When the 3A semifinals kick off on Friday at Southern Utah University, this first game will feature the team everybody expected to be there against the team nobody expected to still be playing football in November.
Juab is the No. 1 seed after winning 10 games this season, the state runner-up from last year and a top three team in scoring offense and defense.
No. 12 seed Delta, meanwhile, was an afterthought heading into the playoffs after a 3-7 regular season and losses in its last two games to end the season.
The gritty Rabbits are still playing though after upset wins over North Sanpete and Richfield the past two weeks.
“A lot of times this time of the season it all comes down to being healthy and having kids believe. They kept working. We got beat in some of those games pretty bad and they’d come back the next week and keep working. They just kept believing,” said Delta coach Russ Fowles.
One of those tough defeats was against Juab back in Week 9. The Wasps scored the game’s first 37 points and won easily 37-6.
Juab coach Mike Bowring expects a very different game at SUU this Friday at noon.
“They’re hot right now. They’ve been kind of the underdog the last two weeks and they’ve come out on top,” said Bowring. “We’re going to get their best shot and we’re going to have to prepare for a very good team.”
Juab has won three straight against Delta and seven of the past eight.
With six defensive and five offensive starters returning from last year’s 3A runner-up team, Bowring said this year’s team has done whatever has been necessary all season to achieve one goal — just win.
“We’ve got a good group of seniors and we have a lot of different kids that can do a lot of different things, it’s just them being unselfish. One score we all score kind of a mentality. Nobody really cares who gets the credit as long as the job gets done. The kids just want to win,” said Bowring.
That unselfishness has been apparent throughout the season with 10 different players scoring at least one rushing touchdown and 10 different players at least one receiving TD.
It’s something Fowles is very aware of, saying this year’s Juab team spreads the ball around as well as any that he remembers.
“They’re dangerous everyone on the field, and that’s the problem,” said Fowles.
Delta doesn’t have the same variety of weapons, but is dangerous in its own right if everything is clicking. Fowles is confident that with the momentum his players have generated the past two weeks they’ll be able to compete with Juab in the rematch.
“We’re going to try to do what we’ve done in the past and control what we do and try and minimize our mistakes and not turn the ball over … and we probably need to get the ball bounce our way a couple times,” said Fowles.
Juab statistical breakdown
Scoring offense: 36.2 (third in 3A).
Scoring defense: 13.6 (second in 3A).
Passing leader: Alex Jackson (106-167, 63.5%, 1,312 yards, 14 TDs, five interceptions).
Rushing leaders: Trey Lund (82 carries, 558 yards, eight TDs), Shan Jackson (65 carries, 394 yards, four TDs).
Receiving leaders: Dawson Olsen (18 receptions, 292 yards, four TDs).
Tackles leaders: Boden Ballow (69 tackles).
Sack leaders: Dominic Davidson (12 sacks).
Interception leaders: Boden Ballow, Louk Stevens, Brayden Lawton (three interceptions).
Delta statistical breakdown
Scoring offense: 19.0 (14th in 3A).
Scoring defense: 25.6 (ninth in 3A).
Passing leader: Austin Topham (50-112, 44.6%, 800 yards, five TDs)
Rushing leaders: Will Finlinson (140 carries, 1,143 yards, nine TDs)
Receiving leaders: Britton Smith (28 receptions, 490 yards, two TDs)
Tackles leaders: Will Finlinson (58 tackles).
Sack leaders: Oran Finlinson (two sacks).
Interception leaders: Josh Jackson (interceptions).
Felts Facts for Juab High School
All-time record: 310-332-3 (65 years) .
Region championships: 11 (1976 co, 1995, 1997, 2005 co, 2006 co, 2008, 2014, 2015 co, 2016, 2017 co, 2019, 2020).
Playoff appearances: 37.
All-time playoff record: 26-36 .
State championships: 0 .
State championship record: 0-4 .
Felts Facts for Delta High School
All-time record: 553-315-24 (97 years) .
Region championships: 30 (1927, 1930 co, 1931, 1932 co, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1947 co, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970 co, 1975, 1976 co, 1977, 1983 co, 1986, 1991 co, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2003 co, 2004 co, 2005 co, 2009 co, 2010, 2011)
Playoff appearances: 58.
All-time playoff record: 68-48 .
State championships: 9 (1938, 1966, 1968, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1995, 2001) .
State championship record: 9-4.
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