5A high school football preview: Hunter at Bingham

Hunter (7-3) at Bingham (9-0)

5A state tournament first round

Saturday, 2:30 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Bingham by 37

All-time series: Bingham leads, 10-7

Coach vs. Coach: Bingham's Dave Peck leads Hunter's Dustin Pearce, 1-0

Last meeting: Oct. 15, 2008 — Bingham 41, Hunter 7

The news could have been devastating for most teams.

When the Hunter Wolverines learned they drew the short end of the card stack and were awarded Region 2's fourth seed after tying Skyline and West for second place, they knew what stood in front of them. They would have to beat Region 1's fifth-place team to reach the first round of the playoffs, and then waiting to play them a few days later would be top-ranked Bingham.

After taking care of Layton on Tuesday, Hunter will play at Bingham on Saturday — and the Wolverines are happy about it.

"I told my guys the situation we were in — having the play-in game — and their faces lit up," said Hunter coach Dustin Pearce. "They're excited to go there and have the chance to play the best team in the state. I think we can line up with anybody and play with anybody."

His players feel the same way.

"I've been waiting for this," Hunter running back Leva Bloomfield said shortly after catching the game-winning 76-yard touchdown pass against Layton. "I have a lot of cousins at Bingham. I've been wanting to play those guys and see what they got."

Pearce and his players aren't looking to provide the Miners will any bulletin-board material. They're just looking forward to the challenge of playing a team that's ranked No. 4 in the nation by USA Today and scores an average of 52 points per game.

"The bottom line is you always want to line up and play the best team," Pearce said. "They have the best record in the state, the best numbers."

Hunter came out flat in its win over Layton on Tuesday, but that won't be a concern against the Miners. The Bingham-Hunter game will be among the hardest-hitting contests played in the state this season, and both teams will be prepared for that.

"I think it's going to be a real physical game," said Bingham coach Dave Peck. "We have a lot of respect for them. A lot of the kids know each other."