5A football preview: Timpanogos at Alta

Timpanogos (6-4, 3-2) at Alta (10-1, 5-0)

5A State Tournament quarterfinal game

Friday, 4 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Alta by 24

All-time series: Alta leads 5-0.

Last meeting: 2000, Alta won 21-0.

Timpanogos has scored points and moved the ball on everybody this year. Unfortunately its defense hasn't been that good and as a result Timpanogos needed to win a game on the final day of the regular season just to qualify for the state tournament.

The Wolves' offense and defense faces their toughest test to date when they travel to take on Alta in the 5A quarterfinals.

Not only can Alta score in bunches too — it's actually averaging five more points per game than high-flying Timpanogos — but the Hawks also possess arguably the best defense in the state.

The key to the game is Timpanogos quarterback Christian Stewart, the state's leading passer with 2,979 yards and 41 TDs. For the Wolves to keep it close he must approach is average of about 300 yards and four TDs.

All that does is give Timpanogos a glimmer of hope, but realistically nothing more. After all, the Wolves have proven they can score points and lose, as evidenced by a 49-35 loss to Layton and 62-46 loss to American Fork.

Even though Timpanogos is coming off an impressive first-round win over Northridge, last year's 5A runner-ups are a much different beast. Led by quarterback Ryan Rosenvall, last year's Mr. Football Sausan Shakerin and a defense that flies to the ball, Alta is more than capable of hanging 50 points on the Wolves.

With a win, Alta would advance to the 5A semifinals for the third straight year, where it would most likely face Bingham in a much-anticipated rematch of last year's state championship game.

Timpanogos T-Wolves statistical breakdown

Scoring offense: 38.1 ppg

Scoring defense: 28.9 ppg

Passing leader: Christian Stewart (204-355, 57.5%, 2,979 yards, 41 TDs)

Rushing leader: Taylor Lyons (120 rushes, 886 yards, 12 TDs)

Receiving leader: Grant Jimenze (67 receptions, 1,230 yards, 15 TDs)

Tackles leader: Jordan Mehlhoff (95 tackles)