High school football: 3A/2A semifinal previews

3A Semifinals

No. 5 Richfield (10-2) vs. No. 1 Morgan (9-2)

• 3A semifinals
• Saturday, Nov. 7, 1 p.m., at Zions Bank Stadium
• Parry’s Power Guide: __ by __
• All-time series: Morgan leads 10-3 (since 1940)Last meeting:
• Morgan won 49-14 at Morgan (Oct. 31, 2025, 3A quarterfinals)

What Richfield needs to do to win

Richfield has already avenged one loss this season. On Aug. 21 the Wildcats led Grantsville 24-10 going into the fourth quarter and lost 31-24. They didn’t play the Cowboys again until last Friday’s quarterfinal, and this time it wasn’t close. Colton White broke an 80-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter, finished with more than 150 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and Richfield won 31-7. Grantsville didn’t score after the first quarter.

Now the Wildcats face the team that ended their season a year ago. Morgan beat Richfield 49-14 in last year’s quarterfinals, scoring 21 points in the first quarter. White threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Trey Yardley in that game, one of the few highlights for Richfield.

This year’s team runs the ball as well as anyone in the state. White has run for 1,353 yards and 14 touchdowns on 95 carries, an average of 14.2 yards per carry. He also has three touchdown catches and a return touchdown, for 18 total touchdowns. Yardley averages 11.7 yards per carry and has 12 total touchdowns, including one on defense and one on a return. Quarterback Cordon White has thrown for 1,151 yards and 18 touchdowns and run for eight more. Ngalu Taufatofua and Temana Vakautakakala give Richfield even more options in the backfield.

The defense is the best in 3A. Richfield allows 11.8 points per game and has four shutouts. Nash Spell has eight sacks. Shane Pearson has three interceptions, and Yardley, Ripkin Janes and Austin Morgan have each scored a defensive touchdown. To pull the upset, Richfield has to do what it did against Grantsville: run the ball, keep Owen Gilson on the sideline and win the turnover battle. Gilson has thrown 11 interceptions. Eric Thorson won the 3A title at Richfield in 2023. A win here would put the Wildcats back in the championship game.

What Morgan needs to do to win

Morgan’s quarterfinal was over almost before it started. Against Cedar, the defending 3A champion, Gilson threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Rhett Larsen and ran for another score. Lawson Walker returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, and Miles Sydenham scored from 2 yards out, all in the first quarter. Walker added a 29-yard interception return in the second quarter. The Trojans led 49-0 at halftime and won by that score.

The Trojans have been this good most of the season. They lead 3A in scoring at 42.4 points per game and rank second in scoring defense (12.5 ppg) behind Richfield. They have five shutouts. Their only losses were 42-28 to Ridgeline, the unbeaten 4A No. 1 seed, in the opener, and 32-22 at Logan in the regular-season finale, a game that decided the 3A North title. Morgan also beat 4A Sky View 47-0, 4A Park City 35-0 and 5A quarterfinalist Bountiful 37-14.

Gilson has completed 65.3% of his passes for 2,589 yards and 39 touchdowns. He has two 1,000-yard receivers. George Thurston has 78 catches for 1,019 yards and 19 touchdowns, and with six rushing touchdowns he has 25 total. Rhett Larsen has 1,016 yards and 14 total touchdowns, and Owen Belliston has eight touchdown catches.

The defense scores points, too. Walker has two defensive touchdowns and three interceptions, and Krew Asay and Cade Spens have two defensive touchdowns each. As a team, Morgan has seven defensive touchdowns. The common opponents favor the Trojans. Morgan beat Grantsville 42-7 and Cedar 49-0, while Richfield split with Grantsville and beat Cedar 38-7.

The concern is the running game. Morgan hasn’t faced a back like Colton White, and Richfield’s defense won’t give up easy points. Gilson’s 11 interceptions are the clearest opening for the Wildcats. Last year Morgan lost to Manti in the semifinals. Jared Barlow won titles in 2022 and 2024 and is trying to get the Trojans back to the championship game. The winner plays the Logan–Juab winner for the 3A title. Juab beat Richfield 37-21, and Logan beat Morgan 32-22.

Richfield statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 39.9 ppg (3rd in 3A)
• Scoring defense: 11.8 ppg (1st in 3A)
• Passing leader: Cordon White (80-149, 53.7%, 1,151 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Colton White (95 carries, 1,353 yards, 14 TDs), Trey Yardley (46 carries, 536 yards, 7 TDs), Cordon White (86 carries, 433 yards, 8 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Shane Pearson (21 rec., 392 yards, 7 TDs), Trey Yardley (22 rec., 387 yards, 3 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Colton White (68 tackles), Ngalu Taufatofua (55 tackles), Trey Yardley (50 tackles), Nash Spell (50 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Nash Spell (8 sacks), Kason Whitmore (2 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Shane Pearson (3 INTs), Trey Yardley (2 INTs), Austin Morgan (2 INTs)

Morgan statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 42.4 ppg (1st in 3A)
• Scoring defense: 12.5 ppg (2nd in 3A)
• Passing leader: Owen Gilson (196-300, 65.3%, 2,589 yards, 39 TDs, 11 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Owen Gilson (73 carries, 319 yards, 2 TDs), George Thurston (44 carries, 318 yards, 6 TDs), Miles Sydenham (16 carries, 129 yards, 4 TDs), Rhett Larsen (24 carries, 121 yards, 4 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: George Thurston (78 rec., 1,019 yards, 19 TDs), Rhett Larsen (64 rec., 1,016 yards, 10 TDs), Owen Belliston (29 rec., 362 yards, 8 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Lawson Walker (82 tackles), Cael Edgington (77 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Cade Spens (3 sacks), Kwayde Meibos (3 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Lawson Walker (3 INTs), Bridger Schiffman (3 INTs)

No. 3 Logan (9-2) vs. No. 2 Juab (9-2)

• 3A semifinals
• Saturday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m., at Zions Bank Stadium
• Parry’s Power Guide: __ by __
• All-time series: First meeting

What Logan needs to do to win

A year ago Logan went 4-7 and lost in the first round to Richfield. Last Friday the Grizzlies scored 66 points against Manti in the quarterfinals, the most in school playoff history. Manti led early on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Easton Favero answered with a 12-yard touchdown run, and Logan scored four straight touchdowns in the second quarter on the way to a 56-17 halftime lead. Favero finished with five touchdowns, four passing and one rushing.

That game sums up Justin Hugie’s first season as head coach. Logan has won eight straight, won the 3A North outright at 5-0 for its first region title since 2015, and ended Morgan’s run of five straight region titles with a 32-22 win in the regular-season finale. The Grizzlies have also won close games: 18-17 at Ogden, 37-36 at Grantsville and 25-21 at 2A semifinalist Summit Academy in the opener.

Favero has had one of the best seasons by any quarterback in the state. He has completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,443 yards and 37 touchdowns and has thrown only three interceptions. He has also run for 807 yards and 11 touchdowns, for 48 total touchdowns. He has three receivers with at least 700 yards. Royce Sargent has 1,032 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jase Pingree has 992 yards, 10 touchdown catches and two return touchdowns. Trey Covington has 712 yards and seven touchdowns. Mason Birch adds 948 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, and Kolt Redd averages 19.5 yards per catch. Logan averages 41.5 points per game, second in 3A behind Morgan.

The common opponents favor the Grizzlies. Logan beat Grantsville by one point, and Juab lost to the Cowboys 42-7. Logan beat Manti by 46, and Juab beat the Templars by 29. Both teams beat Ogden by a field goal or less.

Defense is the concern. Logan allows 23.1 points per game, seventh in 3A, and it gave up 36 at Grantsville and 59 to 4A Pine View. Its defense does force turnovers. Ethan Carson has eight interceptions and two defensive touchdowns, Nash Redd has three interceptions and a defensive score, and Grayden Olsen has 12 sacks. Juab’s Price Armstrong has thrown 14 interceptions, and Logan has 18 as a team. If the Grizzlies create a couple of short fields, Favero is likely to turn them into points.

What Juab needs to do to win

Juab trailed Ogden 13-3 going into the fourth quarter last Friday, and its season was nearly over. Then Kelsen Allred recovered a fumble in the end zone with 9:40 left. With 3:27 to go, Armstrong threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Downard, and the Wasps held on for a 16-13 win and a second straight trip to the semifinals.

Juab has won six straight since a 42-7 loss at Grantsville in September. It won the 3A South outright at 6-0, beating 3A semifinalist Richfield 37-21, Cedar 31-24 and Canyon View 28-14. Its only other loss was 29-26 at Delta, which is in the 2A semifinals. The Wasps also beat 5A Payson 31-20 and 2A semifinalist South Summit 34-13.

Defense has carried Juab through the playoffs. The Wasps allow 19.3 points per game, fifth in 3A, and have four defensive touchdowns. Justus Reynolds has 109 tackles, three sacks and a return touchdown. Wyatt Downard has six sacks, and Marshall Draper has four sacks and a defensive touchdown. Will Armstrong leads the team with five interceptions. Quentin Robinson has three interceptions, a defensive touchdown and a return touchdown, and he’s also the leading receiver.

Price Armstrong does a little of everything. He has thrown for 2,878 yards and 23 touchdowns, leads the team with eight rushing touchdowns and kicks, with four field goals and 44 points. Robinson (71 catches, 990 yards) and Brady Gempeler (68 catches, 896 yards, 8 TDs) are two of the most productive receivers in 3A.

To beat Logan, Juab has to do something no one has done much of this season: make Favero uncomfortable. He has thrown three interceptions all year, so pressure from Downard and Draper matters more than coverage. Armstrong also has to protect the ball against a secondary that has 18 interceptions. Last year Juab lost 23-16 to Cedar in the semifinals. Jake Downard’s team is trying to get the program back to the title game for the first time since its 2020 championship. The winner plays the Richfield–Morgan winner for the 3A title. Juab beat Richfield 37-21, and Logan beat Morgan 32-22.

Logan statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 41.5 ppg (2nd in 3A)
• Scoring defense: 23.1 ppg (7th in 3A)
• Passing leader: Easton Favero (222-338, 65.7%, 3,443 yards, 37 TDs, 3 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Mason Birch (146 carries, 948 yards, 10 TDs), Easton Favero (106 carries, 807 yards, 11 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Royce Sargent (60 rec., 1,032 yards, 12 TDs), Jase Pingree (59 rec., 992 yards, 10 TDs), Trey Covington (43 rec., 712 yards, 7 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Kolt Redd (91 tackles), Connor Chesley (71 tackles), Grayden Olsen (67 tackles), Kedin Avila (67 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Grayden Olsen (12 sacks), Connor Chesley (3 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Ethan Carson (8 INTs), Nash Redd (3 INTs)

Juab statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 30.5 ppg (5th in 3A)
• Scoring defense: 19.3 ppg (5th in 3A)
• Passing leader: Price Armstrong (230-363, 63.4%, 2,878 yards, 23 TDs, 14 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Grady Ballow (66 carries, 354 yards, 2 TDs), Price Armstrong (108 carries, 343 yards, 8 TDs), Bryson Downard (31 carries, 302 yards, 2 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Quentin Robinson (71 rec., 990 yards, 5 TDs), Brady Gempeler (68 rec., 896 yards, 8 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Justus Reynolds (109 tackles), Bryson Downard (87 tackles), Rhett Richards (68 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Wyatt Downard (6 sacks), Marshall Draper (4 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Will Armstrong (5 INTs), Quentin Robinson (3 INTs)

2A Semifinals

No. 4 South Summit (7-4) vs. No. 1 San Juan (9-1)

• 2A semifinals
• Friday, Nov. 6, 1 p.m., at Zions Bank Stadium
• Parry’s Power Guide: __ by __
• All-time series: San Juan leads 11-8 (since 1998)
• Last meeting: San Juan won 58-28 at San Juan (Sept. 11, 2026, nonregion)

What South Summit needs to do to win

For about 15 minutes in September, South Summit looked like it might beat San Juan. Late in the first quarter in Blanding, Brody Larsen broke a 76-yard touchdown run, and the Wildcats led 14-7. Then the Broncos scored 24 straight points in the second quarter and won 58-28. That game followed the same pattern as last year’s 2A championship game, which San Juan won 57-10. South Summit has now lost twice in a row to the Broncos when it mattered most. Friday is its chance to change that.

The Wildcats are playing their best football of the season. Since a 31-26 loss to Summit Academy that decided the 2A North title, they’ve won four straight by a combined 180-40. Last week’s 47-0 quarterfinal win over ALA was over early. Larsen’s 49-yard touchdown run started a 27-point first quarter, and he finished with three touchdowns. Steele Woodward scored twice, including on a 60-yard run.

Larsen is the reason South Summit has a chance. He has run for 1,372 yards and 17 touchdowns at 8.2 yards per carry. He also leads the defense with four interceptions and has scored two defensive touchdowns, so he has 21 total touchdowns. Ian Mair has thrown for 1,655 yards and 16 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Jesse Clegg is his top target, with 68 catches. The Wildcats allow 18.1 points per game, third in 2A. Nash Harline has eight sacks, Seth Andruschenko has 90 tackles and a defensive touchdown, and the defense has scored six touchdowns.

To pull the upset, South Summit has to control the clock. That means feeding Larsen, sustaining long drives and keeping San Juan’s offense on the sideline. It also has to survive the second quarter, which is where it lost the game in September. The Wildcats also have a result no other 2A team has: in the opener they beat Duchesne 18-13, and Duchesne is now the 1A No. 1 seed. Levi Thompson, a South Summit graduate, took the Wildcats to the title game in his first season. The program last won a state title in 2018.

What San Juan needs to do to win

Brigg Palmer scored five touchdowns in last week’s quarterfinal, and he’s been doing that all season. Against Emery he scored on runs of 2, 1, 13, 1 and 50 yards, and San Juan won 48-0. He has run for 1,887 yards and 28 touchdowns at 10 yards per carry, and with two touchdown catches he has 30 total touchdowns. He also has 62 tackles on defense.

The Broncos have won five straight state titles. They’re two wins from a sixth, and this year’s team may be as strong as any of them. San Juan averages 49 points per game, the most in 2A, and has won nine straight since a 30-20 opening loss to 3A Grantsville. It beat both of the other 2A semifinalists, 44-27 over Delta and 38-14 over Summit Academy. It also beat two 1A semifinalists, Kanab 54-7 and Beaver 52-22, and 3A Manti 61-38.

Beau Yeomans keeps defenses from loading up against Palmer. He has thrown for 2,604 yards and 30 touchdowns with five interceptions, and he has run for nine more touchdowns. Randall Black has 910 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, Miken Keith has eight touchdown catches and two return touchdowns, and Andrew Nielson averages 24.7 yards per catch. On defense, Thomas Hardin has 112 tackles and seven sacks, and Cameron Adair has four sacks.

The common opponents favor San Juan. It beat Summit Academy by 24, while South Summit lost to the Bears by five. It beat South Sevier 60-28, and South Summit won 43-7. The Broncos’ only real weakness is defense. They allow 20.1 points per game, fourth in 2A, and South Summit scored 28 against them in September. San Juan has to tackle Larsen in space and not let one long run change the game. Barkley Christensen, in his 10th season at his alma mater, is trying to give the Blanding program its 12th state title. The winner plays the Delta–Summit Academy winner for the 2A title.

South Summit statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 32.1 ppg (3rd in 2A)
• Scoring defense: 18.1 ppg (3rd in 2A)
• Passing leader: Ian Mair (119-247, 48.2%, 1,655 yards, 16 TDs, 3 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Brody Larsen (168 carries, 1,372 yards, 17 TDs), Ian Mair (20 carries, 172 yards, 3 TDs), Steele Woodward (32 carries, 171 yards, 5 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Jesse Clegg (68 rec., 695 yards, 6 TDs), Brody Larsen (19 rec., 231 yards, 2 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Seth Andruschenko (90 tackles), Ammon Marchant (61 tackles), Kash Atkinson (56 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Nash Harline (8 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Brody Larsen (4 INTs), Steele Woodward (2 INTs)

San Juan statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 49.0 ppg (1st in 2A)
• Scoring defense: 20.1 ppg (4th in 2A)
• Passing leader: Beau Yeomans (161-251, 64.1%, 2,604 yards, 30 TDs, 5 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Brigg Palmer (189 carries, 1,887 yards, 28 TDs), Beau Yeomans (50 carries, 268 yards, 9 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Randall Black (51 rec., 910 yards, 11 TDs), Miken Keith (36 rec., 571 yards, 8 TDs), Andrew Nielson (14 rec., 346 yards, 5 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Thomas Hardin (112 tackles), Cameron Adair (70 tackles), Brigg Palmer (62 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Thomas Hardin (7 sacks), Cameron Adair (4 sacks), Pierce Holliday (3 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Andrew Nielson (3 INTs), Quincy Singer (2 INTs), Staley Dandy (2 INTs)

No. 3 Summit Academy (8-3) vs. No. 2 Delta (9-2)

• 2A semifinals
• Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., at Zions Bank Stadium
• Parry’s Power Guide: __ by __
• All-time series: Tied 2-2 (since 2023)
• Last meeting: Delta won 24-14 at Delta (Sept. 11, 2026, nonregion)

What Summit Academy needs to do to win

Summit Academy led Delta twice in September. Rigby Young scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter, and a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third put the Bears back in front. Then Bronx Hunt broke two 60-yard touchdown runs in the second half, and Delta pulled away to win 24-14. The Bears haven’t lost since. Friday they get a second chance at Delta on a neutral field, with a trip to the title game at stake.

Summit Academy has won six straight by a combined 217-60. In Ben Young’s first season, it won the 2A North outright at 4-0, with a 31-26 win at South Summit deciding the title. It’s the program’s first region title since its 2018 state championship. Last week the Bears shut out South Sevier 33-0. Rigby Young threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Tyllman Reese and ran 12 yards for another score. Nito Fonua ran for two touchdowns, including a 52-yarder, and Kyden Mortenson kicked two field goals.

Defense is why the Bears are here. They allow 15.1 points per game, best in 2A, and have three shutouts. Finau Katoa has nine sacks and Caleb Faaootoa has seven, part of a 30-sack defense. Alekisio Tautuiaki leads the team with 72 tackles. Makai Palu, Bode Pay and Zealand Hannemann have all scored on defense, and Xavier Tuisea has a return touchdown.

Young is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in 2A. He has completed 69.4% of his passes for 2,311 yards and 23 touchdowns, and he has run for 596 yards and 10 touchdowns. Beckham Meredith has 66 catches for 1,027 yards and 15 touchdowns. Fonua has run for 890 yards at 8.1 yards per carry.

To win the rematch, Summit Academy has to keep Delta’s backs from breaking long runs. Two plays decided the first meeting. The Bears also have to protect the ball: Young has thrown eight interceptions, and Delta’s defense has 21. Their schedule has prepared them. They beat 1A semifinalist Kanab 17-7 and lost only 25-21 to Logan, which plays in the 3A semifinals this week. Last year the Bears lost to San Juan in the semifinals. This year they’re one win from the championship game.

What Delta needs to do to win

Delta went 2-8 last season. This fall it’s 9-2 and one win from its first state championship game since 2001. The Rabbits have won five straight by a combined 262-70, including last week’s 56-8 quarterfinal win over Providence Hall. Hunt scored twice. McCrae Wade broke touchdown runs of 77 and 40 yards. Davis Covey scored twice, including on a 74-yard run, and Drake Norman added another touchdown.

That game showed what Delta does best. The Rabbits run the ball on almost every down: 481 carries and fewer than 100 passes. They average 7.9 yards per carry and have 48 rushing touchdowns. Norman has 991 yards. Hunt has 739 yards and 15 touchdowns, and he scored three times against Summit Academy in September. Dayson Meinhardt has 652 yards. Quarterback Bodey Shurtz has run for 11 touchdowns, and Wade averages 8.7 yards per carry. Delta averages 38.4 points per game, second in 2A behind San Juan.

The defense ranks second in 2A, allowing 16.7 points per game. Zane Quackenbush has nine sacks and Ryan Steele has seven, part of a 32-sack defense. Shurtz leads the team with six interceptions. Jacen Johnson and Ashur Bussari have three each, and Meinhardt has two interceptions and a defensive touchdown. Johnson is also the team’s leading receiver and kicker.

Most of the common opponents favor Delta. It lost 44-27 to San Juan, while Summit Academy lost to the Broncos by 24. Both teams beat ALA, Providence Hall and South Sevier easily. Delta also beat Juab 29-26 in the opener, and Juab is now in the 3A semifinals. Its only other loss was 21-14 at 3A North Sanpete.

The concern is the passing game. If Summit Academy stops the run the way it did for most of the first meeting, Shurtz, who completes 47% of his passes, will have to beat a defense with 30 sacks. South Sevier knocked Delta out of last year’s quarterfinals 43-42. In his third season at his alma mater, Denton Peterson has the Millard County program within a game of the title game. The winner plays the San Juan–South Summit winner for the 2A title.

Summit Academy statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 31.5 ppg (4th in 2A)
• Scoring defense: 15.1 ppg (1st in 2A)
• Passing leader: Rigby Young (152-219, 69.4%, 2,311 yards, 23 TDs, 8 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Nito Fonua (110 carries, 890 yards, 8 TDs), Rigby Young (82 carries, 596 yards, 10 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Beckham Meredith (66 rec., 1,027 yards, 15 TDs), Brayden Dieters (17 rec., 267 yards, 1 TD), Tyllman Reese (12 rec., 232 yards, 2 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Alekisio Tautuiaki (72 tackles), Bear Huntsman (45 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Finau Katoa (9 sacks), Caleb Faaootoa (7 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Bode Pay (2 INTs)

Delta statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 38.4 ppg (2nd in 2A)
• Scoring defense: 16.7 ppg (2nd in 2A)
• Passing leader: Bodey Shurtz (41-87, 47.1%, 623 yards, 7 TDs, 5 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Drake Norman (121 carries, 991 yards, 5 TDs), Bronx Hunt (87 carries, 739 yards, 15 TDs), Dayson Meinhardt (91 carries, 652 yards, 4 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Jacen Johnson (14 rec., 266 yards, 4 TDs), McCrae Wade (5 rec., 178 yards, 2 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Cody May (52 tackles), Bodey Shurtz (47 tackles), Easton Stefanoff (45 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Zane Quackenbush (9 sacks), Ryan Steele (7 sacks), Easton Stefanoff (4 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Bodey Shurtz (6 INTs), Jacen Johnson (3 INTs), Ashur Bussari (3 INTs)