High school football: Region 9 returns to normal

There's some normalcy back in southern Utah this year. The situation still isn't ideal with the split Region 9, but most would agree anything is better than last year.

The seven Region 9 teams played football last year knowing virtually nothing mattered. For the three 4A schools and the four 3A schools, their crossover games against each other were glorified nonregion games. The coaches knew it, the players knew it and the fans knew it.

As a result, attendance suffered, and motivation was even trickier.

"Last year we lost to all three of the 4A schools," said Cedar coach Todd Peacock. "We played our butts off against Dixie; we were beating them halfway through the fourth quarter and lost the game and the kids were heartbroken. We were trying to console them and we said, 'You played hard, we lost a ball game, but what does it hurt us?' The next two games against Pine View and Snow Canyon, we didn't play very well. It was heartbreaking to see that our kids did give their best effort because in their minds it didn't matter."

Motivation was equally as bad for the 4A schools that knew their whole season was riding on two games, so what was the incentive to play hard against old region rivals Hurricane, Cedar and Canyon View?

"It's hurting the gates, you don't get the crowds anymore at those 3A Region 9 games," said Pine View coach Ray Hosner.

From a competitive standpoint and a business standpoint, things are changing this year. Region 9 will still be split between 4A and 3A, but crossover games against each other will count in the league standings and help determine who qualifies for the state tournament.

"Now that it matters, every game is going to be a battle, and I think it will help the competition and everyone will be that much more competitive," said Dixie running back Dallen Reber.

Having all six league games matter in the end seems like a logical decision; how it affects state tournament qualification was a bit more difficult.

For the four 3A schools, it's simple. Regardless of where they finish in the overall region standings, the top three advance to the playoffs. Even if 3A's top finishers end up fourth, fifth and sixth in Region 9 behind the big boys of 4A, all three still advance to the playoffs.