Dixie is the big favorite to advance to its second straight 4A semifinal, but Stansbury is confident as well having won five straight
No. 6 Stansbury (8-3) at No. 3 Dixie (8-2)
- 4A state tournament quarterfinal
- Friday, 4 p.m.
- Parry’s Power Guide: Dixie by 23
- All-time series: Dixie leads 2-0
- Coach vs. coach: First meeting between Stansbury’s Eric Alder and Dixie’s Blaine Monkres
- Last meeting: Dixie 49, Stansbury 42 (2014)
ST. GEORGE — Dixie experienced firsthand back in week 7 how quickly fortunes can change. Leading Pine View 20-0 midway through the second quarter, the Flyers’ momentum was derailed by injuries to two offensive lineman and another to its starting running back.
Pine View rallied to win the game 27-26, which paved the way for an outright Region 9 championship.
Dixie, meanwhile, was forced to juggle personnel over its final two games of the regular season in what ended up being easy wins over Canyon View and Hurricane. All along it hoped to be back to full strength for the playoffs, which it was last week in a dominant 38-7 win over Ridgeline.
The full-strength Flyers will look to continue the momentum this Friday in the 4A quarterfinals against underdog Stansbury.
“We have a real big challenge this week but it’s the playoffs and everyone at this point is real good is so we’re going to go out and give it our best shot,” said first-year Stansbury coach Eric Alder.
In scouting Dixie, Alder said he doesn’t see any weaknesses at any positions. He’s hoping, however, that the experience his players gained in tough games this season against Sky View, Green Canyon and Park City will prepare them for the challenge ahead.
“At this point we’ve seen it all and we’re ready to go face the entire package at once,” said Alder. “We’re all fighting for our football lives. These kids care about each other, they love each other, they love playing for Stansbury and they want to keep that dream alive for as long as they can.”
Stansbury made back-to-back semifinal appearances in 2016 and 2017, but last year was bounced in the quarterfinals by Pine View.
Under a new coach and running a new offense this season, Stansbury got off to a bit of a slow start against a tough schedule, going 3-3. Alder could see his players gradually picking up the nuances of the new offense over those first six games, and lately has looked sharp amid a five-game winning streak.
“We feel like we’re peaking at the right time. That’s really what you want to do is get to November and have an opportunity to play your best football,” said Alder.
Offensively Stansbury is led by running back Tommy Christopher who’s rushed for 1,493 yards and quarterback Kru Huxfurd.
Dixie coach Blaine Monkres believes Huxford could be the best dual-threat quarterback his defense has seen this year
Fortunately for Dixie’s defense, it sees probably the best dual-threat quarterback in 4A every day in practice.
Dixie senior QB Reggie Graff heads into the quarterfinals having passed for 1,997 yards and 23 TDs while also rushing for 1,151 yards and 15 TDs.
A year ago he quarterbacked Dixie into the state title game, experience that should continue to pay dividends on Friday.
Last week he passed for 187 yards and rushed for 135 yards, many which were scrambling yards as Ridgeline rushed six or seven players at times.
“If Reggie gets through there he can go the distance. He’s a double-threat guy who can throw the ball really well,” said Monkres, whose team ranks second in 4A scoring offense at 41.8 ppg.
Getting a healthy Preston Moore back at running back last week was huge. He carried the ball 19 times for 89 yards giving him 847 yards on the season.
“He’s a senior, he’s a really quiet kid but he’s a workhorse. He can pound the ball up the middle, and he’s great in pass protection,” said Monkres.
Dixie’s coach said he’s impressed by what he’s seen from Stansbury’s defensive line in its ability to break up plays.
If Dixie avoids the same type of turnovers it had against Pine View, it’s the clear favorite to secure another semifinal appearance.
Stansbury statistical breakdown
- Scoring offense: 37.5 ppg (4th in 4A)
- Scoring defense: 22.7 ppg (7th in 4A)
- Passing leader: Kru Huxford (135-222, 60.8%, 2,037 yards, 18 TDs, 9 INTs)
- Rushing leaders: Tommy Christopherson (229 carries, 1,493 yards, 17 TDs), Kru Huxford (143 carries, 664 yards, 6 TDs)
- Receiving leaders: Gabe Harris (35 rec., 749 yards, 5 TDs), Lawson Wihongi (26 rec., 376 yards, 1 TD)
- Tackles leaders: Andrew Hanson (114 tackles), Payton Didericksen (91 tackles)
- Sack leaders: Kyler Kolb (4 sacks)
- Interception leaders: Gabe Harris (4 INTs)
Dixie statistical breakdown
- Scoring offense: 41.8 ppg (2nd in 4A)
- Scoring defense: 19.7 ppg (6th in 4A)
- Passing leader: Reggie Graff (126-199, 63.3%, 1,997 yards, 23 TDs, 5 INTs
- Rushing leaders: Reggie Graff (114 carries, 1,151 yards, 15 TDs), Preston Moore (115 carries, 847 yards, 7 TDs)
- Receiving leaders: Treyce Simmons (49 rec., 562 yards, 12 TDs), Keaton Schweitzer (32 rec., 482 yards, 3 TDs)
- Tackles leaders: Nolan Mahi (84 tackles), Bode Ray (55 tackles)
- Sack leaders: Kaiden Faumuina (9 sacks), Mckade Fielding (4 sacks)
- Interception leaders: Hunter Knighton (4 INTs), Mamao Matalolo (3 INTs)
Felt’s Facts for Stansbury High School
- All-time record: 78-43 (11 years)
- Region championships: 5 (2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 co, 2017)
- Playoff appearances: 9
- All-time playoff record: 7-8
- State championships: 0
- State championship record: 0-0
Felts Facts for Dixie High School
- All-time record: 451-252-6 (75 years)
- Region championships: 27 (1949, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 co, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1991 co, 1994 co, 2009 co, 2013, 2015 co, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- Playoff appearances: 46
- All-time playoff record: 65-37
- State championships: 8 (1957, 1967, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1998, 2012, 2014)
- State championship record: 8-4
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