Preece High School Football Power Poll: Top teams have sights set on playoff success | News, Sports, Jobs

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

Timpview running back Puaa Mo’unga fights for yards during the Region 8 game at Lehi on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

High school football expert Brian E. Preece ranks every team in the state of Utah at the end of the 2022 regular season (Utah Valley-area teams in bold):

Rank/School/Record/Previous Rank (Change +/-)/RPI Ranking//Next Up

1. Lehi (5A) 10-0 1 (NC) 5A #1 BYE

2. Corner Canyon (6A) 8-2 3 (+1) 6A #1 BYE

3. Skyridge (6A) 9-1 2 (-1) 6A #2 BYE

4. Timpview (5A) 7-2 4 (NC) 5A #2 BYE

5. Bingham (6A) 8-2 6 (+1) 6A #3 BYE

6. American Fork (6A) 7-3 8 (+2) 6A #4 BYE

7. Lone Peak (6A) 5-4 5 (-2) 6A #11 vs. Copper Hills

8. Stansbury (5A) 10-0 9 (+1) 5A #4 BYE

9. Springville (5A) 8-1 13 (+4) 5A #3 BYE

10. Brighton (5A) 9-1 22 (+12) 5A #5 BYE

11. West (6A) 7-2 11 (NC) 6A #9 vs. Hunter

12. Syracuse (6A) 8-2 29 (+17) 6A #6 BYE

13. Bountiful (5A) 7-2 16 (+3) 5A #6 BYE

14. Crimson Cliffs (4A) 8-2 12 (-2) 4A #1 BYE

15. Morgan (3A) 10-0 32 (+17) 3A #2 BYE

16. Spanish Fork (5A) 7-2 35 (+19) 4A #7 BYE

17. Pleasant Grove (6A) 5-5 10 (-7) 5A #14 vs. Cyprus

18. Davis (6A) 7-3 34 (+16) 6A #7 BYE

19. Farmington (6A) 8-2 7 (-12) 6A #5 BYE

20. Grantsville (3A) 9-1 19 (-1) 3A #3 BYE

21. Provo (5A) 6-3 20 (-1) 5A #8 BYE

22. Orem (5A) 5-4 26 (+4) 5A #11 vs. Uintah

23. East (5A) 6-4 27 (+4) 5A #15 vs. Skyline

24. Park City (5A) 7-2 33 (+9) 5A #16 vs. Timpanogos

25. Snow Canyon (4A) 6-3 44 (+19) 4A #5 vs. Green Canyon

26. Roy (6A) 7-3 24 (-2) 6A #12 vs. Weber

27. Woods Cross (5A) 6-4 46 (+19) 5A #10 vs. Wasatch

28. Box Elder (5A) 7-3 21 (-7) 5A #9 vs. Highland

29. Dixie (4A) 6-3 17 (-12) 4A #3 BYE

30. Riverton (6A) 6-4 18 (-12) 6A #10 vs. Kearns

31. Mountain Ridge (6A) 6-3 31 (NC) 6A #13 vs. Westlake

32. West Jordan (6A) 6-3 15 (-17) 6A #8 BYE

33. Ridgeline (4A) 6-4 36 (+3) 4A #4 vs Pine View

34. Desert Hills (4A) 7-3 37 (+3) 4A #2 BYE

35. Bonneville (5A) 6-3 14 (-21) 5A #14 vs. Alta

36. Cedar Valley (5A) 7-3 47 (+11) 5A #13 vs. Viewmont

37. Payson (5A) 7-3 51 (+14) 5A #12 vs. Olympus

38. Granger (6A) 5-4 54 (+16) 6A #15 vs. Fremont

39. Herriman (6A) 4-6 25 (-14) 6A #17 @ Layton

40. Timpanogos (5A) 7-3 55 (+15) 5A #17 @ Park City

41. Olympus (5A) 5-5 28 (-13) 5A #21 @ Payson

42. Juab (3A) 10-0 39 (-3) 3A #1 BYE

43. Alta (5A) 4-5 42 (-1) 5A #19 @ Bonneville

44. Sky View (4A) 5-4 45 (-1) 4A #7 vs. Hurricane

45. Westlake (6A) 2-8 30 (-15) 5A #20 @ Mountain Ridge

46. Mountain Crest (4A) 6-4 50 (+4) 4A #6 vs. Bear River

47. Viewmont (5A) 4-5 23 (-24) 5A #20 @ Cedar Valley

48. Wasatch (5A) 3-6 43 (-5) 5A #23 @ Woods Cross

49. Skyline (5A) 4-6 38 (-11) 5A #18 @ East

50. San Juan (2A) 10-0 48 (-2) 2A #2 BYE

51. Logan (4A) 5-5 49 (-2) 4A #9 @ Cedar City

52. Juan Diego (3A) 5-5 76 (+24) 3A #7 vs. Union

53. Kearns (6A) 2-8 58 (+5) 6A #23 @ Riverton

54. South Summit (2A) 9-0 52 (-2) 2A #1 BYE

55. Fremont (6A) 3-7 40 (-15) 6A #18 @ Granger

56. Layton (6A) 5-5 41 (-15) 6A #16 vs Herriman

57. Hunter (6A) 2-7 85 (+28) 6A #24 @ West

58. Cyprus (6A) 4-6 53 (-5) 6A #19 @ Pleasant Grove

59. Cedar City (4A) 3-6 61 (+2) 4A #9 @ Logan

60. Weber (6A) 2-8 56 (-4) 6A #21 @ Roy

61. Highland (5A) 3-7 71 (+10) 5A #24 @ Box Elder

62. Canyon View (3A) 7-3 64 (+2) 3A #4 BYE

63. Manti (3A) 4-6 77 (+14) 3A #8 vs. Ogden

64. Salem Hills (5A) 2-8 62 (-2) 5A #25 Season Over

65. Layton Christian (1A) 7-3 72 (+7) 1A-11 #1 vs. Parowan

66. North Sanpete (3A) 4-6 65 (-1) 3A #6 vs. Ben Lomond

67. Bear River (4A) 3-7 68 (+1) 4A #11 @ Mountain Crest

68. Richfield (3A) 6-4 59 (-9) 3A #5 vs. Carbon

69. Enterprise (1A) 10-0 78 (+9) 1A-11 #2 vs. North Summit

70. Emery (2A) 6-3 87 (+17) 2A #3 BYE

71. Ogden (3A) 3-6 81 (+10) 3A #9 Ogden

72. Northridge (5A) 2-8 60 (-12) #5A 26 Season Over

73. Kanab (1A) 8-2 70 (-3) 1A-11 #3 vs. Duchesne

74. Union (3A) 3-7 88 (+14) 3A #10 @ Juan Diego

75. Copper Hills (6A) 2-8 67 (-8) 6A #22 @ Lone Peak

76. Beaver (2A) 6-4 66 (-10) 2A #4 BYE

77. Uintah (5A) 4-6 91 (+14) 5A #22 @ Orem

78. Taylorsville (6A) 2-8 80 (+2) 6A #26 Season Over

79. Maple Mountain (5A) 1-9 63 (-16) 5A #29 Season Over

80. Milford (1A) 7-3 79 (-1) 1A-11 #4 vs. North Sevier

81. Tooele (5A) 2-8 84 (+3) 5A #27 Season Over

82. Hurricane (4A) 2-8 69 (-13) 4A #10 @ Sky View

83. Green Canyon (4A) 1-8 57 (-26) 4A #12 @ Snow Canyon

84. Duchesne (1A) 5-5 92 (+8) 1A-11 #6 @ Kanab

85. Cottonwood (Ind.) 2-8 101 (+16) Independent Season Over

86. Jordan (5A) 2-8 73 (-13) 5A #30 Season Over

87. Ben Lomond (3A) 3-7 93 (+6) 3A #11 @ North Sanpete

88. Providence Hall (2A) 4-5 100 (+12) 2A #6 vs. ALA

89. Summit Academy (2A) 5-5 74 (-15) 2A #5 vs. Grand

90. Gunnison (1A) 6-4 96 (+6) 1A-8 #1 BYE

91. North Sevier (1A) 5-4 83 (-8) 1A-11 #5 @ Milford

92. Pine View (4A) 0-8 75 (-17) 4A #13 @ Ridgeline

93. North Summit (1A) 3-7 97 (+4) 1A-11 #7 @ Enterprise

94. Mountain View (5A) 1-9 95 (+1) 5A #28 Season Over

95. Delta (2A) 3-7 104 (+9) 2A #8 vs. Millard

96. Clearfield (6A) 0-10 82 (-14) 6A #25 Season Over

97. Carbon (3A) 2-8 94 (+3) 3A #12 @ Richfield

98. Millard (2A) 2-8 103 (+5) 2A #9 @ Delta

99. South Sevier (2A) 3-7 86 (-13) 2A #10 @ Judge Memorial

100. Rich (1A) 3-6 105 (+5) 1A-8 #2 vs. Monument Valley

101. Murray (5A) 0-10 89 (-12) 5A #32 Season Over

102. Judge Memorial (2A) 4-6 90 (-12) 2A #7 vs. South Sevier

103. Hillcrest (5A) 0-10 102 (-1) 5A #31 Season Over

104. Monticello (1A) 2-1 107 (+3) 1A-8 #3 vs. Altamont

105. Grand (2A) 2-8 99 (-6) 2A #12 @ Summit Academy

106. Parowan (1A) 1-8 98 (-8) 1A-11 #8 @ Layton Christian

107. Altamont (1A) 2-2 108 (+1) 1A-8 #6 @ Monticello

108. ALA (2A) 0-10 106 (-2) 2A #11 @ Providence Hall

109. Water Canyon (1A) 1-7 109 (NC) 1A-8 #4 vs. Whitehorse

110. Whitehorse (1A) 1-1 110 (NC) 1A-8 #5 @ Water Canyon

111. Monument Valley (1A) 1-3 111 (NC) 1A-8 #7 @ Rich

112. USDB 0-3 112 (NC) 1A-8 #8 Season Over

Area Teams in Bold Print

NC = No Change

Utah County Rankings: 1. Lehi (#1) 2. Skyridge (#3) 3. Timpview (#4) 4. American Fork (#6) 5. Lone Peak (#7) 6. Springville (#9) 7. Spanish Fork (#16) 8. Pleasant Grove (#17) 9. Provo (#21) 10. Orem (#22) 11. Cedar Valley (#36) 12. Payson (#37) 13. Timpanogos (#40) 14. Westlake (#45) 15. Salem Hills (#64) 16. Maple Mountain (#79) 17. Mountain View (#94) 18. ALA (#108) .

Notes: It was a great regular season for Utah Valley schools and like last year, the gold trophies of both 5A and 6A could land at a county school.

Lehi deserves its top ranking in the Preece Power Poll. It beat Corner Canyon and staved off Timpview. Skyridge checks in at No. 3, its only loss to Corner Canyon but the Falcons have the talent to win the rematch if it comes to that. Timpview has lost only two games this year, narrow losses to both Lehi and Skyridge and definitely has the firepower to walk away with another state title.

In regards to 6A, certainly American Fork and Lone Peak shouldn’t be overlooked and the out-of-county competition should come from perhaps three sources probably in this order: Bingham, West or Syracuse (the Region champs from Regions 3, 2 and 1 respectively).

In 5A Springville, the Region 9 champion looks strong, Stansbury is undefeated from Region 7 and Bountiful (Region 5) must always be respected. Brighton, the champion of Region 6, will get a sparkling RPI seed of No. 3 to help its cause.

Trending upward in the Power Poll was Hunter moving up 28 spots after some late-season wins. Juan Diego surged up 24 spots, while at the local level Spanish Fork improved the most, moving up 19 positions. Payson also made a nice jump moving up 14 spots.

The biggest decliner in the poll was Green Canyon as the Wolves slid 26 positions after having a miserable season, though there were some big expectations. Viewmont fell 24 spots after having a rough second half of its season. Maple Mountain fell 16 positions to lead Utah County programs in that department, while Westlake slid 15 spots.

As you will see, there are some differences between the Preece Power Poll (PPP) and the RPI. Remember, the latter is what is used by the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) for seeding. The PPP might give you a truer reading of what teams are actually better, and how that might impact the playoffs.

The top four teams in 6A fall in line, but where the PPP and the RPI really diverge is how Lone Peak is viewed. The PPP sees Lone Peak as the fifth best team in 6A while the RPI has the Knights seeded No. 11. Expect Lone Peak to easily get past No. 22 seed Copper Hills as it begins its title defense, and then the Knights will have to travel north to take on the Region 1 champs, Syracuse. This game should be a great one, but it would be better suited for a quarterfinal match-up.

Another team that the PPP sees as a much better team than its RPI seed is Pleasant Grove. The Vikings are seeded No. 14 for the 6A tournament, but the PPP has the Vikings as the eighth best in the state’s largest classification. The Vikings still get to host a playoff game taking on Cyprus in the first half with the winner of this contest drawing No. 3 seed Bingham in the second round. If the Vikings were the No. 8 seed, they would have received a bye in the first round.

By the way, Westlake will travel to Mountain Ridge for a first round game. Westlake won a one-point thriller over the Sentinels early in the season but the Thunder struggled when Region 4 play started. Westlake has been one program that has really benefited from the expanded playoff format as the Thunder, seeded outside the top 16, has been able to go on the road and win in the first round the past three seasons.

In 5A, Payson who has earned their first home playoff game since sometime in the 1970’s plays Olympus. This a tough draw for the Lions, the No. 12 seed, as Olympus is the No. 21 seed and arguably under-seeded. In the PPP, where all teams from all classifications are ranked, Payson is at #37 where Olympus is #41 suggesting that the teams are very close.

Olympus has had a lot of playoff success in recent years with an experienced and playoff proven coach in Aaron Whitehead. Payson head coach Arnold Ale has elevated the Lion program and this looks like one of the most intriguing first round matchups as the defensive and run-oriented Titans take on the explosive passing attack of Payson. By the way, Olympus is three spots lower in the RPI than their rival Skyline, who the Titans defeated in the last week of the season. Go figure.

Cedar Valley, the No. 13 seed, despite beating No. 12 Payson head-to-head, will get a tough draw as well with Viewmont. Both have played Provo and Viewmont would appear to have the edge based on that result playing the Bulldogs much closer. But Viewmont has hit the skids and the Aviators have sustained its positive momentum in the second half of the season to get the game at home.

Timpanogos, seeded No. 17, will take on Park City. Timpanogos has a 7-3 record while Park City is 7-2 suggesting maybe that both might be slightly underseeded. Park City’s losses are to Brighton (9-1) and East (6-4) and therefore on paper, the Miners should have the edge.

Timpview (7-2) earned the No. 2 seed via the RPI, and it seems that is fair, though three teams seeded just below in Springville (8-1), Brighton (9-1) and Stansbury (10-0) all won their leagues and make up seeds No. 3 through No. 5 in that order. No doubt that Timpview played the tougher schedule, as the Thunderbirds took on 6A programs like Bingham, Lone Peak and Skyridge, and their two losses were to Skyridge and 5A No. 1 seed Lehi, which finally moved up to top spot in the RPI after the last week of the regular season.

Provo got the No. 8 seed and perhaps the toughest draw of any of the seeds that got the bye in the first round. The Bulldogs will play the winner of the Highland (No. 24) vs. Box Elder (No. 9) game. Box Elder and Provo competed in a dandy against each other where the Bulldogs pulled out a 44-38 win in overtime in the second week of the season. Then of course the second round winner of this contest draws Lehi in the quarterfinals.

A possible, and very likely based on seeding quarterfinal matchups involving Utah County programs, is Spanish Fork (No. 7 seed) vs. No. 2 seed Timpview.

And a great quarterfinal match-up possibility might be a rematch between Bountiful, the No. 6 seed, and Springville, the No. 3 seed. The Red Devils beat the Red Hawks 18-17 when Springville’s Walker Deede hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Ryder Burton on the game’s final play.

But this rematch only happens if Bountiful can get past Orem (No. 11). Orem, who has won the state title from the No. 12 seed, seems to always be underappreciated in the RPI system. But the Tigers have always been able to make some noise in the playoffs and pull the “upsets” necessary. So if Orem can get past Bountiful, the Tigers could face the team in Springville that stopped their state championship streak at four. And for those that remember, like against Bountiful, Burton hit Deede on the game’s final play to win that game.

Wasatch, as the No. 23 seed, will visit No. 10 Woods Cross as the Wildcats improved their play in the second half of the season.

Salem Hills was the bubble team that missed the 5A 24-team field as the Skyhawks finished the season with a 2-8 record and a No. 25 ranking in the RPI. Mountain View (No. 28) and Maple Mountain (No. 29) missed the playoffs as well. Both teams won one game, and it is interesting that Maple Mountain finished lower than Mountain View, though the Golden Eagles beat the Bruins 41-14 in the season opener. It’s one of those little things that erodes one faith in the totality of the RPI ranking process.

Only one team (so far) has elected to not participate in the playoffs. The Utah School for the Deaf and Blind (USDB) played three 8-man games in their season and were winless, but USDB has decided not to go to the playoffs giving Gunnison a bye in the first round. Cottonwood, which plays an independent schedule, is not eligible for the playoffs.

ALA (0-10) and Pine View (0-8) will be two winless teams participating in the football playoffs. The Eagles will be the No. 11 seed in the 2A tournament as Grand, with its 2-8 record, actually is seeded No. 12. ALA will take on Providence Hall in the first round.

The highest team in the PPP not to make the playoffs is #64 Salem Hills and the lowest ranked team in the playoffs is Monument Valley at #111. If the PPP were to be used for the playoff seeding, Salem Hills would have made the 5A field vs. Uintah, which is seeded No. 22 and will visit Orem in the first round.

Going into the playoffs there are no undefeated teams left in 6A or 4A, but Lehi and Stansbury are still unblemished in 5A. In 3A Juab and Morgan are both undefeated while 2A has a pair of perfect teams in South Summit and San Juan. In 1A, Enterprise went 10-0 in the regular season.

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