3A high school football preview: Desert Hills at Bear River

Desert Hills (6-3) at Bear River (5-4)

3A state tournament first round

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Desert Hills by 2

All-time series: First meeting

Coach vs. Coach: Desert Hills' Jake Nelson and Bear River's Chris Wise, first meeting

Last meeting: First meeting

When the Bear River Bears walked off the field following a hard-fought 28-7 loss to two-time defending 3A champ Juan Diego in their second-to-last regular-season game, they did so knowing they had played the Soaring Eagle very tough and that a handful of plays had ultimately determined the outcome.

But the Bears were left in a much different state when they walked off the field following a shocking 23-7 upset loss at home against Grantsville in their final regular-season game.

Just what happened?

It's a question folks up and down the state have been asking, and Bear River coach Chris Wise graciously offered an answer when queried.

"As far as last week goes, that Grantsville team that came in here was completely different than what I saw on film," said Wise. "They are an outstanding group of kids, and they had their starting quarterback back, Bridger Boman. He started on offense and defense and just did a great job.

"Get a couple of things to go our way, and it's a different outcome. But they played us as well as anybody in the state that we've seen, and I've got to take my hat off to them."

Not that Bear River has any time to feel sorry for itself.

Desert Hills of Region 9 will make the six-hour trip to Garland to face Bear River in the opening round of the 3A tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday, and Wise knows his guys must forget about last week to have success this week.

"We're really kind of approaching the postseason as a whole new season," said Wise. "I think I must have said that about a thousand times (Monday.) It's a brand-new season, brand-new start. We'll remember the things we did well from the regular season, (and) at the same time, we've got to keep performing at a high level."

Wise was full of praise for his team's first-round opponent, which has gone 6-3 and features talented players on both sides of the ball.