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High school football rankings

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BLUE WAVE | 12:50 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

My top 10 5A:

1. 7-1 Alta
2. 7-1 Layton
3. 7-1 Pleasant Grove
4. 6-2 Bingham
5. 5-3 Lone Peak
6. 5-3 Jordan
7. 6-2 Syracuse
8. 5-3 Skyline
9. 5-3 Northridge
10.5-3 Riverton

Lehi what? | 12:57 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Lehi has lost to 5A teams, but they are 2-0 vs. 4A teams.

Bottom line is this.... | 1:06 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

If you pick an average 5A team and an average 4A team, 5A usually wins.

That said 5A, like 4A, is only a few team deep. Realistically, similar to 4A there are 2-3 teams that can win it all in 5A (4A has 2 obvsiously).

And as been shown by CW over Layton this year, the top 4A teams (CW, TV) are at the same level as the top 5A teams (Alta, Bingham, Layton).. Who's better depends year to year and is a futile argument until they play, but to say that those 5A teams would kill the likes of TV and CW is ridiculous.

Comments continue below

To Bottom line | 1:34 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

I didn't see a post of 5A teams that would Kill TV and CW.
My point was kind of what you were saying. Take the 10th best 5A team vs. the 3rd best 4A team and the 5A team would win. I also suggested that TV and CW would NOT go unbeaten if they had a loaded schedule like Jordan, Bingham and Alta have. When TV has 8 games that are TOTAL cake walks, where the talent level such that even if they played their worst and the 'Patsy' played their best game...they would still win. Easy to get up for 3 real games. Alta has 8-10 tough games and tried to schedule TV on top of that. TV didn't want anything to do with that. For that matter, TV will drop PG now that they are a top 10 team. 2 pt wins over SF in 07 and a 4 pt win over PG this year, make me believe they would have a shot to win it all in 5A, but would NOT go unbeaten. Think SEC vs MWC. BYU could play with any SEC team but would never go unbeaten.

FAN | 1:48 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Who is this PAT WARNER you speak of? The only Pat Warner I know is like 50 years old and played for Juab. Although I am not old enough to remember him playing my dad said that he was all show and no go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FRiDAY NiGHT RiDER | 2:08 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Here is the seeding for the 5A and 4A brackets
R* is the region and the number in parentesis is the seed from that region.
5A
R4(2)
R2(3)
R1(1)
R3(4)
R3(1)
R1(4)
R2(2)
R4(3)
R1(2)
R3(3)
R4(1)
R2(4)
R2(1)
R1(5)
R3(2)
R1(3)
4A
R7(2)
R5(4)
R6(1)
R7(4)
R9(1)
R7(5)
R5(2)
R6(3)
R9(2)
R7(3)
R5(1)
R6(5)
R7(1)
R6(4)
R6(2)
R5(3)

If things stay the way they are, in 5A we could have an Alta vs. Bingham, Alta vs. Layton, Pleasant Grove vs. Bingham, or Pleasant Grove vs. Layton state championship. I think those 4 teams are the best in 5A and they are all good enough to knock each other out at any time! My prediction- Pleasant Grove vs. Bingham for state.

In 4A it's no secret that Timpview and Cottonwood can and most likely will be the championship game, unless a major upset occurs! I predict Timpview vs. Cottonwood in state.

In 3A, last week I would have said Logan without a doubt. I still think the Grizz will be in the mix of things, but I am now adding Hurricane, Juan Diego, Delta, Park City and Morgan to potential 3A champions! 3A has a lot of parity!

FRiDAY NiGHT RiDER | 2:20 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

My rankings after week 8

5A

1. Alta- Hawks will have to keep their focus on a surging Jordan team before they look to the playoffs.
2. Layton- I have said it about the Lancers all year. They have heart and know how to win the big games when it counts.
3. Bingham- Suddenly, the Miners are being feared like they were before the season started.
4. Pleasant Grove- My 5A darkhorse posted an impressive win over the upstart Dons of Spanish Fork.
5. Jordan- 'Diggers could gain HUGE momentum with a shocking win over Alta.
6. Northridge- After two tough losses, Knights need to make sure they close out the season strong.
7. Syracuse- The Titans fell just short of pulling off two huge upsets in a row.
8. Lone Peak- The Knights of the South may be peaking at just the right time.
9. Skyline- A Huge win over Jordan this week, and a surprise win of Jordan over Alta next week, could possible give the Eagles Region two's number one seed.
10. Riverton- The Silverwolves still can't beat the top Region 3 team in Bingham.

FRiDAY NiGHT RiDER | 2:25 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

My rankings after week 8

4A

1. Timpview- T-birds didn't dominate as usual, but still got the job done in convincing fasion
2. Cottonwood- The Colts have now dismantled it's two biggest regular season opponents.
3. Pine View- The Panthers get a big win over Dixie, that most likely has decided the Region 9 crown.
4. Mountain Crest- The Mustangs will face a determined Sky View team this Wednesday for a Cache Valley showdown that could give MC the region title.
5. Sky View- After two straight losses the Bobcats are going to have to bring everything they have to knock off a powerful Mustang team.
6. Bountiful- The Braves are now cast as a legitimate contender with a huge win over Sky View.
7. East- The Leopards are now Cottonwoods latest victim.
8. Highland- The Rams must finisht out region play strong for a decent seed in the State Tournament.
9. Dixie- The Flyers were so close yet so far away against a tought Pine View team.
10. Mountain View- The Bruins are doing well at the end of the season, picking up a big win over the Devils.

State Championship | 2:27 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

5A will be played one week early between Layton / Bingham.

FRiDAY NiGHT RiDER | 2:29 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

MY FIRST EVER 3A RANKINGS-

1. Juan Diego
2. Delta
3. Hurricane
4. Morgan
5. Logan
5. Park City

schedule?? | 2:31 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Does Alta really have that "loaded" of a schedule?

Yes, Bingham is tough and that is a great win, and that Cali team was tough too (I forget who else they played in the preseason, maybe another tough out of conference).

But, Alta's conference isn't really that scary after that, is it? You have T-ville, Hillcrest, and Brighton which are flat out horrible 4A or 5A. You have a mediocre Skyline and Jordan team, both who don't scare me at all.

I've seen Timpview play for three years now. IMO, they would roll through those region teams (not Alta or their preseason opponents) just as easily as they are rolling through their region. In fact I think they would be stronger since they do play better against better competition (i.e., 42-0 half on MV, whereas Payson more sloppy).

I'm not taking anything away from Alta. They are the premier 5A program right now. But, I don't understand Alta fans that come on and belittle Timpviews schedule. Yes, it is weaker, but again w/ the discrepancy in HS sports now, ALL of these schedules are pretty cake (outside of 1-2 games) for the top programs (Binghams, Alta, Timpviews)

Another repeat post.. | 2:38 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

sorry I have to make the same point with Bingham. Is their schedule really that much tougher than Timpview? They play Alta, Skyline (mediocre), Lone Peak (who TV played) and someone else I presume (maybe a top out of state).

Granted, that is tougher than TV's opponents (PG, LP, SF). But after that, come one:

Kearns, Riverton, Hunter, West Jordan, Copper Hills??

Would any outside nonbiased observer really think that any of those teams could beat Timpview, just like I'm sure they're not beating Bingham.

Again, with the discrepancy in talent (open enrollment, large #'s) all of these regions are cake-walks for the top programs (not just Timpviews!!).

That is why I am one who would love to see an open enrollment league, sort of a premier league.

Could you imagine how fun it would be to see Bingham, Alta, Timpview, Cottonwood, w/ maybe a PG,Layton, or whoever else battle it out every week.

beating the dead horse... | 2:43 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

4A and 5A schools dominate the state...in finess sports. Basketball, tennis, and...chess, sure 4A and 5A are untouched. But, when it comes to physical, get down and dirty sports, 1A through 3A own the state of Utah. Wasatch is untouched in wrestling over the past decade with Uintah, and Delta right behind them. Millard, and Juab have owned 2A, and those 5 teams will whoop anybody in the state with the exception of Spanish Fork. 3A schools have broken even against 4A and 5A competition in football, but I believe the classification difference is the most wide spread out of all the classes. About Delta and Juan Diego...instant classic. But, this is the same Delta team that lost to last season's champs, Logan, on a botched punt snap. JD has been impressive knocking off some big schools, but those schools are more finess anyway. Delta by 6, and bring on Logan or Morgan or Hurricane.

To FNR | 3:06 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Timpview did dominate Orem. 30-0 (with 3 field goals by half if I remember), before scrubs entered.. Easily the game could have been 50-0. Granted the game was sloppy on TV's end, but they still dominated like always. It was never a game.

Other than that, I agree with your 4A assessment, but I would put Bountiful above Sky View (they just beat them!) and I would move Dixie above Highland. I would also put Mountain Crest above Pine View. I guess I'm making so many changes I should probably just make my own list:

1. Timpview
2. Cottonwood
3. Mountain Crest
4. Pine View
5. East
6. Bountiful
7. Sky View
8. Dixie
9. Highland
10.Mountain View

JHS ALUMNI | 3:06 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

PAT WARNER died 6 years ago riding a Tornado Just outside of Pecos Texas. Just after him and Paul Bunyan came down from out of Canada. So please let him RIP.

FRiDAY NiGHT RiDER | 3:18 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

1A-3A hold no candle to 4A and 5A in Football. Maybe there are a couple of years that very good 3A football teams could compete, but they would never win. As far as wrestling, have you forgotten such powerhouses as Viewmont, Mountain Crest, Box Elder and Spanish Fork, all of which are 4 and 5A! Just because the 3A-1A kids live out in the country and work on the farms doesn't make them tougher or stronger. The boys in Salt Lake, Provo, Ogden, Layton, and Cache Valley know how to be tough too. Just because your town has 7 people in it, doesn't mean you know how to be "tougher" on the field or the mat. It just means you don't have enough people to play against.

Bingham's schedule | 3:23 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

YES it is MUCH tougher than TV.

Both played LP.
TV played PG Bingham played Alta
TV played SF Bingham played Jordan

TV schedule
Payson 2-6 (lost big to CH)
Tooele 3-5
MV 4-4 (lost to WJ)
Orem 4-4
Springville (lost to Lehi)
Provo 1-6

Bingham Schedule
Skyline 5-3
West Jordan 5-3
Kearns 5-3
Riverton 5-3
Copper Hills 4-4 (blew out Payson)
Hunter 4-4 (still blew out SF the 3rd best team TV played
Freemont 1-7, still better than 6 teams TV played

They have gone out and scheduled other out of state teams in most years. They play Trinity in TX next year (currently #1 in the nation) at the same time you have TV who was scared to schedule Alta.

small school football | 3:29 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

I admit they have the edge in wrestling and cow roping and rodeo, but football....PLEASE....get a clue. You said JD has been impressive knocking off some big schools...who is a big school they played?? West, Cyprus...WOW. They are good, I think Delta is good, and Logan looks pretty good. They are the cream of the crop in 3A, but other than a handful of 4A teams and maybe 1 or 2 5A teams they could NOT beat any of the big schools. Stick to rolling around on a mat.

Come on?? | 3:54 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Are you kidding me..

I already said it was a tougher region, but i'll still stand by the fact that both Alta and Bingham have WEAK!!! regions too. Simple as that.

I'm sure Bingham and Alta will roll through them this year. Point is, all dominant teams have weak region games, not just Timpview.

Come on?? Binghams schedule THIS year is not that tough (besides one hard game against Alta).. Same goes with Alta who had two tough games (Bingham, Grant).

dead horse | 3:54 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

tell me then, night rider, how bad does it suck when those 7 tough farm boys, whoop your 2,000 chess geeks? I don't remember any of those schools beating Wasatch, Uintah, Delta, Millard, or Juab in any wrestling tournament...and, those 4A, 5A schools had ought to win in football, there double if not triple the size of any 3A school. I'm just saying for the selection 4A and 5A schools have they are pretty weak.

how sevier? | 4:07 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

will be the beating on south sevier..oh dear ! It will be like the deer standing in the headlights!

Anonymous | 4:10 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

And yet, TV still handles Bingham very nicely during the summer camps in full pads at full contact.

Don't take my word for it, just look at the film or ask Coach Peck and the players. Bingham is a great school but the players and coach know about TV.

And if you really think that TV is "scared" to play Alta you are seriously mistaken. The TV players would like nothing more than to put this fairy tale to bed immediately. Alta would have more than they could handle and would be seriously shocked by this little old 4A school. What even makes you think that Alta would win? Because they won state last year??

Come on now, quit drinking the kool-aid, my friend.

By the way, if Alta is so great where are they on the Rivals 100? (Timview is #20 - Alta is not on the Rivals 100)

Where are they on MaxPreps.com? (Cottonwood is #38 and TV is # 43 AND......Alta is #131)

Quit blowing steam. You're not as dominant as you think.

to Come On? | 4:41 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

You asked:

Is their schedule really that much tougher than Timpview?

My answer is absolutely.

It is much tougher. Deal with it. I will break it down for you one last time. If you can't figure it out, then you are hopeless. Keep in mind Freemont is the worst team Bingham has played and they are better than SF, MV, Orem, Springville, Tooele and Provo. Also keep in mind, Bingham smoked Jordan who could beat anyone TV has played so far.

Tell me which game is harder?

Both played LP.
Alta or PG
Skyline or Springville
Jordan or Mountain View
Riverton or Orem
Hunter or Spanish Fork
Copper Hills or Payson
Kearns or Tooele
Freemont or Provo

Hey Anonymous | 4:59 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Ask coach Wong why HE was the one who turned down Alta. You are right, I am sure the players would like to play better teams. It is not their fault their coach was more concerned with the 'Record' than letting the players have a chance to prove themselves. As soon as Timpview beats a team that makes it to the Quarterfinals in 5A, you can start talking again. By the way Rivals 100 and MaxPreps are so up to date on Utah sports. Great source. Max preps has Juab ranked higer than Davis, Skyline, Jordan, Highland, Viewmont, Riverton and several others. They must be right.

re: Friday Night Rider | 5:20 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Just wondering what you meant in your ranking of 5a saying Titans didn't pull off two upsets in a row? They beat Northridge the week before they played Layton.

Anonymous | 5:24 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

you don't get it.. i agree that binghams schedule is tougher.. but its still weak. outside of alta all of those teams are a joke! they are "less of a joke" then the teams timpview plays, i'm giving you that! but they are still a joke and none of them would ever beat an Alta, Bingham or Timpview!

Anonymous | 5:33 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Face it boyz!

1. Timpview...

2.3.4.5. everyone else

on get off it | 5:34 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Juab will "who-ab?" not impressed!

Anonymous | 5:44 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Play down Alta's ranking on Rivals and Maxpreps all you want.

Even if they were 50% wrong that still only puts Alta at #65. But, I guarantee they are not 50% wrong.

I very much doubt that Rivals.com, the best HS ranking source, would just "throw in" TV at # 20 for grins and leave out Alta "just because".

I know it's hard to come to grips with, my football friend. But were here for you!

Sorry to burst your bubble.

To:To: HaHa | 5:46 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Who cares about Vollyball anyway? Skyline is not even ranked in the state top 20. Great you beat the Girls Volleyball team from Skyline. Now your good enough to take on the Football team, get realistic, Rich would get it Butt Kicked and hard.

To: anonymous | 5:55 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Know, I think your comment was the most rediculous I have ever seen. That person was just saying that there are a ton of people in small communities that do care about sports. I would love you to go tell the Morgan Coach that Volleyball is like ping pong. You would not get past her first mean stare and run! She could kick your butt! Does everyone understand that a school with 1,500 plus kids could probably beat another school that has 140 kids! Yes, that is why we have classifications. (da) It does not mean that a ton of people are not interested in small high school sports. There are a ton of people along the Wasatch Front that have cabins in Bear Lake and follow Rich High School sports because they know the kids from the Lake. Just quit dissing on small schools.

Anonymous | 6:18 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

mountain crest dominates in wrestling and they have the past three years and they did whoop up on all the big 3a wrestling teams

Anonymous | 6:27 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

mc has won state the past 3 years in wrestling

Re: FNR | 6:49 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

I think it's pretty funny that you have Northridge ranked above Syracuse when Syracuse just beat them... This makes your rankings mean nothing

N.S. fan in Wyoming | 6:59 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

CORRECTION ON EARLIER COMMENT TO THE PUBLISHER for
Class 2A error. Should read: North Summit 7-1 not 7-4. Sorry.

FRiDAY NiGHT RiDER | 7:51 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

To commenter at 3:06

Thanks for your comments. I like your input and what you had to say. I also like your rankings. As an MC alum I am looking forward to the showdown on Wednesday with SV! It should be a classic! As far as what I said about Timpview- I was referring to the article that talked about their 5 turnovers against Tooele, and how they felt they played "sloppy" Any team that plays that sloppy and still wins by that much has got to be a GREAT team!

to poster at 5:20
I said that Syracuse nearly pulled off 2 huge upsets in a row. The first coming against Northridge, the second, would have been against Layton, but they lost.

FRiDAY NiGHT RiDER | 7:54 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

to poster at 6:49
Before you talk trash and say my rankings mean nothing, why don't you rank the teams and then we can talk about why we ranked them where we did. I put NR above Syracuse because although Syracuse did beat NR in overtime, they lost to Layton by a touchdown, NR, lost to Layton in overtime. Overall, I think NR would probably beat both Layton and Syracuse if they had another chance. However, I think all of these teams are great teams, and, any one of them could beat each other at any time.

Secondly, the rankings are just for fun. Why are you freaking out so much because I put Syracuse 1 spot behind Northridge. The bottom line is (and this is why I love HS football SO MUCH) no matter what my rankings, or the D News, or any other commenter, or trash talking fans say, the number one ranking will be proved on November 21st at Rice Eccles stadium, and as far as I am concerned, that is the only one that REALLY matters.

Anonymous | 7:56 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

if tv is so good then why do they back down year after year to bingham and alta???? they must be scared or maybe they dont want to ruin their record.. hey tv keep playing your okay teams and keep your record as being unbeaten but when you step up and play bingham or alta then maybe you would have something to brag about..

True Blue Layton Fan | 8:19 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

I'd say Layton's strength of schedule has been tougher than Bingham, and possibly the toughest in the state. 5 teams played with winning records, still to play Viewmont that is 4-4 right now, and probably a playoff team.

Layton Strength of schedule (only included teams that were >= .500). That's "6" playoff teams:
8-0 Cottonwood
5-3 Jordan
5-3 Davis
5-3 Northridge
6-2 Syracuse
4-4 Viewmont

True Blue Layton Fan | 8:25 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

Although I don't agree, I can see why FNR put Northridge ahead of Syracuse, because simply put, Syracuse is coming off of a loss. Northridge won, rebounding from 2 straight OT losses. Northridge seems a little lost in their game plan lately. Syracuse is steady, D is killer & plays every team tough. After 8 games, to have only allowed about a TD overall is great. Northridge's D in my opinion, has been suspect all year.

Right now, I see Syracuse going deeper into the playoffs than Northridge. That may change if NRidge finds their offense.

Anonymous | 8:32 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

1. Alta
2. Layton
3. Bingham
4. PG
5. Northridge
6. Jordan
7. Syracuse
8. Lone peak
9. Skyline
10. Riverton

Just 5 a

unknown | 8:49 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

south sevier all i can say is it is going to be a long bus trip home when san juan tes on the football field wednesday night
San Juan will be #1 after this week

5A vs 4A | 8:53 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

All this talk about who is better between the classifications I don't think really matters until they are able to play. I did find it interesting that the top 10 football teams in Utah according the the Dnews 6 are 4A teams and only 4 are 5A teams.

unknown bronco | 9:19 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

south sevier destroy san juan!?? since when did dreams begin to win football games?

south sevier "THINKS" they have a good defense, so you shut out a weak, hurt grand team, and WOW kept the BEAVER BEAVERS to 0. they'll see a real defense when they play san juan, they're the real deal.

south sevier will want to be warming up the bus at half time!

unknown bronco | 9:39 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

k south sevier, look at the cold hard facts. first san juan is better.
2nd look at the tackles stats 1A-5A. san juan has 4 players in the top 25 through the entire state. south sevier doesnt have 1.

Anonymous | 10:07 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

alta is on it's way to another 3 sport sweep for the state championship!!!
tennis just won state
soccer is in the running
and football well we all know how that will go!

TBLF, aka BLUE WAVE | 10:17 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

I see these games as being the most important/best 5A games of the week.

Jordan - Skyline
Layton - Viewmont
Northridge - Davis
Riverton - Kearns

Looked thru all the games, and didn't "smell" any upsets. I still smell one brewing. Maybe it was Bountiful's win last week....course, didn't pick that one.

True Blue | 10:49 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

You think there schedule is hard because you think that your region is good, But its not. the best team you have played is jordan.

TBLF, aka BLUE WAVE | 11:29 p.m. Oct. 13, 2008

OK, ENOUGH ALREADY! I'm tired of hearing people say 5A is better than 4A, as if it's automatic. It's pretty cut & dry simple to me. Just because of the enrollment at a school, it has nothing to do with the actual players on the field. Sure, it's common sense, that the "POTENTIAL" to land more athletes and players are key positions.....is greater at larger schools. No rocket science there.

It's obvious Timpview and Cottonwood are tearing it up. It's obvious to me, they can compete with any 5A school ANYTIME. Hand down, no argument. PERIOD!

Matter of fact, I'm sure there are 3A, 2A & 1A schools that can compete in a game against 4 or 5A schools. I don't care if there are 8A schools. The players on the field determine the outcome of the game....and because there's no state champion among classes, then it's played out on the field in pre-season games. GAME ON BABY!!!

JustDan27 | 3:06 a.m. Oct. 14, 2008

Hello all, Since DNews does these contest w/ predictions. I wanted to do one myself for the HS Football Playoffs. No prizes involved, just for fun & bragging rights. As soon as the playoff schedules are out, I will post a link to the brackets so you people can make your predictions, and please, when I post them after the regular season is over, use the name you use on here so we know who you are. So look out for my name in any of the HS Football comment boards, soon.

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