego
JA/Keric Seegmiller (43-8) – Juan Diego
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