High school football 5A semi preview: Upstart Syracuse looking to upset defending champs Alta

SYRACUSE (10-2) vs. ALTA (11-0)

Thursday, 2:30 p.m. — Rice-Eccles Stadium (field turf) — Salt Lake City

Ticket information: Students can purchase tickets from high school. Fans can purchase tickets at U. ticket office

TV: None — Radio: AM1230 — Parry's Power Guide — Alta by 15

This year's 5A Final Four features tradition-rich powers in Alta, Bingham, Skyline and ...

Syracuse?

Wait, who's Syracuse?

That's the question many casual high school football fans have been asking themselves since the second-year Titans earned a spot in the annual Rice-Eccles Stadium party. It seemingly took all season for Syracuse to earn statewide respect. But a second-place finish in Region 1, and two playoff victories have left no doubt about whether the Titans are the real deal.

Syracuse earned a spot on the turf, and plays reigning 5A champion Alta in the 5A semifinals on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

"We're kind of like the misfits in this final four," Syracuse linebacker K.J. Medina said. "These are the usual contenders in Skyline, Bingham and Alta and we're up here with them. It just goes to show you that anybody can win at any time. And it just goes to show you that hard work can take you places where you want to go."

The Titans, who have improved from an 0-10 season in 2007, have been one of the feel-good stories of the 2008 season. But don't get all warm and fuzzy around them because they have a defense that will hit you in the mouth. Syracuse allowed just 9.9 points per game this season while defeating traditional powers such as Northridge and Davis.

"First of all, we're not talking about a Cinderella team here," Alta coach Les Hamilton said. "Cinderella is usually a team that overachieves and I don't think that's what they are."

Syracuse got here by beating Pleasant Grove 27-25 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Braden Hamblin to tight end Rick Reardon with 1.2 seconds left in their 5A quarterfinal matchup last week. The Vikings were ranked for most of the season, and the Titans' heart-stopping victory finally proved that they belong among the state's elite.