High school football: Felt's Facts Week 2

This season, 30 games involve out-of-state teams, up from 27 in 2010. All but five are with schools from neighboring states – Idaho and Nevada provide the most competition with six teams each. This week will see 12 of those "out-of-state" contests. Utah's all-time records vs. out-of-state teams in 1,968 games: 1,069-838-61 (.559).

Although Utah squads face four California schools this year, Jordan plays the most exotic opponent: Notre Dame from Lawrenceville – just outside Trenton – New Jersey. The Irish travel some 2,150 miles to meet the Beetdiggers in a doubleheader – Alta vs. Taft (Calif.) is the other game – at Rio Tinto in the Xfinity High School Football Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 24. It is, of course, the first New Jersey team to play a school from Utah.

While some schools regularly schedule non-Utah opponents, especially those on the border of the state, 16 have never seen the need to venture against out-of-state teams including nine that have played football for at least 30 seasons – Bountiful, Kearns, Manti, Murray, Pleasant Grove, South Sevier, Taylorsville, West Jordan and Woods Cross.

Prep Football Heaven

Next week, on Sept. 3, Alta, Bingham and Timpview travel to Southern California to play in the Mission Viejo High School Football Classic. A real die-hard could watch seven games over two days – a Friday night doubleheader followed by five (!) contests on Saturday starting at 8 a.m. (Pacific time) when Alta and Timpview's JV teams take the field and concluding with Oaks Christian (Calif.) vs. Belleview (Wash.) at 8:30 p.m.

In between, Timpview takes on Bakersfield (Calif.) at 11:15, Alta meets Crenshaw (Calif.) at 2:20 and Bingham plays Orange Lutheran (Calif.) at 5:25. That'd be a lot of hot dogs.

Black and Blue Classic:

This week, the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at Rice-Eccles Stadium features bitter rivals Alta and Bingham, who have shared the last five Class 5A titles (Alta in '07 and '08, Bingham in '06, '09 and '10). From 2006-09, the two battled in August and again in the semifinals or finals.

Since the series resumed in 2001, the Miners have won nine of 13 contests over Alta. However, the Hawks still lead the all-time series, 14-11.

Should both win their respective regions– not a foregone conclusion – they'd be in opposite brackets on track to meet again in the 5A championship.

In Saturday's first game, Herriman tangles with Riverton.

This Week's Rivalry Games:

Millard and Delta renew the seventh most-played series – it's been stuck on game 87 since 2006. The Eagles have a 47-36-4 edge over the Rabbits.

Springville and Spanish Fork have split their last six as these foes battle for the 85th time since 1920. The Red Devils nipped the Dons 35-34 last year to increase their series lead to 42-39-3.

Kanab is 65-4-1 vs. Parowan and has won 48 straight over the Rams.

Grand and Monticello meet for the 60th time; Grand dominates 43-12-4 and has captured six straight in the series.

Morgan and South Summit clash for the 52nd time, but they haven't met since 2000. Perhaps that's because the Trojans control the series, 31-19-1.

The 47th battle for the Shield takes place at Roy with the Royals up 24-22 on Weber.

South Sevier meets North Sevier for the 40th time with South leading the series 30-9. North hasn't prevailed since 1999.

First-Time Matchups: