Back in the D

Region 1 week 2.

The super-sized region reaches week 2, with all but one team already into region play. The world of high school football is unpredictable. And now there is only one unbeaten team and only one win less team. My how things change in one week.

D was the name...
Last week Travis Harper had his way with the Jordan defense. Layton looked like the northend team to beat. This week, Harper was stymied by a couple of Titans named Dallimore and Dimick. While the Beetdiggers cruise over the Lancers. Last week, the Falcons soared in Taylorsville and the Darts nosed dived in Sandy. This week, Tanner Hinds broke through and helped Davis ground Clearfield. Last week, Viewmont's defense took a vacation and Weber ran all over Box Elder. This week, the Vikings kick 3 field goals and stuff the Warriors to win a defense battle, including surviving a last minute game winning try. The only thing that we can count on is the Royals from Roy being a good host for the Wolves.

Defensive TEAM of the week: Syracuse
Offensive player of the week: Davis RB Tanner Hinds
Game of the week: Viewmont 9 Weber 7

Power Rankings:
1. Syracuse Titans (2-0, 1-0)
2. Davis Darts (1-1, 1-0)
3. Northridge Knights (1-1, 0-1)
4. Layton Lancers (1-1, 0-0)
5. Viewmont Vikings (1-1, 1-0)
6. Weber Warriors (1-1, 0-1)
7. Fremont Silver Wolves (1-1, 1-0)
8. Clearfield Falcons (1-1, 0-1)
9. Roy Royals (0-2, 0-1)

Next week's games

Clearfield at Fremont
Layton at Northridge
Roy at Bonneville
Syracuse at Viewmont
Weber at Davis

College note: Notice that Utah is a 21 point favorite against Utah State. Oklahoma is a 21 point favorite against BYU. Remember that this spread is a method to promote equal betting. It means that if you bet on Utah, the Utes have to beat the Aggies by more than 3 touchdowns for you to make any money. If you bet on the Aggies, then you can make money if the Utes only win by 20. This ensures that the house makes money. Theoretically, the house will only have to pay half the money they bring in. Traditionally, BYU is one of the best teams to bet on because not a lot of BYU fans bet on games. You also cannot bet on UNLV or Nevada when they play home games...at least in Vegas It has been outlawed.

In my opinion, the spread means nothing. They do not play the games on paper or in the gambling house. Personally, I think that the odds makers are being kind to Utah State. I don't know about BYU this year. I do know that the way things ended up last year, BYU is playing with a chip on the shoulder.

Not very many teams from the FCS win against FBS teams. Last year, Cal Poly beat San Diego state. There were only 3 other games where an FCS team beat an FBS team. This year, Weber State has as good a chance against Wyoming as anyone in the lower division.

Did I say that I am looking forward the college season this year? Good luck to everyone.

Power Rankings Edition 1

Region 1 Power Rankings...after 1 week.

Since schools has yet to start, week 1 kicks off with little other than the parents and die hard fans in the stand. The most surprising win was Clearfield winning at Taylorsville. The Falcons took a quick 21 -0 lead and then held on for the W. The most surprising loss was Davis, still the region favorite, getting blanked by the resurgent Bengals. If Davis runs the table from here, we can credit Brighton for waking this sleeping giant. Initially, I wanted to give Viewmont credit for holding the mighty Miners to 28 points, but Bingham actually ran all over the Vikings--the boys from South Jordan were their own worst enemies with all of their turnovers. Roy, considered unready for 5-A, did little to silence their doubters in loosing big to 4-A Woods Cross. Fremont looses the heart-breaker at home to Sky View. Weber gets the best of the old county-line rivalry. The Warriors were all over the Bees. And finally, Northridge outlasts Jordan in a wild one.

Game of the week...SkyView 30 Fremont 27 in OT.
Defensive team of the week...Weber for keeping the Bees off of the scoreboard.
Player of the week...Northridge QB Travis Harper.

1. Layton (Beat Bonneville 31-14)
2. Northridge (Beat Jordan 36-27)
3. Syracuse (Beat Copper Hills 17-14)
4. Weber (Beat Box Elder 42 - 0)
5. Clearfield (Beat @Taylorsville 21 - 13)
6. Davis (Lost @Brighton 24 -0)
7. Fremont (Lost Sky View 30 - 27)
8. Viewmont (Lost @ Bingham 28 -8)
9. Roy (Lost @ Woods Cross 27 - 6)

Next week, region play begins for 8 of the 9. The Jordan Beetdiggers ride the bus up to Layton for the second week in a row, this time to take on the Lancers. Davis gets a chance for redemption, traveling to Clearfield. Northridge rides west to battle the Titans. Viewmont takes the longest possible Region 1 bus ride, from Boutiful to Pleasant View and the Weber Warriors. Fremont gets a good chance to put the week 1 loss out of their mind by taking on the lowly Royals.

Davis @ Clearfield
Fremont @ Roy
Jordan @ Layton
Northridge @ Syracuse
Viewmont @ Weber

No college power rankings this week. But, here again are my conference predictions.

MWC

1. BYU
2. TCU
3. Utah
4. Air Force
5. Colorado State
6. New Mexico
7. UNLV
8. San Diego State
9. Wyoming

Why New Mexico is so high? The Lobos underachieved last year and Portiere was injured most of the season. They should react well to a new coach.

WAC

1. Boise State
2. Nevada
3. Fresno State
4. Louisiana Tech
5. San Jose State
6. Hawaii
7. New Mexico State
8. Idaho
9. Utah State

Why is USU last? If you are trying to build a strong program from the dead, don't schedule Utah, Texas A & M and BYU on the road to start the season. The optimism in Logan will all but evaporate by the time WAC play begins.

Big Sky

1. Montana
2. Weber State
3. Eastern Washington
4. Montana State
5. Sacramento State
6. Portland State
7. Idaho State
8. Northern Colorado
9. Northern Arizona

Why NAU is last? How will they react to rumors that this will be the last season of Football in Flagstaff?