5A high school football preview: Northridge at Alta

Northridge (8-2) at Alta (4-6)

5A state tournament first round

Friday, 4 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Alta by 3

All-time series: Northridge leads, 2-1

Coach vs. Coach: Northridge's Ryan Thompson and Alta's Les Hamilton, first meeting

Last meeting: Aug. 24, 2000 — Northridge 27, Alta 20

In his previous five seasons at Alta, coach Les Hamilton took his team to Rice-Eccles Stadium in the postseason each time.

Getting there a sixth time in Hamilton's final season at the school would probably be his biggest accomplishment. Alta, after a disappointing 4-6 regular season, faces a formidable opponent in Northridge in the first round of the 5A playoffs on Friday. The winner will probably play No. 1 Bingham in the quarterfinals.

The Knights (8-2) lost to Region 1 champion Fremont and Davis by a combined nine points during the season, and look capable of ending Alta's season.

"I look at Northridge and they're nine points from being 10-0," Hamilton said. "We've got our work cut out for us. We're going to have to raise our level of play to be successful."

While Alta's record is surprisingly below .500, the Hawks have played a daunting schedule. Five of the teams the Hawks lost to are in the top seven of the Deseret News' top 25 poll. The other team that beat Alta, Pleasant Grove, qualified for the playoffs on Tuesday.

There have been problems with execution on both sides of the ball for Alta, but the biggest issue for the players may be their belief in themselves.

"The best way to describe us right now is we just don't have confidence," Hamilton said.

Playing without a swagger against Northridge will get the Hawks beat.

The Knights are back in the playoffs after a one-year absence and are well-equipped to do some damage in postseason play. They feature a talented cast of players who want to get their program back on the map, and beating Alta would send the message that they are indeed back.

Quarterback Trent Buckley leads a solid rushing attack and is complimented nicely in his offense by running backs Brock Johnson and Jordan Lee. Buckley can also throw the ball to a talented receiving corps, led by Shaymus Bertagnolli.