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Preece High School Football Power Poll: Lehi schools seize final top spots

By Brian E. Preece - Herald correspondent | Nov 30, 2022

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

Lehi players pose for a photo after winning the 5A state championship game in triple overtime over Timpview at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.

High school football expert Brian E. Preece ranks every team in the state of Utah at the end of 2022 (Utah Valley-area teams in bold):

Rank/School/Record/Previous Rank (Change)/Note

1. Lehi (5A) 14-0 1 (NC) Pioneers 19th straight win delivers 5A title

2. Skyridge (6A) 13-1 3 (+1) Falcons win first state title in school history

3. Corner Canyon (6A) 11-3 2 (-1) Chargers finish second for 2nd time in a row

4. Timpview (5A) 10-3 4 (NC) Thunderbirds so close but fall in title game

5. Bingham (6A) 10-3 5 (NC) Miners have another solid 6A season

6. Farmington (6A) 10-3 19 (+13) Phoenix finish season strong

7. American Fork (6A) 8-4 6 (-1) Cavemen derailed in 5A quarterfinals 

8. Lone Peak (6A) 7-5 7 (-1) Knights suffered some close losses

9. West (6A) 9-3 11 (+2) Panthers underseeded in 6A tournament

10. Syracuse (6A) 8-3 12 (+2) Titans win Region 1 title, fall to Lone Peak

11. Morgan (3A) 13-0 15 (+4) Trojans dominated 3A competition

12. Stansbury (5A) 12-1 8 (-4) Stallions lone loss was to Lehi

13. Davis (6A) 8-4 18 (+5) Darts stopped by Skyridge in 6A quarterfinal

14. Pleasant Grove (6A) 6-6 17 (+3) Viking losses were to stellar programs

15. Riverton (6A) 7-5 30 (+15) Silverwolves had solid season

16. Orem (5A) 8-5 22 (+6) Tigers made nice playoff run

17. Alta (5A) 6-6 43 (+26) Hawks stunned Springville in 5A playoffs

18. Springville (5A) 8-2 9 (-9) Red Devils dreams derailed by Alta

19. Bountiful (5A) 7-3 13 (-6) Solid season upended by Orem

20. Desert Hills (4A) 10-3 34 (+14) Tigers get redemption, win 4A state title

21. Crimson Cliffs (4A) 10-3 14 (-7) Lost to rival Desert Hills in 4A championship

22. Grantsville (3A) 10-2 20 (-2) Both losses to 3A champs Morgan

23. Box Elder (5A) 9-4 28 (+5) Bees made nice playoff run scaring Lehi

24. Olympus (5A) 7-6 41 (+17) Titans played well at end of season

25. Brighton (5A) 9-2 10 (-15) Bengals upended by Olympus in 5A playoffs

26. Provo (5A) 6-4 21 (-5) Bulldogs fell to Box Elder in 5A playoffs

27. East (5A) 7-5 23 (-4) Ran into Timpview juggernaut

28. Park City (5A) 8-3 24 (-4) Solid season ended by Lehi

29. Wasatch (5A) 5-7 48 (+19) Wasps had magical 5A playoff run

30. Spanish Fork (5A) 7-3 16 (-14) Dons done in by Wasatch in 5A playoffs

31. Ridgeline (4A) 8-5 33 (+2) Riverhawks make 4A semifinals

32. Woods Cross (5A) 6-5 27 (-5) A victim of Wasatch’s playoff magic

33. Snow Canyon (4A) 6-4 25 (-8) Started strong but ran out of momentum

34. Mountain Ridge (6A) 7-5 31 (-3) Sentinels had winning year

35. West Jordan (6A) 6-4 32 (-3) Jaguars crushed by West in 6A playoffs

36. Cedar Valley (5A) 8-4 36 (NC) Nice season for Aviator program

37. Mountain Crest (4A) 8-5 46 (+9) Mustangs make 4A semifinals

38. Payson (5A) 7-4 37 (-1) Magical season ended by Olympus

39. Timpanogos (5A) 7-4 40 (+1) Second solid season in a row

40. San Juan (2A) 13-0 50 (+10) 2A state champions for second straight year

41. Bonneville (5A) 6-4 35 (-6) Lakers first playoff victim for Alta

42. Dixie (4A) 6-4 29 (-13) Flyer season ended early in 4A playoffs

43. Westlake (6A) 2-9 45 (-2) Much better team than record

44. Sky View (4A) 6-5 44 (NC) Bobcats had off year compared to last few

45. Layton (6A) 6-5 56 (+11) Secured another first round playoff win

46. Juab (3A) 12-1 42 (-4) 3A runner-up to Morgan

47. Fremont (6A) 4-8 55 (+8) Playoff win despite disappointing season

48. Weber (6A) 3-9 60 (+12) Warriors able to win a 6A playoff game

49. Roy (6A) 7-4 26 (-23) Season came to a sudden end vs. Weber

50. Herriman (6A) 4-7 39 (-11) Mustangs didn’t have traction in 2022

51. Viewmont (5A) 4-6 47 (-4) Last half of season was a disaster

52. Skyline (5A) 4-7 49 (-3) Eagle program struggling

53. Cedar City (3A) 4-7 59 (+6) Reds made 4A quarterfinals

54. Logan (4A) 5-6 51 (-3) Some positives in Grizzly program

55. Granger (6A) 5-5 38 (-17) Fell to Fremont in 6A first round

56. Highland (5A) 3-8 61 (+5) Played Box Elder tough in 5A playoffs

57. Layton Christian (1A) 10-3 65 (+8) Won 1A title in convincing fashion

58. Canyon View (3A) 8-4 62 (+4) Falcons made 3A semifinals

59. Kearns (6A) 2-9 53 (-6) Rough season for Cougars

60. Hunter (6A) 2-8 57 (-3) Wolverine program struggling

61. Richfield (3A) 7-5 68 (+7) Season ended by Canyon View

62. North Sanpete (3A) 5-7 66 (+4) Lost in 3A quarterfinals to Grantsville

63. Kanab (1A) 10-3 73 (+10) Lost in 1A championship

64. Beaver (2A) 8-5 76 (+12) Nice run in 2A playoffs ended by San Juan

65. Cyprus (6A) 4-7 58 (-7) Pirates won some games in 2022

66. Salem Hills (5A) 2-8 64 (-2) Second off-season by Skyhawks

67. South Summit (2A) 11-1 54 (-13) Upended by Beaver in 2A semifinals

68. Emery (2A) 7-4 70 (+2) Lost shootout to San Juan in 3A semifinals

69. Juan Diego (3A) 6-6 52 (-17) Soaring Eagle had some ups and downs

70. Manti (3A) 5-7 63 (-7) Templars made 3A quarterfinals

71. Bear River (4A) 3-8 67 (-4) Bears better than record

72. Enterprise (1A) 11-1 69 (-3) Dream season ended by Kanab

73. Copper Hills (6A) 2-9 75 (+2) Grizzlies have another tough season

74. Green Canyon (4A) 1-9 83 (+9) Disappointing season for Wolfpack

75. Northridge (5A) 2-8 72 (-3) Tough year for the Knights

76. Milford (1A) 8-4 80 (+4) Tigers made 1A semifinals

77. Duchesne (1A) 5-6 84 (+7) Season not up to recent Eagle standards

78. Taylorsville (6A) 2-8 78 (NC) Warriors hit wall early in season

79. Maple Mountain (5A) 1-9 79 (NC) Golden Eagles had difficult season

80. Union (3A) 3-8 74 (-6) Cougars did beat rival Uintah

81. Uintah (5A) 4-7 77 (-4) Utes made 5A playoffs but lost to Orem

82. Summit Academy (2A) 6-6 89 (+7) So-so season for charter school

83. Ogden (3A) 3-7 71 (-12) Tigers had some wins early in season

84. Jordan (5A) 2-8 86 (+2) Cannon fodder for powerful Region 7 teams

85. Providence Hall (2A) 5-6 88 (-3) Patriots had some nice wins in 2022

86. Tooele (5A) 2-8 81 (-5) Rough season for Buffalo fans

87. Hurricane (4A) 2-9 82 (-5) Tigers lost among Region 10 elite

88. Cottonwood (Ind.) 2-8 85 (-3) Will Cottonwood stay independent?

89. Ben Lomond (3A) 3-8 87 (-2) Three wins for Scots is a success

90. Delta (2A) 4-8 95 (+5) Rabbit program struggling in recent years

91. Mountain View (5A) 1-9 94 (+3) Lone win came against Hillcrest

92. Gunnison (1A-8) 8-4 90 (-2) First 8-player state champion

93. North Sevier (1A) 5-6 91 (-2) Better season than usual for Wolfpack

94. Clearfield (6A) 0-10 96 (+2) Another tough year for Falcons

95. Pine View (4A) 0-9 92 (-3) Uncharted rough waters for storied program

96. Carbon (3A) 2-9 97 (+1) Two wins for Dinos is some progress

97. Millard (2A) 2-9 98 (+1) Proud program in tough times

98. North Summit (2A) 3-8 93 (-5) Brave season didn’t get going

99. South Sevier (2A) 4-8 99 (NC) Ram program struggling generally

100. Murray (5A) 0-10 101 (+1) Really rough year for Spartan program

101. Hillcrest (5A) 0-10 103 (+2) Husky program struggling in 5A as well

102. Judge Memorial (2A) 4-7 102 (NC) Bulk of wins came early in season

103. Monticello (1A-8) 4-2 104 (+1) Made 8-player championship game

104. Rich (1A-8) 5-7 100 (-5) Heartbreaking loss to Monticello ends year

105. Grand (2A) 2-9 105 (NC) Two wins is step up over last season

106. Parowan (1A) 1-9 106 (NC) Rams took a step back in 2022

107. ALA (2A) 0-11 108 (+1) Eagles suffered through miserable season

108. Altamont (1A-8) 2-3 107 (-1) School brings football program back in 2022

109. Water Canyon (1A-8) 2-8 109 (NC) Wildcats make gridiron debut in 2022

110. Whitehorse (1A-8) 1-2 110 (NC) Season ended by Water Canyon

111. Mon. Valley (1A-8) 1-4 111 (NC) Lost to rival Whitehorse this season

112. USDB (1A-8) 0-3 112  (NC) School started football program in 2022

Utah County Rankings: 1. Lehi (#1) 2. Skyridge (#2) 3. Timpview (#4) 4. American Fork (#7) 5. Lone Peak (#8) 6. Pleasant Grove (#14) 7. Orem (#16) 8. Springville (#18) 9. Provo (#26) 10. Spanish Fork (#30) 11. Cedar Valley (#36) 12. Payson (#38) 13. Timpanogos (#39) 14. Westlake (#43) 15. Salem Hills (#66) 16. Maple Mountain (#79) 17. Mountain View (#91) 18. ALA (#107).

Notes: Congrats to the community of Lehi who crowned two state champions in football with Lehi (5A) and Skyridge (6A). The poll results might cause some division among the town but Lehi gets the top spot by just a sliver.

Lehi defended its state title, won 19 games in a row and beat the only team (on the road) that beat Skyridge in Corner Canyon. Lehi and Skyridge had three games against common opponents and Lehi was 3-0 and Skyridge 2-1. Skyridge got a nice 10 point win over Corner Canyon in the rematch. This was a tough call and perhaps both teams could be made co-number ones, but there is now way Lehi should have the top spot taken away without losing a game.

It was a pretty tough call even for the third spot. Both Corner Canyon and Timpview have identical 10-3 records, but both played Skyridge and Corner Canyon did get that win on the road against the Falcons while Timpview lost a close one at home.

But all in all, another great year for Utah County football with three teams in the top five and five teams in the top ten with American Fork and Lone Peak at the seven and eight positions respectively.

Both the 5A and 6A state title games produced the top two teams in the classification in the finals, though the 5A bracket was a bit blown up overall.

Four number two seeds actually won state titles with Skyridge (6A), Desert Hills (4A)  Morgan (3A) and San Juan (2A). Three top seeds came through with Lehi (5A), Layton Christian (1A) and Gunnison (1A-8-player). The last few years in 5A, the winner of the state title hasn’t been from the top seeds until 2022. Orem won a state title from its No. 12 seed in the RPI’s first season of use.

Three schools that really blew up the 5A bracket were Alta (No. 19 seed), Olympus (No. 21) and Wasatch (No. 23).

The Wasps were the lowest seed since the RPI was instituted to win two playoff games. Box Elder did win one game from its No. 24 seed in 2021. Wasatch beat number No. 10 seed Woods Cross and then No. 7 seed Spanish Fork before running into Timpview in the quarterfinals.

Alta pulled off the biggest stunner of the 5A tourney beating No. 3 Springville but before that the Hawks upset No. 14 Bonneville. Before No. 21 seed Olympus upset its rival Brighton in the second round, the Titans ended the Cinderella season of Payson, the No. 12 seed.

Another upset was No. 9 Box Elder taking down No. 8 seed Provo. This was the second meeting between the two schools in 2022 as Provo won the first game in overtime. But the Bees showed they were legit, giving Lehi a good scare in the quarterfinals before falling 28-21.

The 6A was a bit more chalk but Lone Peak (No. 11)  pulled off a win against Syracuse (No. 6) in the second round while West (No. 9) took No. 8 seed West Jordan to the woodshed, 45-0. It is the opinion here that the Panthers were grossly underseeded in the 6A tournament, probably deserving at least a fifth or sixth seed. But this once-proud program which has struggled a bit in this millennium seems to be heading back in the right direction.

Pleasant Grove, Orem and Springville still made the top 20 in the Preece Power Poll. The Vikings were just 6-6 but their losses this year were to Skyridge, Corner Canyon, American Fork, Lone Peak, Bingham and Farmington. The Vikings also pummeled 5A semifinalist Orem 63-0.

Orem played some good football at the end of the season ending Alta’s magical run with a late field goal before losing to rival Timpview in the semifinals. And Springville, though upset by Alta, had a solid 8-2 year.

One has to wonder if the Red Devils, and Provo, were both a bit rusty. Both got byes to the second round and neither played in the last week of the regular season meaning both teams didn’t play a game for nearly three weeks. Both came out slow in their playoff games, especially Springville that was blitzed by the Hawks trailing 31-0 at half before eventually losing 34-27.

There were plenty of redemption stories. Of course, the headliner is Skyridge taking down Corner 17-7 to win the 6A final. But across the valley and the state here are some teams that won their rematches: Wasatch over Spanish Fork, Mountain Ridge over Westlake, Box Elder over Provo, Olympus over Brighton, Desert Hills over Crimson Cliffs to win the 4A championship, and Kanab over Enterprise in the 1A semifinals to ruin the Wolves’ perfect season.

Morgan is the highest ranked small-school team at No. 11 and the Trojans are darn good. They beat returning 3A champ Grantsville handily twice, and the Cowboys beat Provo this season. In the 3A championship they pounded unbeaten (at that time) Juab, 55-3.

What teams actually gained the most in the recent power poll? Alta moved up 26 spots to lead in that category though Wasatch improved 19 positions and Olympus 17.

The biggest decliner in the poll was Roy which slid 23 positions. Granger and Juan Diego both moved down 17 spots while Spanish Fork led Utah County teams in slippage, moving down 14 positions in the poll.

Finally, with 8-player football universally being called a success, how many more 1A programs will start up programs. St. Joseph’s has announced it will begin a program with former Utah State Aggie Jeremy Hunt-Loveless as their head coach.

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