Kanab (6-4) at San Juan (8-1)

2A state tournament quarterfinal

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: San Juan by 24

All-time series: San Juan leads 11-6

Coach vs. Coach: San Juan's Monte Lee and Kanab's Bucky Orton tied, 2-2

Last meeting: Aug. 21, 2009 (Week 1) at San Juan — San Juan 33, Kanab 13

San Juan beat Kanab 33-13 in the season opener for both teams, but that game may as well have been ages ago with as much stock as Broncos' coach Monty Lee is putting into it heading into their playoff rematch this Saturday.

"It makes for good blogging material as far as I'm concerned. That's a lifetime ago in the whole scheme of things," said Lee, whose team hosts Kanab in the 2A quarterfinals this Saturday at 1 p.m.

First of all, the final score is somewhat deceiving considering San Juan only led 14-13 heading into the fourth quarter, but secondly the playoffs are an entirely different situation and no team in the 2A playoffs has more playoff experience than Kanab.

"They have the playoff mentality. Some teams that are playing right now don't. I don't care if it's 1A or 5A, when you play and get in the playoffs it becomes as much mental as physical," said Lee. "The team that is mentally accustomed to the hype and electricity has just a little bit of an advantage."

During its four-year stint competing in 1A football Kanab played in the championship game every year, winning it in 2005 and 2007.

Despite all that playoff experience, the last time Kanab competed at the 2A level in 2004 it lost to Manti 44-37 in the quarterfinals, and heading into this year's quarters the Cowboys are again an underdog against the No. 1 team in 2A.

San Juan rolled through the season with an 8-1 record, with its lone loss coming out of state. It averages 34.3 ppg and features a dominant defense that ranked second in 2A by allowing just 11.4 ppg.

For a Kanab team that only averages 21.7 points itself yet surrenders nearly three touchdowns per game, on paper the Cowboys will have their hands full.

Kanab is coming off a 21-7 play-in game victory over North Summit last week, whereas San Juan enjoyed a bye week for winning the 2A East title.

The extra rest doesn't really change how San Juan will approach the game though.

"We're not a finesse type of team. That's not my mentality. My psychology is I want to put my best kids up against your best kids and let cards fall well they may. I think it just comes down to fundamental football," said Lee.