Either the T-Birds or Panthers will finally lose this season

Timpview and Pine View have plowed through the 2007 football season unscathed, and in many respects unchallenged. Their combined record is 25-0 and their combined average margin of victory is just a shade under 32 points.

No. 1 Timpview won its semifinal game by 38 points, whereas No. 2 Pine View won by 31 points.

They're the undisputed two best teams in 4A, and when they meet at Rice-Eccles Stadium in today's state championship game at 11 a.m., not only will someone's unbeaten run come to an end but it figures to be a great game as well.

"From what I've seen, Pine View is a very big team and a very good team. I think they'll be a challenge for us," said Timpview coach Louis Wong, whose team is riding a 22-game winning streak.

The defending state champion T-Birds are no stranger to the big stage, having appeared in three of the past four state title games, and seventh overall.

Pine View coach Ray Hosner welcomes the challenge of playing one of the premiere programs in the state.

"Without a doubt we're looking forward to it. I look at Timpview as one of the best programs in the state, every year they're putting out DI kids at BYU and Utah," said Hosner.

The Panthers are also making their third state title appearance in three years, but both of those championships came in Class 3A, falling to Bear River in 2004 and Logan in 2005. Along with fellow St. George schools Dixie and Snow Canyon, Pine View made the jump to 4A this year but it hasn't hindered the program one bit.

Despite the unquestioned success in the larger classification though, Hosner knows his team is an underdog against mighty Timpview.

"Their offensive line is awesome, their defense is absolutely amazing, I really don't think their team has a weakness. They are that good," said Hosner.

Pine View and Timpview's only common opponent this year was Mountain View. The Panthers opened the season with a 42-14 win over the Bruins, and four weeks later Timpview beat them 49-17.

Surrendering 17 points was an anomaly for Timpview, which at 7.1 points per game owns the best scoring defense in the entire state. Offensively, Timpview ranks second only to Pine View in scoring offense at 41.5 to 41.3.

"I think we've been consistent on both sides of the ball and have been a very good team on defense and a very good team on offense, so hopefully that will weigh in our favor this weekend," said Wong.