4A high school football preview: Springville vs. Timpview

Today, 11 a.m. — Rice-Eccles Stadium (field turf)

TV: KJZZ — Radio: 1230 AM — Parry's Power Guide: Timpview by 20

Springville's football program has accomplished a number of fabulous things this fall, from winning its region to compiling an 11-1 record to advancing all the way to today's 4A state championship game.

But for the Red Devils to accomplish their ultimate goal, they'll have to do something no team has done since 2003 — beat mighty Timpview on The Turf inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Timpview hasn't lost on The Turf since Logan beat the Thunderbirds back in 2003, and in the years that have followed, the T-Birds have simply been money at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

In winning four of the last five 4A titles and advancing to this year's 4A championship game, Timpview has won nine consecutive games on The Turf.

It won't take long to learn this morning whether the T-Birds can win 10 in a row, as they'll collide with Springville to decide the 4A championship at 11 a.m. inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"Since I've taken over as the head coach — knock on wood — we haven't lost on The Turf," said Timpview coach Louis Wong. "For us, that's a goal. Some teams are excited about making it to the University of Utah. We're definitely excited to get there, but our No. 1 goal is to win it.

"People say, 'Man, you've done this and you've done that. How do you top it?' I'm not trying to top it. I'm just trying to maintain it. There's no topping winning a state championship."

For prep football teams, there is indeed nothing better than winning a state title, and for Timpview's seniors, winning a fourth championship in a row would cement their legacies in the history of the T-Birds' illustrious program.

Many of the key cogs on this year's Timpview team watched the T-Birds rack up their last three state championships from the sidelines, but those guys have been an indispensable part of their school's success this fall.

Accordingly, they can't wait to show what they can do in a championship game.

"Ever since I was a freshman, we've been in it," said Timpview running back Jeremiah Burr. "I've sat in the stands when we've won it, my freshman year. My sophomore year I was able to be on the sideline. And then last year was another good experience. This year's probably gonna be 10-fold because I'm actually gonna make a contribution. As a team, this one's special for us because it's just another statement, another block on the pile.

"But it's our block on the pile."

Senior defensive end Mike Tyler echoed those sentiments.

"I just think being a senior and starting this year and getting more playing time and actually being on the field kind of fires you up," said Tyler. "And (it) makes you want to play your best, thinking these are the last games of your life probably."

Of course, nobody from Springville is going to give the T-Birds an inch this morning. The Red Devils, with a balanced offensive attack in tote, will be out to dethrone Timpview.

To be successful, Burr says the T-Birds will rely on all the hard work they've put in to get to this point.

"All the work, all the time and effort, ever since we've watched Timpview football — some of us it was fourth or fifth grade — we've always wanted to be at this spot where we are," said Burr. "A lot of our thoughts and a lot of our time have come down to this exact moment, so why would we do anything to give it up?"

e-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com