4A high school football previews: Timpview at Logan

Timpview (5-5) at Logan (8-2)

4A state tournament first round

Friday, 4 p.m.

Parry’s Power Guide: Logan by 13

All-time series: Logan leads 3-2

Coach vs. coach: First meeting between Logan’s Mike Favero and Timpview’s Cary Whittingham

Last meeting: Oct. 29, 2010 (4A first round) — Timpview 48, Logan 14

No one predicted a first-round 4A playoff game featuring two of the state's powerhouses — fourth-ranked Logan and second-ranked Timpview.

But this season became a fall riddled with unprecedented controversy, and what could have been a semifinal or championship game will occur Friday afternoon at Logan High School.

That's because Timpview, a team that only lost one game on the field, is officially 5-5 and a No. 3 seed from Region 8 after being forced to forfeit four games as punishment for playing an ineligible athlete.

Logan head coach Mike Favero isn't going to waste time complaining about the fact that his team's road to Rice-Eccles got a lot more difficult last Friday when the UHSAA handed down its decision to strip Timpview of those four wins. Favero knows what his guys are up against, and he said the Grizzlies will just "do what we've been doing."

"Timpview is a great team," he said. "They're probably as good a team as there is in the state."

As for his players, they're preparing for the postseason the same way they always do.

"Our kids are excited to be in the playoffs," Favero said. "We look forward to the opportunity to participate in the playoffs."

Logan is 8-2, with one loss in region play to Mountain Crest and one loss in nonregion play to Northridge.

The team features senior quarterback Luke Falk, who's passed for 3,439 yards and 34 touchdowns. He left a win over East early with an injured ankle, but the Grizzlies didn't miss a beat when the player who pretty much does everything, Jesse Braddy, took over as quarterback. He has three touchdowns this year as a quarterback, and seven rushing and five receiving.

"He'd be a starting quarterback on a lot of teams," said Favero.

In addition to Braddy, Taylor Compton has over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.

Hagen Andersen has missed much of the season with injuries, but both he and Beau Artist have six receiving touchdowns.

The Logan offense will be challenged by Timpview's defense, which has been very effective this season. Pita Taumoepenu leads the defensive effort to stop teams with 18.5 sacks this season. The defense has 11 interceptions as a group, with Isaiah Holloway leading the way with three.

The only loss Timpview suffered on the scoreboard was a 33-31 heartbreaker to Alta in the first game of the season. Like Logan, the T-birds are looking forward to the challenging first-round game.

"We will play where we're told to play," said Whittingham. "We had a good practice yesterday, and I think we match up favorably with Logan. It's a great opportunity for our kids to go up and see where we're at right away. I have confidence in our offense."

And he should.

The T-birds are led by quarterback Jake Lloyd, who's thrown for 2,723 yards and 38 Touchdowns so far. He's thrown just six interceptions. His favorite target is Dax Raymond, who has more than 1,000 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns. Rhett Van Leeuwen and Braydon Galland each have eight receiving touchdowns, proving Lloyd has plenty of receivers to help him move the ball downfield.