5A high school football preview: Riverton at West

Riverton (5-5) at West (5-5)

5A state tournament first round

Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Riverton by 3

All-time series: Riverton leads 3-0

Coach vs. coach: Riverton's Mike Miller leads West's Justin Spencer, 1-0

Last meeting: Oct. 29, 2010, Riverton 34, West 7 (5A first round)

While Riverton and West have identical records this season, the teams are more different than alike.

The second-seeded Panthers can best be described as a veteran team.

"We're going to play a ton of seniors," said West coach Justin Spencer. "We do have some key spots where underclassmen are going to play and contribute, but a lot of these kids are seniors with experience."

Riverton, on the other hand, relies on a lot of young players pulled together by strong senior leadership.

"This team is young," said coach Mike Miller. "They've really pulled together. My senior class has done a fantastic job. A lot of time when a team is young they play very selfishly. When you're young, all you want to do is start. When you get older, you want the success. Our older guys have done a great job of making our younger guys feel a part of the success, so they want to win it for the seniors."

Riverton is led by senior running back Joey Jenson, who leads the team with 14 touchdowns. He's amassed 1,154 rushing yards on 146 carries.

"Joey is phenomenal," said Miller. "He's our MVP."

He also singled out quarterback Preston Young, center Peyton Christiansen, lineman Will Cutler and running back/defensive back Taylor Sterland.

West throws the ball more than the Silverwolves, but it also has one of the state's best running backs in Eric Takenaka.

"He's by far our best leader, just by example," said Spencer. Lineman Semisi Afeaki, who has 75 tackles, is one of the team's defensive leaders.

"Our other captains have been great as well," he said. "One of our best offensive and defensive linemen was hurt in the Hunter game (Abel Stanley), but he does what he can. He still comes to practice, still hangs out with the team."

The team will graduate 33 players this year.