Timpview knows Tigers can play

After watching game film of the Orem Tigers' first-round playoff victory last week over Bonneville, Timpview High's coaching staff was impressed.

"That was no fluke," Thunderbirds coach Chad Van Orden said. "The better team won that game."

The Tigers, who will face Timpview at 3 p.m. today in the 4A quarterfinals on the T-Birds field, have quietly put together a pretty decent season — and they've done it without a lot of fanfare.

For some reason Orem High has been the Rodney Dangerfield of Utah County prep sports the past year. Last year's boys basketball team was not supposed to do much in Region 7 but ended up making it all the way to the semifinals of the state tournament. The girls basketball team also surprised everyone by making it to the finals where they gave Mountain View its best challenge in years. The baseball team, picked by no one to finish atop the region, not only won the league title but also made it to the state semifinals.

This year's Tigers football team seems to be a similar story. Despite being picked in preseason to be borderline playoff material, they've amassed a 7-3 record and have won four straight. Their only non-league loss came at the hands of Timpview early in the season, and they defeated Spanish Fork. They could easily be 9-1, losing to Lone Peak by five points and Pleasant Grove by two.

Still, the Tigers have never cracked the 4A rankings. That's not much respect for a team that is deep and balanced with athletes who play very well together, with each player taking care of his role and duties.

"That's how football has to be played," Orem coach Robert Steele said. "You can't have any heroes."

If there's any team that can possibly stop Timpview's high-powered offense, it's Orem. The Tigers defense is tops in Utah Valley and one of the best in 4A football, allowing fewer than 13 points a game. Travis Barney is one of the better defensive backs in the state with six interceptions. Trent Barney and Jake Schroeder are two of the better tacklers.

Perhaps the main reason for Orem's late success, however, is the offense. Billy Strong is the perfect quarterback to run the option and in recent games has been a very effective runner. And even though the Tigers have been wounded all year at running back, with Mike Echohawk, Blake Steele and Ryan Hogue still nursing nagging injuries, the reserves have filled in well. Schroeder, the early season quarterback, has been especially effective in his new role as running back.

"What we've really started doing well is taking advantage of our opportunities and we haven't been turning the ball over," Steele said.