{"id":4377,"date":"2026-07-30T19:08:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T19:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=4377"},"modified":"2026-07-30T19:08:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T19:08:43","slug":"high-school-football-morgan-picked-to-finish-atop-3a-north-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=4377","title":{"rendered":"High school football: Morgan picked to finish atop 3A North region"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Picked to finish atop the 3A North this season is the Morgan Trojans. After falling a game short of the 3A championship a year ago, the Trojans will be looking to take the next step forward this season.<\/p>\n

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Morgan will have a new look on offense this year, with just two starters returning in junior offensive lineman Gage Denton and junior wide receiver George Thurston.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne strength of our team is their competitive spirit and desire to be successful. That has led them to work hard in developing physically, mentally and emotionally,\u201d said Morgan head coach Jared Barlow. \u201cAs the season starts and we are preparing for games, one area we need to constantly work on is our attention to detail. Little things matter, both on and off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barlow knows that everyone is expecting big things out of his team this year. The only thing that they can do is control what they control and lean into what they do well while continuing to work on the weak areas of the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cHumility allows us to recognize that others have strengths, and they are working hard as well, both on our team and our competitors. We know that, and we try to prepare ourselves to give whoever we play the best version of ourselves. We can control what we do, and other peoples\u2019 expectations of us is not one of those things we control. We just work hard to be the best version of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there are several players that Barlow is hoping will step up and carry this team this year, it\u2019s not one individual that is going to determine the team\u2019s success as the season goes on.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe great teams constantly build and have great leadership. Leadership is found in many places, and we have some really good leaders,\u201d said Barlow. \u201cOne group that we look to for leadership is our offensive and defensive lines. The work they put in and how well they perform has a drastic impact on how we perform as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cowboys have eight returning starters from a year ago, with four on offense and four on defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are really excited for this year. The kids have been working really hard in the weight room, and we hope it will show on the field this year. We lost a lot of good seniors from last year but have several good players back and look forward to seeing several new players show what they can do,\u201d said Grantsville head coach David Millward.<\/p>\n

After getting bounced out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals a year ago, Grantsville will have a tough task ahead of them if they want to be able to get past Morgan and the other tough teams in their region.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur region will continue to run through Morgan High School. I believe we have good coaches in our region, and I think each team will improve and make each week a challenge,\u201d added Millward.<\/p>\n

Grantsville has the pieces in place to make some noise in region this year. If the Cowboys can replace the production they lost and continue to improve as the year progresses, there is no reason why they can\u2019t make a deep playoff run this season.<\/p>\n

Coming in at No. 3 is the Logan Grizzlies. After seeing their season come to a close much sooner than they would have liked last year by losing in the first round of the playoffs, continuity is going to be key for Logan this year, with 17 total returning starters hoping to push the Grizzlies to the top this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe team is excited for the 2027 season. With eight returning offensive starters, nine defensive starters, and returning both coordinators, we are excited to see what we can do. We have a tough non-region schedule and then get into a very good 3A North schedule. Each week will be a challenge, and we are looking forward to it,\u201d said Logan head coach Nate Butts.<\/p>\n

Butts believes the region is stronger than it has ever been and that his team will need to play their best football week in and week out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 3A North Region is a very strong one. We are excited to be in Year 2 and compete against these schools. Each program is led by a great head coach who wants to build young men the right way. The Grizzlies feel honored to be in this region,\u201d added Butts.<\/p>\n

Likely to finish toward the middle of the pack, according to our preseason rankings, are the Ogden Tigers.<\/p>\n

Much like Logan, Ogden saw their season come to a disappointing close early in the state playoffs a year ago.<\/p>\n

Entering his 10th year with the program, Ogden head coach Terry Larsen likes what he has seen from his players during the offseason, and he believes they are destined for bigger and better things this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re excited to continue building the foundation of our program. Our players have worked hard throughout the offseason and are buying into the culture and standards we\u2019re establishing,\u201d said Larsen. \u201cWe return experienced playmakers at the skill positions and have a talented group of young linemen developing in the trenches. We\u2019re looking forward to competing every Friday night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Larsen knows there won\u2019t be an easy game during the season, but he believes his team matches up well with any of the other teams in the region. He expects every week to present a new challenge and hopes his players will continue improving as the season progresses. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur region is highly competitive, with several strong programs and quality coaching staffs. We know every week will bring a new challenge, and we\u2019re looking forward to competing throughout the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

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After losing a big chunk of the team to graduation, it is going to be somewhat of a new-look team for the Cougars this year. Although the team will look much different, Union head coach Jordan Gurr has the belief in his returning seniors to lead the way this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to this year being a fun and competitive year. We took positive steps last season and even though we graduated a large amount of senior experience, this group has set an exciting tone across the offseason and into the summer,\u201d said Gurr. \u201cOur seniors are leading the way in the weight room with a different mindset that is reaching programwide, and the underclassmen are responding very positively. I\u2019m excited to see that energy translate to the field for these young men.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gurr knows his team really has nothing to lose and is excited to see which players are able to step up and lead the way as the season moves along.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur region is tough all the way through. Every week requires us to play our best football to have a chance to win and we are excited to give everyone our best shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoping to surprise everyone are the Ben Lomond Scots. Picked to finish at the bottom this year, the Scots will be out to prove that they can hang with anyone, and they are not a team to take lightly.<\/p>\n

After relying on a roster filled with first-year varsity players last season, Scots head coach Ty Smith believes the experience they gained will pay dividends this year. He expects his team to play with more confidence, consistency, and composure in key moments throughout the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, we had 80% of the team playing football for the first time, and we are excited about this upcoming season. We had a great offseason and a lot of strides made within the program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith knows expectations outside the program may not be high this season, but he believes his team is capable of surprising a lot of people. He looks forward to making life difficult for every opponent in the region and proving the Scots are a team that cannot be overlooked each week.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very good region with some great teams and well-coached teams. We look forward to giving everyone more competition than we have done in the last two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

3A North projections<\/h3>\n

(Preseason rankings are based on coaches\u2019 votes)<\/p>\n

1. Morgan Trojans<\/h3>\n

2026 Schedule<\/h4>\n

Head coach:<\/b> Jared Barlow<\/p>\n

Entering his seventh season as head coach at Morgan after posting a 61-13 record his first six seasons, including state title in 2022 and 2024. He previously served as an assistant coach at Morgan for 15 years. He\u2019s a graduate of Morgan High School and Weber State.<\/p>\n

Coach Jared Barlow\u2019s general outlook<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cExciting time of year. We replace a lot of graduating seniors, but have an excellent group doing it. Looking forward to see what legacy this team will leave with our school and community.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Morgan overview<\/h4>\n
2025 team stats<\/p>\n

2025 Record:<\/strong> 10-2 (first in 3A North with a 5-0 record)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

2025 RPI ranking:<\/strong> No. 2 in 3A<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
2025 postseason:<\/strong> Lost to Manti, 42-28, in the 3A semifinals<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
All-time record:<\/strong> 547-351-22 (98 years)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
State titles:<\/strong> 9 (1940, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1993, 1997, 2019, 2022, 2024)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Region titles:<\/strong> 30 (1930 co, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1975 co, 1976, 1977 co, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1989, 1991 co, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2005 co, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 co, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Offensive coordinator:<\/b> Matt Larsen<\/p>\n

2025 offense:<\/b> 34.58 ppg (No. 3 in 3A)<\/p>\n