3A high school football playoffs: Union at Cedar

Union (2-7) at Cedar (6-4)

3A state tournament first round

Friday, 4 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Cedar by 36

All-time series: Series tied 1-1

Coach vs. Coach: Union's Sam Elliott and Cedar's Todd Peacock, first meeting

Last meeting: First meeting

It's quite possible that there isn't anything more relaxing and satisfying than a sigh of relief. It's a rather elementary action; however, allowing yourself to take one deep breath, then immediately releasing a stress filled exhale can be the ecstasy to refresh the mind. This allows you to refocus, knowing that the best has yet to come.

This stomach warming sensation is circulating throughout the Cedar program. The reasoning? It's star running back, is once again healthy after missing a couple of weeks from injury.

Adam Rice (138 carries, 1,104 rushing yards and nine touchdowns), sat out the last two region games of the season against Hurricane and Canyon View — during this stretch the Redmen went 1-1. Nonetheless, Cedar is aware that it needs Rice healthy if it expects to make a splash in the postseason against elite teams.

"He was actually over a 1,000 yards about three weeks ago," said Cedar coach Todd Peacock, "He might be leading the state in rushing if he didn't (get injured), but he's starting to get back now and running like he has in the past. (He) is deceptively fast, he's athletic enough to get through small holes and make a few moves."

The Redmen (6-4) earned the No. 2 in the highly competitive Region 9 and will meet Union (2-7), the No. 3 seed from Region 10, in the first round of the 3A state tournament this Friday at 4 p.m.

Amazingly, Rice might not even be considered Cedar's game-changing player. Linebacker Matt Grover single handedly influences the way opposing teams run their offense.

"If you saw Matt you wouldn't believe he's one of the leading tacklers. He's about 5'6", 150 pounds, but he comes from a long line of good linebackers in his family," said Peacock, "He's extremely quick and he reads what the opposing (offenses) are doing. He studies film, he's prepared and he just gets to the places. Every game he's (got) 8 or 10 tackles."