5A high school football preview: Skyline at Fremont

Skyline (6-4) at Fremont (9-1)

5A state tournament quarterfinal

Friday, 4 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Fremont by 15

All-time series: Skyline leads 4-1

Coach vs. Coach: Skyline's Roger DuPaix and Fremont's Kory Bosgieter, first meeting

Last meeting: Nov. 8, 2002 — Skyline 28, Fremont 14 (5A quarterfinal at Skyline)

Fremont advanced to the 5A quarterfinals for the first time in four seasons after playing one of its best games of the year in a win over Pleasant Grove on Saturday.

The Silver Wolves, however, didn't bother celebrating, not with Skyline waiting for them in the next playoff round.

"It was a nice feeling for about 10 minutes on Saturday, and then it was back to the grind," said Fremont coach Kory Bosgieter. "Our kids have done a good job with that. We talk about not getting too high with the highs or too low with the lows, and hopefully that continues."

Fremont's stellar play will have to continue if it hopes to get past Skyline, which is seemingly in the quarterfinals each season like clockwork.

The Eagles were impressive in routing Kearns 39-22 in the first round of the playoffs last week. That win improved Skyline's home playoff record to an astounding 36-0 and put it in the quarterfinals for the 16th time in 18 years.

Skyline leaves its comfy home confines to play at Fremont on Friday, but will bring its solid wishbone attack and running backs Andy Rounds, Matthew Newman and Nelson Johansen and quarterback Mike Pell to the Silver Wolves' home field. Rounds put the Eagles on the scoreboard with a 70-yard touchdown run against Kearns.

Rounds and Pell each rushed for more than 100 yards against Kearns, while Newman and Johansen each ran for 91 yards in the victory.

"They're awfully good, obviously, or they wouldn't still be playing," Bosgieter said. "What they do on offense is excellent, and not just the option because they've got some great complementary plays coming off of it. We have to be very disciplined, and trust the guy next to us."

The Silver Wolves, the Region 1 champions, are favored against Skyline. Fremont has won nine straight games and is led by a standout player in running back Nick Vigil. He rushed 26 times for 165 yards against Pleasant Grove last week.

Fremont also showed some balance in that game. Vigil threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Aaron Van Woerkom on a trick play. Van Woerkom threw three touchdown passes and for 189 yards in the victory.

"They're very well-coached, they've got good players, and they win close games," said Skyline coach Roger DuPaix. "We're very impressed with this Fremont team. They're very, very good. They've deserved to win nine straight games because their kids believe in what they're doing and do a good job."

How competitive Skyline is in this game depends largely on how well it takes care of the ball and avoids penalties. The Eagles have been solid when they don't make mistakes, and last week's win is an excellent example of that.

"I'm real happy for the kids," DuPaix said. "It's very exciting to be able to play again. Football is fun, and once you lose in the playoffs it's over. When you look back, you realize how much fun it was. I really love the kids; they're just super kids. I'm happy for them that they got in the quarterfinals, but we've had a little bit of roller-coaster type of season. The kids never gave up, and it's good to see them in the quarterfinals."

Skyline statistical breakdown