GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Dixie (2-2, 0-0) at Pine View (3-1, 1-0)
Previous Meeting: Flyers 34, Panthers 24 (Sept. 7, 2012)
Broadcast: Triplecast: STGNews.com/KCEC Baja Ch. 22/ESPN SportsRadio 106.1 FM, Andy Griffin and Patrick Blake on play-by-play
FLYERS
Classification: 3AA, South Region
Coach: Blaine Monkres (24th year, 170-90 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last game: Beat Canyon View 58-6
Players to watch: Will RB/LB Joseph Takau be able to play? His sore shoulder probably needs more rest, but this is a big game. After a tough game vs. Riverton, QB Ammon Takau was back playing well last week. WR Drew Batchelor is a game-changer, but Dixie needs a third spoke on that wheel. With J. Takau questionable, who will that be? Perhaps WR Lukas Hildebrandt or RB Tanner Webster.
PPG: 38.3
PAPG: 28.0
Trend: A lot of folks around the region were shocked when they heard Dixie was leading Canyon View just 7-6 after the first quarter. Three early turnovers made it close early, a definite concern for Monkres and company. More concerning is the health of defensive stars Joseph Takau and Braxton Ipson. Dixie is beat up a bit. For the record, the Flyers beat Lehi 51-28, a team that beat Pine View a week later.
PANTHERS
Classification: 3AA, South Region
Coach: Ray Hosner (13th year, 104-38 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last game: Beat Snow Canyon 56-28
Players to watch: RB Pano Tiatia is back and trying to fit in with an offense that’s been nearly unstoppable already. It will interesting to see how Hosner divides the time between Tiatia and RB Tristan Duran, who has more than 400 yards already this season. QB Kody Wilstead lead the state in passing (380 per game) and WR Jack Bangerter is tops in receptions (36) and third in receiving yards (523).
PPG: 42.3
PAPG: 25.5
Trend: The Panthers have scored at least 33 points in every game this season and the offense seems to be getting better as the year progresses. Defensively, Pine View has been gouged by several teams. But remember, PV never wins the time of possession battle and often scores quickly, leaving the defense out on the field longer. And the bottom line is to outscore the opponent, by whatever means necessary.
GAME OUTLOOK
A healthy Dixie defense might be able to slow Pine View down a bit, but several stars are hurting and Monkres has said he’s not going to lose the war just to win one battle. Beside, Dixie is no slouch offensively themselves. This will be both teams’ first real tests against a true passing opponent (except every day at practice, of course). Expect touchdowns, and lots of ’em.
STGnews (record) PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (22-2) — Pine View
Darren Cole (17-7) — Pine View
Parry’s spread: Dixie by 3
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