Well-known and much-beloved (boy is that a stretch) Daily Herald sports prognosticator, the Great Zucchini, who has used the well-known slogan "Knows all, sees all" to pick the winners of high school football games has been beaten.

No, say it ain't so.

It's true, the champ has been K.O.'d, knocked off the his pedestal. Someone has finally shut him up! This is better than a BYU win over Oklahoma -- OK, maybe better than a win over Utah State.

Who do Zuke contestants have to thank for this monumental moment?

Bill Loader from Washington, Utah.

It took an out-of-towner to end Zuke's reign.

When reached for comment, Zuke had this to say: "Very funny. Where are you, Ashton Kutcher? I know I'm getting punked."

Zuke refused to admit he had been beaten and was last seen taking medication and blaming Orem for losing to Mountain View in overtime and costing him a chance at three straight championship seasons.

" 'No, take Orem, their defense is better,' Timpanogos principal Theron Murphy told me. It's his fault. He tried to bribe me to taking Orem with pizza and it worked. Curses. Betrayed by my own appetite. It probably would have been Little Caesar's pizza anyway, not 5 Buck Pizza, my personal favorite. Why? Why did I listen to him?"

There he goes, everyone, wave good-bye to the Zuke. He was just fitted for a straight jacket and now he's shouting incoherent phrases. This is getting ugly people.

"I loathe that Loader guy. He beat me by two points. Two points? I want my mommy. I know what happened. Brent 'the Prize Leech" Keetch must have sabotaged my picks. I want an investigation. You haven't heard the last of me."

It's probably best that we let the Zuke have some alone time.

Fortunately, Zuke had already turned in his picks for this week's playoff games. Since the new champ Bill Loader wasn't available, and neither was Andrew 'Mighty' Eide or the other top 50 constants of the contests, we are struck with using Zuke's picks.

So let'ssee how the former champion does in the first week of the high school playoffs.

West Jordan (7-3) at Lone Peak (8-2)

Now this is a matchup that should be on pay-per-view (well, it is on KJZZ at 4 p.m. today). West Jordan quarterback Adam Boelter, vs. Lone Peak quarterback Tannon Pedersen.

Can the Knights' defense contain wide receiver C.J. O'Neal, who now has 90 receptions on the year, tied for a state record? Can the Jaguars cool off the combination of Pedersen-to-Jacob Hannemann?

Ah, you are looking in the wrong place. The difference isn't in the two quarterbacks, it's in the two defenses. Lone Peak has given up just 10 points in its past two games.

That's good enough for me.

• Lone Peak 27, West Jordan 13

Pine View (5-4) at Spanish Fork (7-2)

The Panthers have scored just seven points in their past two games and that's not going to get the job done against Spanish Fork's explosive passing game. While the Panther defense focuses on Travis Still, surprise, it opens the door for Chase Loftin's big day.

• Spanish Fork 34, Pine View 27

Pleasant Grove (7-2) at Riverton (5-4)

You think the Vikings are fazed that they have to open the playoffs on the road and dropped to the third seed? Pleasant Grove may have lost two straight, but the Silverwolves have never won a playoff game. This is a good matchup for P.G.'s defense.

• Pleasant Grove 35, Riverton 14

Olympus (7-3) at Timpview (7-2)

And this year's playoff bracket complaint comes from ... Olympus. The Titans may have 7-3, but they got a death sentence when they found out they opened the playoffs with Timpview.

Timpview has won nine straight first-round games and 14 in 15 seasons. There's more evidence that proves Olympus' season is over. Timpview is 29-4 (.879) at home in the playoffs. The T'Birds have also scored 40 or more points in their past six games.

With that in mind, here's a few thoughts for Timpview fans to think about in the second half when the T'Birds have this game put away.

If Christian Covey and Provo's Maka Unufe raced, who would win?

If Trevor Brown runs for a 100 yards and throws for 200 yards in this game, will he take Alex Moon (and me) to Ripple's for lunch?

How much are rings going to cost this year?

• Timpview 42, Olympus 14

Salem Hills (6-4) at Mountain Crest (8-1)

It was a breakthrough season for Salem Hills -- a great job by Monte Morgan's staff in just its second year to win six games and take third in the region. That should be the focus, not the way the season ends, because this Mountain Crest team is too good. Alex Kuresa throws for four touchdown passes to led the Mustangs to a big win.

• Mountain Crest 42, Salem Hills 9

Sky View (6-4) at Springville (8-1)

Springville hasn't been to the carpet since Scott Mitchell himself took the Red Devils all the way. Could this be the year?

Don't look ahead!

I know this doesn't makes sense, but I like Springville. What's not to like about quarterback Steve Bate? Have you seen his passes? He has the precision of a surgeon.

Steve Bate, the quarterback surgeon.

Meanwhile, Jeff Gueck will be unleashed. He'll force a fumble and have a big game.

• Springville 27, Sky View 14

Orem (4-6) at Highland (7-3)

Let's check in on defensive guru Bob Steele, Utah high school's version of Rex Ryan. He's hard at work scheming on how to beat Highland.

The problem is, you aren't going to beat Highland with seven points, I don't care how good Jeremiah Tiatia plays.

• Highland 21, Orem 7

Woods Cross (6-3) at Provo (8-2)

How will Provo bounce back after last week's -- ah, how should I say it? -- beatdown against Timpview?

Not good. The T'Birds have shaken this team's confidence. It was a remarkable season for Provo, one the Bulldogs can build on, but it ends today with CJ Corry's big game.

• Woods Cross 20, Provo 14

Mountain View (3-6) at Dixie (6-3)

James Emerson and Dustin Thacker will help keep Mountain View around for the first half, but in the second half, the Bruins won't have an answer for Dixie quarterback Mike Sharp.

• Dixie 38, Mountain View 10