High school football: 1A/8-Player Quarterfinal previews

1A Quarterfinals

No. 9 Parowan (2-9) at No. 1 Duchesne (9-1)

• 1A quarterfinals
• Friday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m.
• Parry’s Power Guide: Duchesne by 58
• All-time series: Duchesne leads 16-4 since 1989
• Last meeting: Duchesne won 40-20 at Duchesne (Sept. 30, 2022)

What Parowan needs to do to win

Parowan comes in playing its best football. The Rams lost 39-35 at North Sevier on Oct. 15, then went back to the same field eight days later and won 47-6 in the first round. That was their highest-scoring game of the season and their first win since Sept. 11.

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Parowan’s record looks worse than its season has been. Four of its nine losses came by a combined 15 points: 35-28 at Lincoln County (Nev.), 30-27 to 2A ALA, 15-14 at 1A Milford and 39-35 at North Sevier. The Rams also beat No. 7 seed Gunnison Valley 15-7. Against the rest of the 1A quarterfinal field, though, they were shut out four times: 45-0 at North Summit, 49-0 at Kanab, 49-0 at Beaver and 48-0 to Enterprise. Duchesne beat all four of those teams.

To pull the upset, Parowan has to shorten the game and protect the ball. Tyrel Vest (517 yards, 8 TDs) needs enough carries for long drives that keep Duchesne’s offense on the sideline. Turnovers are the biggest risk. Parowan’s quarterbacks have thrown 14 interceptions, and Tyson Bettridge completes 39% of his passes. Duchesne’s defense has 19 interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns, so every mistake could turn into points. When Bettridge does connect, it’s usually a big play: he averages 16.2 yards per completion. Gradey Osborne (17.9 yards per catch) and Benson Haynie (5 TDs) are his best targets. On defense, Hagen Evans (69 tackles) and Cooper Heath (65) have to tackle well against a Duchesne running game that averages 7.5 yards per carry.

What Duchesne needs to do to win

Duchesne just needs to play the way it has all season. The Eagles lead 1A in scoring offense (43.6 ppg) and scoring defense (8.4 ppg), and they won the 1A North outright at 4-0. Their only loss was 18-13 at South Summit, a 2A quarterfinalist, in the season opener. They’ve won nine straight since.

Duchesne went 6-0 against the other 1A quarterfinalists and outscored them 226-59. That includes a 24-15 win at Beaver, the team that knocked Duchesne out in last year’s semifinals, and a 28-0 win over No. 2 seed Kanab. The Eagles have held eight of 10 opponents to 15 points or fewer and have three shutouts. Outside 1A, they beat 4A Cottonwood 69-0 and Ignacio, Colo., 73-0.

The running game leads the offense. Duchesne has run the ball 333 times and passed 112 times, and it has 45 rushing touchdowns. Kyson Despain has 1,391 yards and 20 touchdowns at 7.3 yards per carry. Brex Robinson is the team’s most versatile player. He has run for 659 yards and 16 touchdowns, thrown for 825 yards and eight touchdowns while completing 68.2% of his passes, and on defense leads the team with four interceptions. He also has a defensive touchdown and a return touchdown, for 26 total touchdowns. Kache Reilley also plays both ways: five sacks, three interceptions, two defensive touchdowns and three touchdown catches. Jackson Stansfield and Eli Lefler have six sacks each, part of a 26-sack defense.

Duchesne has seven state titles, but its last one was in 2020. The winner plays the North Summit–Millard winner. Duchesne beat North Summit 56-21 and Millard 35-3 this season.

Parowan statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 17.0 ppg (9th in 1A)
• Scoring defense: 33.4 ppg (8th in 1A)
• Passing leader: Tyson Bettridge (73-187, 39.0%, 1,181 yards, 9 TDs, 12 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Tyrel Vest (98 carries, 517 yards, 8 TDs), Tyson Bettridge (71 carries, 173 yards, 2 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Gradey Osborne (20 rec., 358 yards, 3 TDs), Benson Haynie (18 rec., 279 yards, 5 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Hagen Evans (69 tackles), Cooper Heath (65 tackles), Maddox Finley (56 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Hagen Evans (2 sacks), Tyler Meibos (2 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Benson Haynie (2 INTs), Gradey Osborne (2 INTs)

Duchesne statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 43.6 ppg (1st in 1A)
• Scoring defense: 8.4 ppg (1st in 1A)
• Passing leader: Brex Robinson (75-110, 68.2%, 825 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Kyson Despain (190 carries, 1,391 yards, 20 TDs), Brex Robinson (88 carries, 659 yards, 16 TDs), Brigg Gardner (25 carries, 234 yards, 5 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Kanden Cowan (13 rec., 216 yards, 2 TDs), Blaine Hoopes (15 rec., 212 yards)
• Tackles leaders: Jackson Stansfield (43 tackles), Brex Robinson (43 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Jackson Stansfield (6 sacks), Eli Lefler (6 sacks), Kache Reilley (5 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Brex Robinson (4 INTs), Kache Reilley (3 INTs), Kanden Cowan (3 INTs)

No. 5 Millard (5-5) at No. 4 North Summit (6-4)

• 1A quarterfinals
• Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.
• Parry’s Power Guide: North Summit by 5
• All-time series: Millard leads 17-11 since 1964
• Last meeting: North Summit won 17-14 at North Summit (Oct. 9, 2026, 1A North)

What Millard needs to do to win

Millard needs a low-scoring game. It has played one already. Three weeks ago the Eagles led North Summit 14-3 going into the fourth quarter at Coalville. North Summit then threw two touchdown passes, the last with 1:30 left, and won 17-14. That came a year after North Summit beat Millard 18-14 in last year’s quarterfinals. The last two games between these teams were decided by a combined seven points.

Defense is how Millard wins. The Eagles have held five opponents to 17 points or fewer. That includes 2A South Sevier (22-8), Enterprise (21-7) and Gunnison Valley, which they beat 14-10 in the regular-season finale. Christian Briceno and Mason Wardle have two interceptions and a defensive touchdown each. Wardle is also the team’s big-play receiver: he averages 29.3 yards per catch and has four touchdown catches.

The offense is the concern. Millard averages 19.5 points per game, seventh in 1A, and runs for 4.2 yards per carry. Jensen Davies does most of the work. He has thrown 170 passes and run 132 times, leading the team with nine rushing touchdowns, and he also leads the defense with 52 tackles. Stetson Stott (520 yards) gives him help in the running game. To pull the upset, Davies has to protect the ball. He has thrown 10 interceptions, and North Summit’s defense has 14. Millard also has to stay ahead in the fourth quarter this time. Millard has 13 state titles, more than any other team in the bracket, but its last one was in 2001.

What North Summit needs to do to win

North Summit needs to run the ball the way it has all season. The Braves average 5.9 yards per carry and have 18 rushing touchdowns. Kason Richins leads them with 754 yards and eight touchdowns at 7.5 yards per carry, and Knox Woolstenhulme has added five touchdowns. Richins also leads the defense with 89 tackles and has a defensive touchdown.

The Braves went 4-3 against the other 1A quarterfinalists. Their wins were 14-13 at Enterprise, 45-0 over Parowan, 47-0 over Gunnison Valley and the 17-14 comeback against Millard. Their losses came against the top three seeds: 29-24 at Kanab, 30-6 to Beaver and 56-21 at Duchesne. They also lost 45-14 to 2A South Summit. North Summit has held five opponents to 14 points or fewer and allows 21.4 points per game, fifth in 1A. It averages 25.7 points per game, fourth in 1A.

North Summit splits time at quarterback. Cru Richins has thrown for 1,041 yards and eight touchdowns. Tayton Pace has completed 65.9% of his passes for 640 yards and five touchdowns, and he threw both fourth-quarter touchdown passes against Millard. They’ve combined for 15 interceptions, so ball security is the main concern. Both also play defense. Pace leads the team with five interceptions, and Cru Richins has four, plus a defensive touchdown and a return touchdown. Zach Ernst (433 yards) is the top receiver.

Dalton Ross is a North Summit graduate who spent 10 years as an assistant at the school. In his first season as head coach, the Braves are trying to get back to the semifinals, where they lost to Kanab last year. The winner plays the Duchesne–Parowan winner. Duchesne beat North Summit 56-21 and Millard 35-3 this season.

Millard statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 19.5 ppg (7th in 1A)
• Scoring defense: 21.9 ppg (7th in 1A)
• Passing leader: Jensen Davies (82-170, 48.2%, 1,069 yards, 4 TDs, 10 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Stetson Stott (115 carries, 520 yards, 5 TDs), Jensen Davies (132 carries, 463 yards, 9 TDs), Sner Diaz (39 carries, 224 yards, 1 TD)
• Receiving leaders: John Noyes (19 rec., 330 yards, 1 TD), Mason Wardle (8 rec., 234 yards, 4 TDs), Christian Briceno (20 rec., 220 yards)
• Tackles leaders: Jensen Davies (52 tackles), Gael Gutierrez (44 tackles), Christian Briceno (40 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Boston Leugers (2 sacks), Gael Gutierrez, Aaron Vega and Rolan Pikyavit (1 sack each)
• Interception leaders: Christian Briceno, Mason Wardle and Cyson Kunz (2 INTs each)

North Summit statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 25.7 ppg (4th in 1A)
• Scoring defense: 21.4 ppg (5th in 1A)
• Passing leaders: Cru Richins (79-137, 57.7%, 1,041 yards, 8 TDs, 7 INTs), Tayton Pace (54-82, 65.9%, 640 yards, 5 TDs, 8 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Kason Richins (101 carries, 754 yards, 8 TDs), Knox Woolstenhulme (48 carries, 282 yards, 5 TDs), Cru Richins (42 carries, 168 yards, 3 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Zach Ernst (30 rec., 433 yards, 2 TDs), Knox Woolstenhulme (23 rec., 332 yards, 2 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Kason Richins (89 tackles), Cael Blonquist (81 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Lane Bushman (4 sacks), Traxton Olsen (3 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Tayton Pace (5 INTs), Cru Richins (4 INTs)

No. 7 Gunnison Valley (4-5) at No. 2 Kanab (7-3)

• 1A quarterfinals
• Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.
• Parry’s Power Guide: Kanab by 39
• All-time series: Kanab leads 9-2 since 2001
• Last meeting: Kanab won 49-0 at Kanab (Oct. 31, 2025, 1A quarterfinals)

What Gunnison Valley needs to do to win

Gunnison Valley needs a low-scoring game. Three of the Bulldogs’ five losses came by eight points or fewer: 21-14 to Rich in the opener, 15-7 at Parowan and 14-10 to Millard in the regular-season finale. In the Parowan and Millard games, the defense held both teams to 15 points or fewer, so the Bulldogs can keep a game close.

Their wins came against teams outside the top of the 1A bracket. They won 22-18 at 2A Providence Hall, beat Grand 43-6, beat 1A Milford 42-13 and shut out North Sevier 48-0. Against the other 1A quarterfinalists, they’re 0-4 and have been outscored 139-31. That includes a 47-0 loss at North Summit and a 63-14 loss at Duchesne.

The common opponents show how big the gap is. Kanab beat Millard 42-6, North Summit 29-24 and Parowan 49-0, and Gunnison Valley lost to all three. Both teams lost to Duchesne, Kanab by 28 and Gunnison Valley by 49.

To pull the upset, Gunnison Valley has to take advantage of Kanab’s recent problems on offense. The Cowboys scored seven points combined in their last two games, a 28-0 loss at Duchesne and a 17-7 loss at 2A Summit Academy. If the Bulldogs can slow down Kanab’s running game, force Grady Anderson to throw (57.6% completions, 7 INTs) and win the turnover battle, they can keep it within one score late. Chance Hammond leads the team with four rushing touchdowns and also has a defensive score. Daxton Knudsen has five touchdown catches. The Bulldogs have also had two weeks off since Oct. 16 to prepare. The program has come a long way in a short time. Gunnison Valley won Utah’s first 8-player state title in 2022, went 0-9 two years ago and is now making its second straight playoff trip under Austin Jackson.

What Kanab needs to do to win

Kanab needs to play the way it did before the last two weeks. The defending 1A champions beat Beaver 24-13 in last year’s title game. This year they won the 1A South outright at 3-0 and went 5-1 against the other 1A quarterfinalists. They beat Millard 42-6, North Summit 29-24, Beaver 14-7, Parowan 49-0 and Enterprise 35-14. Their only 1A loss was at top-seeded Duchesne. The other two losses came against 2A teams, 54-7 to San Juan and 17-7 at Summit Academy.

The running game drives the offense. Kanab averages 6.5 yards per carry and has 28 rushing touchdowns, and four players have at least 298 rushing yards. Degan Swapp leads the team with 10 rushing touchdowns. Latimer Glover has 411 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and he’s also the leading receiver (583 yards). Anderson does a bit of everything. He has thrown for 1,408 yards and nine touchdowns and leads the team in rushing (561 yards, 9.2 yards per carry, 7 TDs). On defense, he leads the team in tackles (78), has two interceptions and has scored a defensive touchdown. Brennan Orton averages 21.4 yards per catch and leads the team with four interceptions.

Kanab’s defense allows 16.3 points per game, third in 1A. It has held six opponents to 14 points or fewer, with shutouts of North Sevier and Parowan. It has 15 interceptions as a team.

The main concern is getting the offense going again after two straight losses. Both losses came against strong teams, Duchesne and Summit Academy. Kanab is the better running team in this matchup, and if the run game works early, this game should look more like the Cowboys’ 5-1 record against 1A playoff teams. JR Quarnberg is in his seventh season at his alma mater, and Kanab is trying to win back-to-back titles for the first time since 1985-87. The winner likely plays the Beaver–Enterprise winner. Kanab beat both of them this season, including Beaver, the team it beat in last year’s championship game.

Gunnison Valley statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 22.2 ppg (6th in 1A)
• Scoring defense: 21.9 ppg (6th in 1A)
• Passing leaders: Axton Sorensen (3 TDs), Ryder Donaldson (2 TDs)
• Rushing leaders: Chance Hammond (4 TDs), Mccoy Coates (3 TDs), Dillon Dyreng (3 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Daxton Knudsen (5 TDs), Brody Knudsen (2 TDs)

Kanab statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 28.2 ppg (2nd in 1A)
• Scoring defense: 16.3 ppg (3rd in 1A)
• Passing leader: Grady Anderson (83-144, 57.6%, 1,408 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Grady Anderson (61 carries, 561 yards, 7 TDs), Degan Swapp (81 carries, 507 yards, 10 TDs), Latimer Glover (60 carries, 411 yards, 7 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Latimer Glover (36 rec., 583 yards, 3 TDs), Brennan Orton (23 rec., 493 yards, 3 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Grady Anderson (78 tackles), Kaleb Warner (75 tackles), Latimer Glover (72 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Latimer Glover, Degan Swapp and Tavin Glazier (2 sacks each)
• Interception leaders: Brennan Orton (4 INTs), Latimer Glover (3 INTs)

No. 6 Enterprise (5-5) at No. 3 Beaver (6-4)

• 1A quarterfinals
• Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.
• Parry’s Power Guide: Beaver by 13
• All-time series: Beaver leads 22-6 since 1997
• Last meeting: Beaver won 15-11 at Enterprise (Oct. 15, 2026, 1A South)

What Enterprise needs to do to win

Enterprise’s defense gives it a chance in almost any game. The Wolves allow 14.5 points per game, second in 1A behind Duchesne. Eight of their 10 opponents scored 21 points or fewer, and they shut out Milford and Parowan. They held Duchesne to 20 points, the Eagles’ second-lowest total of the season.

Enterprise has lost two very close games. It lost 14-13 to North Summit in the opener, and two weeks ago it led Beaver 11-8 at halftime before losing 15-11. Those two losses came by a combined five points. The Wolves also beat two 2A teams: South Sevier 28-12 and Emery 26-14.

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The problem is scoring against good teams. Against the other 1A quarterfinalists, Enterprise is 1-5. Without the 48-0 win at Parowan, it averaged 10.2 points in those games. Beaver held the Wolves to 11 points, and Kanab beat them 35-14.

To pull the upset, Enterprise needs another low-scoring game and needs to finish it this time. Jake Christensen has 11 total touchdowns, 10 rushing and one receiving. Jack Moyle has thrown seven touchdown passes and run for four more. Keith Albrecht is the biggest playmaker: he has two touchdown catches, a defensive touchdown and a return touchdown. One big play from Albrecht could decide a close game. Dylan Liebetrau has made three field goals and kicked one against Beaver, so in a close game he could matter too.

What Beaver needs to do to win

Beaver needs to keep running the ball and playing good defense. The Beavers have won four straight games by a combined 121-24. That run includes a 30-6 win at North Summit, a 27-7 win over 3A North Sanpete and the 15-11 win at Enterprise. They went 4-2 against the other 1A quarterfinalists. Their only losses in that group came against the top two seeds: 24-15 to Duchesne and 14-7 to Kanab. Their other losses were to 2A San Juan (52-22) and at Moapa Valley, Nev. (27-21).

Common opponents favor Beaver. Beaver beat Millard 32-20 and North Summit 30-6, and Enterprise lost to both. Beaver lost to Duchesne by nine points and Kanab by seven. Enterprise lost to Duchesne by 14 and Kanab by 21.

Beaver runs the ball far more than it throws: 392 carries to 148 passes. It averages 5.5 yards per carry and has 26 rushing touchdowns. Davis Carter has 19 total touchdowns. He’s run for 657 yards and 10 touchdowns and thrown for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns. Trey Bradshaw (576 yards) and Leonardo De Leon (342) also carry the ball. Emmet Lurth plays nearly everywhere. He has 55 catches for 880 yards and six touchdowns, averages 7.2 yards per carry, is the team’s kicker (27 points) and has 56 tackles on defense. Brandon Benson leads the defense with 88 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions.

The concern is that Beaver’s offense has struggled against Enterprise once already. The Beavers scored 15 points and trailed at halftime. Carter has thrown seven interceptions, and Enterprise’s offense isn’t good enough to come back from a big deficit, so turnovers are the Wolves’ best hope. Beaver lost to Kanab in last year’s championship game after winning titles in 2023 and 2024. Jon Marshall, who has also coached Beaver’s girls basketball team for 30 years, has won four state titles in football at Beaver, including back-to-back 13-0 seasons in 2019 and 2020. His team is getting better at the right time. The winner plays the Kanab–Gunnison Valley winner. Kanab beat Beaver 14-7 and Enterprise 35-14 this season.

Enterprise statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 24.7 ppg (5th in 1A)
• Scoring defense: 14.5 ppg (2nd in 1A)
• Passing leaders: Jack Moyle (7 TDs), Easton Hill (2 TDs)
• Rushing leaders: Jake Christensen (10 TDs), Jack Moyle (4 TDs), Rigz Anzalone (3 TDs), Brannoc Davidson (3 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Rigz Anzalone (3 TDs), Brannoc Davidson (2 TDs), Keith Albrecht (2 TDs)

Beaver statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 26.8 ppg (3rd in 1A)
• Scoring defense: 20.1 ppg (4th in 1A)
• Passing leader: Davis Carter (75-145, 51.7%, 1,040 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Davis Carter (120 carries, 657 yards, 10 TDs), Trey Bradshaw (105 carries, 576 yards, 5 TDs), Leonardo De Leon (66 carries, 342 yards, 4 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Emmet Lurth (55 rec., 880 yards, 6 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Brandon Benson (88 tackles), Zack Benson (79 tackles), Trey Bradshaw (70 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Brandon Benson (5 sacks), Marshall Williams (4 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Brandon Benson (3 INTs), Leonardo De Leon (3 INTs), Davis Carter (2 INTs)

8-Player Quarterfinals

No. 8 St. Joseph (4-6) at No. 1 Rich (7-3)

• 1A 8-player quarterfinals
• Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.
• Parry’s Power Guide: Rich by 43
• Last meeting: Rich won 71-40 at St. Joseph (Oct. 17, 2025)

What St. Joseph needs to do to win

St. Joseph can score with anyone. The Jayhawks average 44.4 points per game, third in 8-player, and they set a season high in last week’s 84-30 first-round win over Altamont. Keenan Campbell has thrown 27 touchdown passes. Ryan Castaneda has 19 total touchdowns, 18 of them rushing. Izaiah Hebert has 11 touchdown catches, and Quinn Vasquez has 10 total touchdowns.

Defense is the problem. St. Joseph allows 49.9 points per game, and it gave up 94 to Water Canyon and 64 to Monticello. The teams’ two common opponents favor Rich. Rich beat Camp Williams 49-20, while St. Joseph won 47-28. Rich beat Altamont 47-18, while St. Joseph split two games with the Longhorns. To pull off the upset, St. Joseph needs a shootout. Rich has held seven of 10 opponents to 20 points or fewer, so the Jayhawks would have to score more than anyone has against the Rebels this season.

What Rich needs to do to win

Rich has won three straight 8-player state titles and is trying to win a fourth. The Rebels allow 21.3 points per game, best in 8-player. They went 3-0 against 8-player opponents, all by at least 29 points: 65-19 at Milford, 47-18 over Altamont and 49-20 over Camp Williams. All three of their losses came against bigger schools or out-of-state teams: 28-20 to 1A North Summit, 14-13 at Mountain View (Wyo.) and 55-27 at 2A South Sevier. Rich also beat 1A quarterfinalist Gunnison Valley 21-14.

Wilkes Weston leads the offense. He has run for 902 yards and 15 touchdowns and thrown for 1,280 yards and 23 touchdowns, for 38 total touchdowns. Bode O’Mealy averages 30.8 yards per catch and has seven touchdown catches. Paxton Nicolodemos has eight touchdown catches, kicks extra points and has 54 tackles. Jasper Johnson averages 12 yards per carry and has scored nine touchdowns. The one concern is Weston’s 10 interceptions, since turnovers would give St. Joseph’s offense extra possessions. The winner plays the Water Canyon–Whitehorse winner.

St. Joseph statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 44.4 ppg (3rd in 8-player)
• Scoring defense: 49.9 ppg (10th in 8-player)
• Passing leader: Keenan Campbell (27 TDs)
• Rushing leaders: Ryan Castaneda (18 TDs), Quinn Vasquez (3 TDs), Ryker Christenson (3 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Izaiah Hebert (11 TDs), Quinn Vasquez (7 TDs), Hunter Roberts (5 TDs)

Rich statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 37.7 ppg (4th in 8-player)
• Scoring defense: 21.3 ppg (1st in 8-player)
• Passing leader: Wilkes Weston (73-124, 58.9%, 1,280 yards, 23 TDs, 10 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Wilkes Weston (137 carries, 902 yards, 15 TDs), Brady Cornia (46 carries, 477 yards, 3 TDs), Jasper Johnson (25 carries, 300 yards, 6 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Paxton Nicolodemos (25 rec., 362 yards, 8 TDs), Bode O’Mealy (12 rec., 369 yards, 7 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Nash Parry (54 tackles), Paxton Nicolodemos (54 tackles), Wyatt O’Mealy (49 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Wilkes Weston (4 sacks), Bailey Weston (3 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Nash Parry, Paxton Nicolodemos and Bode O’Mealy (2 INTs each)

No. 5 Whitehorse (6-4) at No. 4 Water Canyon (7-3)

• 1A 8-player quarterfinals
• Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.
• Parry’s Power Guide: Water Canyon by 1
• Last meeting: Whitehorse won 62-32 at Water Canyon (Sept. 4, 2026)

What Whitehorse needs to do to win

Whitehorse has already won on this field. Eight weeks ago the Raiders beat Water Canyon 62-32. They average 32.9 points per game and allow 27, third-best in 8-player. They held five opponents to 14 points or fewer, including St. Joseph (36-12), Panguitch (46-6) and Monument Valley (40-8). All four of their losses came against good teams: Milford, Monticello, Grand and Camp Williams.

Water Canyon has changed since September, though. Most common opponents now favor the Wildcats. Water Canyon beat Camp Williams 12-7, while Whitehorse lost to them 41-30. Water Canyon lost to Grand by 15, while Whitehorse lost by 45. To win again, Whitehorse has to slow down a running game that averages more than 240 yards per game, and its offense has to score like it did in the first meeting. The Raiders reached the semifinals last year.

What Water Canyon needs to do to win

Water Canyon has had one of the biggest turnarounds in 8-player. The Wildcats went 3-8 last year. They’re 7-3 now and have won seven straight since the loss to Whitehorse, including 94-61 at St. Joseph and 36-15 over Panguitch. All three of their losses came in the first four weeks.

Alma Barlow is the main reason. He has run for 2,424 yards and 27 touchdowns at 13 yards per carry, and he also leads the defense with 82 tackles and six sacks. Deagan Williams has thrown for 1,276 yards and 14 touchdowns with only two interceptions, and he has run for eight more touchdowns. Gabe Cooke has nine touchdown catches, and Justin Cooke averages 26.4 yards per catch. Riley Barlow has 12 sacks and Enzign Barlow has eight. Water Canyon averages 45.2 points per game, second in 8-player. The concern is defense: Water Canyon allows 34.1 points per game, and Whitehorse scored 62 in the first meeting. The winner plays the Rich–St. Joseph winner.

Whitehorse statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 32.9 ppg (5th in 8-player)
• Scoring defense: 27.0 ppg (3rd in 8-player)
• Individual stats not provided

Water Canyon statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 45.2 ppg (2nd in 8-player)
• Scoring defense: 34.1 ppg (6th in 8-player)
• Passing leader: Deagan Williams (78-131, 59.5%, 1,276 yards, 14 TDs, 2 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Alma Barlow (187 carries, 2,424 yards, 27 TDs), Deagan Williams (46 carries, 504 yards, 8 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Justin Cooke (19 rec., 501 yards, 3 TDs), Gabe Cooke (21 rec., 456 yards, 9 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Alma Barlow (82 tackles), Justin Cooke (62 tackles), Riley Barlow (55 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Riley Barlow (12 sacks), Enzign Barlow (8 sacks), Alma Barlow (6 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Justin Cooke (2 INTs), Deagan Williams (2 INTs)

No. 10 Panguitch (4-6) at No. 2 Milford (5-4)

• 1A 8-player quarterfinals
• Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.
• Parry’s Power Guide: Milford by 53
• Last meeting: Milford won 95-20 at Milford (Aug. 15, 2025)

What Panguitch needs to do to win

In its second season of 8-player football, Panguitch has already won more than in its first. The Bobcats went 1-9 last year. This year they’re 4-6, and they won their first playoff game in the 8-player era last week, 43-24 at UMA Hill Field. Hill Field had beaten them 24-22 in September. Panguitch’s defense allows 22.9 points per game, second in 8-player, and it shut out Altamont 44-0. Three of the Bobcats’ losses came by six points or fewer.

The common opponents strongly favor Milford. Milford beat Camp Williams by 35, Hill Field by 45 and Whitehorse by 45. Panguitch lost to Camp Williams by five, split with Hill Field and lost to Whitehorse by 40. To pull off the upset, Panguitch needs a low-scoring game and turnovers. Milford quarterback Braxton Hansen has thrown 12 interceptions.

What Milford needs to do to win

Milford’s record understates how good it is. The Tigers lost last year’s 8-player championship game to Rich, and this season they’re 4-1 against 8-player teams. They have won five straight, including a 40-38 win at No. 3 seed Monticello. Three of their four losses came against bigger schools: 1A quarterfinalists Enterprise (35-0) and Gunnison Valley (42-13), and Lincoln County (Nev.), 42-35. The fourth was 65-19 to Rich. Milford also beat 1A Parowan 15-14.

Hansen has 29 total touchdowns: 15 passing and 14 rushing. Tayon Blackburn has run for 837 yards. Haze Marshall and Kamdon Spaulding are the top receivers, and Spaulding also has three interceptions and a defensive touchdown. Bradyn Carter has seven sacks. The concern is Hansen’s interceptions against a Panguitch defense that keeps scores low. Thane Marshall, in his 13th season, won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. The winner plays the Monticello–Camp Williams winner, and Milford beat both of them this season.

Panguitch statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 26.5 ppg (8th in 8-player)
• Scoring defense: 22.9 ppg (2nd in 8-player)
• No individual stats provided

Milford statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 30.9 ppg (7th in 8-player)
• Scoring defense: 29.7 ppg (5th in 8-player)
• Passing leader: Braxton Hansen (114-204, 55.9%, 1,411 yards, 15 TDs, 12 INTs)
• Rushing leaders: Tayon Blackburn (142 carries, 837 yards, 6 TDs), Braxton Hansen (78 carries, 509 yards, 14 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Kamdon Spaulding (24 rec., 418 yards, 4 TDs), Haze Marshall (25 rec., 399 yards, 5 TDs), Tyce Barnes (25 rec., 304 yards, 3 TDs)
• Tackles leaders: Slade Kesler (59 tackles), Bradyn Carter (55 tackles), Haze Marshall (44 tackles)
• Sack leaders: Bradyn Carter (7 sacks), Skyler Russell (3 sacks)
• Interception leaders: Kamdon Spaulding (3 INTs), Tyce Barnes (2 INTs)

No. 6 UMA Camp Williams (5-6) at No. 3 Monticello (7-2)

• 1A 8-player quarterfinals
• Friday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m.
• Parry’s Power Guide: Monticello by 35
• Last meeting: Monticello won 68-35 at Camp Williams (Aug. 21, 2026)

What Camp Williams needs to do to win

Camp Williams beat Monument Valley 45-16 in the first round for its first playoff win, a year after Milford shut it out 57-0 in the quarterfinals. The Marauders have a two-quarterback offense. James Sullivan has thrown 17 touchdown passes and run for six touchdowns. Jordan Gardner has run for 15 touchdowns and thrown for six. Tyler Muse has caught 20 of the team’s 23 touchdown passes.

Camp Williams lost the first meeting to Monticello by 33, and it lost to Milford and Rich by a combined 64 points. It did beat Whitehorse 41-30, and Monticello beat Whitehorse 48-12. To pull off the upset, Camp Williams has to run the ball with Gardner, keep Monticello’s passing game on the sideline and score on nearly every possession.

What Monticello needs to do to win

Monticello leads 8-player in scoring at 48.3 points per game. Cache Young has thrown 40 touchdown passes. Cash Mack has 13 touchdown catches and Brandtson Mack has 10 receiving touchdowns plus two rushing touchdowns. Arturo Gutierrez has six touchdown catches, and Miles Coleman has six rushing touchdowns. The Buckaroos’ only losses were 40-38 to Milford and 52-34 at Norwood (Colo.). Their wins include 57-20 at Water Canyon, 48-12 at Whitehorse and 64-36 over St. Joseph.

The concern is defense. Monticello allows 28.7 points per game, and Camp Williams scored 35 against it in August. Monticello hasn’t played since Oct. 15 because of its first-round bye, and Reed Anderson’s team has to avoid starting slowly. Last year the Buckaroos lost to Milford 83-24 in the semifinals. The winner plays the Milford–Panguitch winner.

Read more BYU-Utah rivalry matchup will have a morning kickoff

UMA Camp Williams statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 31.6 ppg (6th in 8-player)
• Scoring defense: 34.3 ppg (7th in 8-player)
• Passing leaders: James Sullivan (17 TDs), Jordan Gardner (6 TDs)
• Rushing leaders: Jordan Gardner (15 TDs), James Sullivan (6 TDs), Justin Osamudiamen (3 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Tyler Muse (20 TDs), Jhonatan Jerez (2 TDs)

Monticello statistical breakdown

• Scoring offense: 48.3 ppg (1st in 8-player)
• Scoring defense: 28.7 ppg (4th in 8-player)
• Passing leader: Cache Young (40 TDs)
• Rushing leaders: Miles Coleman (6 TDs), Cache Young (2 TDs), Brandtson Mack (2 TDs)
• Receiving leaders: Cash Mack (13 TDs), Brandtson Mack (10 TDs), Arturo Gutierrez (6 TDs)