GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Dixie (0-0, 0-0) at Springville (0-0, 0-0)
Previous Meeting – Dixie 28, Springville 13 (Aug. 17, 2012 at Dixie)
FLYERS
Classification: 3AA, South Region
Coach: Blaine Monkres (24th year, 168-88 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last game: Beat Spanish Fork 49-21 in 2012 3A state championship
Players to watch: Drew Batchelor leads a receiving crew that includes Lukas Hildebrandt, Andy Apppel and Tanner Webster. But who will throw to them? Ammon Takau and Jaden Harrison will probably both get reps at QB for Dixie. Defensively, Taylor Strehlow is back at middle linebacker and Braxton Ipson will star at defensive end.
PPG: 36.0 (last season)
PAPG: 18.2 (last season)
Trend: A lot of teams would rely heavily on the running game while breaking in a new quarterback, but that’s not Monkres’ style. Takau and Harrison will both throw the ball. How could they not, with that talented crew of WRs? Joe Takau, Ammon’s older brother, does figure to get quite a few carries at running back. Also, Dixie will get everyone’s best shot. That comes with the territory of being the defending state champ.
RED DEVILS
Classification: 4A, Region 8
Coach: Willy Child (2nd year, 2-8 overall)
Offense: Pro set, multiple
Last game: Lost to Mountain View 30-29 in overtime to end last season
Players to watch: In all, 18 of 21 starters are back for Springville, which went 2-8 last season, but not the quarterback. Like Dixie, the Red Devils have four returning wideouts – Jessi Noll, Rhett Clark, Justin Ollerton and Jake Johnson – but a big question mark at QB. On the bright side, Springville has running back Willy D. Child (yep, the coach’s son) back, as well as 10 starters on the defense. Tackling machine Braiden Leslie leads that group at middle linebacker.
PPG: 19.1 (last season)
PAPG: 27.0 (last season)
Trend: A new football coach and a bunch of underclassmen made for a rough season last year. But the good news is Coach Child (who has been Springville’s baseball coach for more than a decade) has a year under his belt, as do all those underclassmen. Plus the Red Devils went 2-2 in their last four games last year and nearly were 3-1 with an overtime loss to Mountain View.
GAME OUTLOOK
This has turned into a great little season-opening rivalry. Monkres said every year Springville talks about canceling it, but then re-ups during the offseason. Both teams should do well in their regions this season if they can solve the quarterback riddle. They both have experienced O-lines and all kinds of athletes on defense. So this game may come down to which team’s QB makes the fewest mistakes. Playing at home should help Springville as well.
STGnews (record) PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (0-0) — Dixie
Darren Cole (0-0) — Dixie
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