Timpview has a lot of history playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium although Lehi is the team that has cultivated the most recent success
No. 11 Lehi (10-3) at No. 10 Timpview (10-3)
- 5A state tournament semifinal
- Thursday, 2:30 p.m. (At Rice-Eccles Stadium)
- Parry’s Power Guide: Timpview by 7
- All-time series: Timpview leads 5-0
- Coach vs. coach: Timpview’s Andy Stokes leads Lehi’s Ed Larson, 1-0
- Last meeting: Timpview 28, Lehi 9 (week 7)
SALT LAKE CITY — For many years Timpview football was well-assumed to end its football season playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium, whether it be walking off the field as state champions or sustaining a tough loss at the end of another deep run in the playoffs.
But it’s been a while for the Thunderbirds, at least relative to what they’ve become accustomed to, with the last visit to the traditional venue of the state semifinal and championship rounds being back in 2015.
“It’s a blessing to go there. That’s the truth,” said Timpview coach Andy Stokes, whose team will square off versus Lehi in the 5A state semifinal round this Thursday. “Our goal at the start of the year was to take Timpview back to Rice-Eccles ... so it’s a blessing to get back there.”
Just getting to Rice-Eccles is an accomplishment, but Timpview isn’t just happy to be there, and neither is Lehi. Sure, Timpview has become used to playing on the big stage in the past, but so is Lehi, which under coach Ed Larson won the 5A state championship in 2017 after several years of rebuilding an otherwise struggling program.
“It’s a testament to the players and my assistant coaches of the work and the dedication they have to go back there,” Larson said of his team returning to Rice-Eccles. “We have kids that just fight, and I’m so proud of the work they’ve put in to improve every week. That’s why we’re at where we are.”
Where the Pioneers were at back on Sept. 27 likely wasn’t a spot where most observers would predict a semifinal berth. Taking on Timpview, Lehi wasn’t able to make things close, taking a 28-9 loss at the outset of Region 7 play.
But Lehi isn’t the same team now that it was back then, but neither is Timpview — facts recognized by both Stokes and Larson.
“There’s a lot of dynamic kids on that team and their coach is one of the better coaches in the state,” Stokes said. “He’ll have them prepared and no question they won’t be ready. It’s hard to beat someone twice, so we need to continue to improve and be better than we were last week.”
A lot of Lehi’s improvement has come on the defensive side of the ball, according to Larson.
“That’s probably been the biggest thing for us in being able to reach the spot where we’re at,” Larson said. “It’s a defense that scored two touchdowns for us last week, and that’s huge against a team like Farmington. We don’t win that game without the defense playing like it did, so we’ll need that against a team like Timpview.”
Most of the headlines for Timpview have centered around the play of standouts Sione Moa and Raider Damuni, although Larson believes the T-birds’ line play may be the factor which truly drives their success.
“You look at their nose tackle, Solo Langi — that kid is a problem,” Larson said. “Watching him play — man, he’s good and it all starts up front with what he’s able to do, along with the rest of their line. It’s just a real tough team we’re going against.”
As for Stokes, he’s wary of Lehi’s quarterback and running play, along with most everything else Larson’s team will bring to the table, while at the same time confident in the strides his team has made.
“We’re playing our best football right now, which is what any coach wants at this point of the year,” Stokes said. “Kids have really worked to improve every week and we believe that’s happened. You can see it. But like I said, we’ll need to continue that and be better than we were last week to get by a team as good as Lehi.”
Lehi statistical breakdown
Scoring offense: 36.2 ppg (2nd in 5A)
Scoring defense: 14.5 ppg (4th in 5A)
Passing leader: Creyton Cooper (203-378, 53.7%, 2,529 yards, 33 TDs, 18 INTs)
Rushing leaders: Carsen Manookin (185 carries, 1,282 yards 12 TDs)
Receiving leaders: Mckay Wall (38 rec., 761 yards, 13 TDs), Isaiah Tauai (53 rec., 525 yards, 5 TDs)
Tackles leaders: Christian Wren (110 tackles), Tyler Ehat (83 tackles)
Sack leaders: Harrington Ray (9 sacks), Christian Wren, Ryder Hatch (7 sacks)
Interception leaders: Maoputasi Young, Kadiyon Sweat (5 INTs)
Timpview statistical breakdown
Scoring offense: 28.3 ppg (11th in 5A)
Scoring defense: 18.1 ppg (7th in 5A)
Passing leader: Elijah Allen (119-230 51.7%, 1,722 yards, 15 TDs, 12 INTs)
Rushing leaders: Targhee Lambson (179 carries, 1,184 yards, 10 TDs), Sione Moe (124 carries, 1,174 yards, 13 TDs
Receiving leaders: Braxton Cravens (20 rec., 323 yards, 6 TDs), Raider Damuni (14 rec., 318 yards, 2 TDs)
Tackles leaders: Cael Richardson (80 tackles) Calvin Tonga (55 tackles)
Sack leaders: Waisie Muivesi (6.5 sacks), Logan Fano (5 sacks)
Interception leaders: Raider Damuni (5 INTs), Sione Moa (4 INTs)
Felt’s Facts for Lehi High School
All-time record: 383-453-22 (98 years)
Region championships: 13 (1940, 1944, 1950, 1963, 1990, 1992, 1996 co, 1997, 1999 co, 2000 co, 2003 co, 2004 co, 2017)
Playoff appearances: 35
All-time playoff record: 27-31
State championships: 3 (1980, 2000, 2017)
State championship record: 3-2
Felt’s Facts for Timpview High School
All-time record: 343-121 (41 years)
Region championships: 20 (1977 co, 1986 co, 1991, 1992, 1993 co, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 co, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019 co)
Playoff appearances: 38
All-time playoff record: 74-27
State championships: 11 (1986, 1991, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014)
State championship record: 11-2
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