4A high school football preview: Olympus at Springville

Olympus (7-2) at Springville (8-1)

4A state tournament first round

Friday, 2 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Springville by 6

All-time series: Olympus leads 2-0

Coach vs. Coach: Olympus' Mike Smith and Springville's Scott Mitchell, first meeting

Last meeting: Oct. 31, 2003 — Olympus 18, Springville 14

SPRINGVILLE — When first asked about his team's Friday 4A playoff game with Olympus, Springville coach Scott Mitchell joked: "It's been cancelled. We decided not to play it."

Unless Mother Nature chimes in and puts a foot of snow on the field — which is entirely possible after the latest weather in the Wasatch Front, the game will most likely take place.

"These are the games you look forward to," said Mitchell. "We've reached the more meaningful games, and I hope our players realize they need to focus and not take anyone lightly. Every team we play from here on out is going to be a good team. There aren't any easy games left."

With a win-or-go-home contest it should be easy for a team to get up for a game, but that isn't always the case.

"You would think so," added Mitchell, "but you have to keep in mind these are 15-, 16- and 17-year old kids that sometimes have a lot going on. We as coaches sometimes assume they are as geared up and focused in as we are, but I have definitely seen where they somehow forget about the details, and at this point in the season, you do that, and you are going to get beat."

The Red Devils may have done that just once this year, a 21-14 loss to Juan Diego. Other than the loss to the Soaring Eagle, and a one-point win over Spanish Fork, Springville has rarely been challenged this season.

"It will be interesting to see how they respond against some better competition," Mitchell said. "I mean, I don't want to put down our region, but I think the level of teams in the playoffs is going to be much higher than some of the teams we have faced."

Of course, last season was a near mirror image of this year, and all that team did was post three playoff wins before falling to Timpview in the title game.