2A high school football preview: Beaver at South Summit

Beaver (7-3) at South Summit (8-1)

2A state tournament quarterfinals

Saturday, 2 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: South Summit by 33

All-time series: Beaver leads 8-7

Coach vs. Coach: Beaver's Steve Hutchings and South Summit's Jerry Parker, first meeting

Last meeting: Nov. 2, 2002 — Beaver 42, South Summit 0

The second-highest scoring offense in 2A belongs to South Summit. The second-stingiest defense in 2A also belongs to South Summit.

That is the task facing Beaver this Saturday in the 2A quarterfinals in Kamas. The Wildcats are averaging 37.8 points per game and only giving up 11.2.

South Summit is well rested and hungry after last weekend's first-round bye as well.

"The week off has been long. We're excited to play again," said South Summit coach Jerry Parker. "I think our kids are excited to play somebody different."

This is the first meeting between these teams since the 2002 quarterfinals when Beaver beat South Summit 42-0. A reversal of that score is a possibility.

Beaver started the year off well, winning its first four games. It then alternated wins and losses over the next six weeks of the season. It advanced to the quarterfinals with a 22-7 win over North Sevier, but even that wasn't a very impressive performance.

"I've watched Beaver play twice and they struggled both times I watched them play," said Parker. "Earlier in the season they were playing really well, so I don't know which team will show up."

With as dominant as South Summit has been this season, it may not matter.

The Wildcats went 8-1 during the regular season, its lone blemish a 26-6 loss to San Juan. Many believe the same teams are on a collision course to meet in the 2A state championship in a few weeks, but Parker doesn't want to look that far ahead.

He believes Beaver can present some challenges, and a potential semifinal against Millard won't be easy either. South Summit beat Millard in last year's quarterfinals 45-6, and the Eagles would be very hungry for revenge.

Regardless of who the Wildcats play, Parker loves how excited his kids are to get out and compete.