GAME PREVIEW CAPSULE
Pine View (7-3, 3-3) at Spanish Fork (9-1, 5-0), tonight, 5 p.m.
Previous Meeting – Spanish Fork 33, Pine View 25 (Oct. 30, 2009, 4A first round at SF)
PANTHERS
Classification: 3A, Region 9
Coach: Ray Hosner (12th year, 100-37 overall)
Offense: I-back and spread
Last week: Beat Snow Canyon 30-13
Players to watch: With a 2,000-yard rusher (RB Prentiss Miller) and a QB who is 6-foot-6 and has a rocket arm (Kody Wilstead), you’d think this section would be about offense. But the Panthers defense has been the real story in the season turnaround, led by DLs Wes Moeai and Wesley Kauvaka. Plus LB Tyker Olds is inching back to close 100 percent.
PPG: 29.8
PAPG: 21.0
Team stats: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/high-school-sports/mens-football/pine-view-stats
Trend: It’s a good trend for the Panthers, who have battled a myriad of injuries over the season. Back to nearly 100 percent, the Panthers have reeled off three straight wins and four out of five, outscoring opponents by an average of 38-17 during that stretch. Last week the Panthers allowed just 156 yards to Snow Canyon.
DONS
Classification: 3A, Region 12
Coach: Kirk Chambers (1st year, 9-1 overall)
Offense: Spread
Last week: Beat Payson 45-14
Players to watch: QB Jason Money barely won the starting job just before the Dons season-opener. All he’s done since then is pass for 1,757 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 341 yards and another four scores. The Dons feature back is Braxton Argyle, who has amassed 1,052 yards and 13 TDs. Argyle’s favorite target is Colton Olsen, who averages about six catches and 83 receiving yards a game. PPG: 35.9
PAPG: 11.1
Trend: Region 12 was especially weak this season. In fact, Spanish Fork hasn’t had a close game in six weeks. The only decent team the Dons have played this year was Logan, which handed SF its only loss (38-13) back in early September. But the bottom line is the Dons have won six games in a row.
GAME OUTLOOK
One can’t help but wonder what would have happened this year had Wilstead not broken his ankle. The Panthers are about as dangerous a four seed as there is in the state (not counting the East fiasco in 4A). The Panthers are certainly playing well right now on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, the Dons are hard to read. Region 12 provided no competition. The Dons closest region game was 28-6 against an awful North Sanpete team. It should be a great game. Maybe weather plays a factor in cold Utah County.
STGnews PREDICTION
Andy Griffin (37-7) — Pine View
J.A./Keric Seegmiller (36-8) — Spanish Fork
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