Semifinalists ready in 3A, 2A

Delta High is one of the smallest schools in Class 3A, and Logan High is one of the biggest.

Those schools will face one another in the semifinals of the 3A boys soccer tournament this afternoon, and you can rest assured that Delta is well aware of its enrollment figure in relation to its opponent's.

Just don't think the Rabbits are obsessing over it. Instead, coach Pedro Gonzales & Co. are just focused on trying to beat Logan on the soccer field. Because, as Gonzales pointed out, though Logan may have many more students, it won't have more players on the pitch.

"It's 11-on-11," he said.

No. 4 Delta will meet third-ranked Logan at 1 p.m. this afternoon at Dixie State College, while top-ranked Pine View faces Bear River in the other semifinal, which is scheduled for 3.

Delta has largely flown under the radar in 2007, but don't think the Rabbits aren't capable of hoisting the championship trophy. Delta has rattled off nine straight wins, including two over highly regarded Juan Diego. In the playoffs, the Region 8 champs have beaten Ben Lomond and 11-win Dixie.

Does the fact that Juan Diego and other 3A schools got all the attention during the regular season bother the Rabbits?

No, says Gonzales. "As a matter of fact, we like to go under the radar."

He credited Delta's seven seniors for helping lead the Rabbits to this point.

Meanwhile, there should be plenty of intrigue surrounding the other semifinal. Pine View has maintained the top spot in 3A throughout the season, and now it looks to advance to the championship game for the first time in its history.

To get there, the Panthers must beat Bear River for the second time this season. Pine View recorded a 2-1 win over Bear River in the opening week of the season, though — for what it's worth — many people felt Pine View carried almost all the play that day.

CLASS 2A: Christian Heritage showed Class 2A it can play last weekend, losing a quarterfinal to Rowland Hall in double overtime.

But now that the Crusaders are out, three heavyweights remain in contention for the inaugural 2A crown: Waterford, St. Joseph and Rowland Hall.

Those three were together in Region 14 this season, and they played with one another for years in Class 3A before the new classification was formed. Accordingly, don't expect to see many surprises this weekend.