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East and Alta are reluctant to discuss a potential meeting in the Class 4A state championship game, especially considering both programs have quarterfinal games against traditional powerhouses.
Whether they talk about it or not, the odds favor a scenario in which they'll play for the championship. Sprinkle into the equation East's Jaylen Warren and Alta's Josh Davis continuing their per-game averages in each of those two games, and what you get is a championship smorgasbord, as the state's top two offensive units face off with both Warren and Davis having already broken the single-season state rushing record (Beaver's Kelly Smith: 2,561 yards) that has remained intact for 37 years.
"That would be crazy if that came to fruition," said East coach Brandon Matich.
Warren has rushed for at least 100 yards in all 11 games this season, two off the pace of former East running back Ula Tolutau's state record of 13 100-yard games in one season. Averaging 12.6 yards per carry and 220.5 yards per game, Warren has run for 2,426 yards and 29 touchdowns.
"His first five to 10 yards, his first three steps, are explosive as I've ever [coached]," Matich said. "He's got tremendous vision. He doesn't take direct hits. He's got balance and his vision allows him to put his foot in the ground and avoid contact from linebackers and safeties."
Davis, second in the state in rushing with 2,399 yards, rips off 10.5 yards per carry, 218.1 yards per game, and has 27 touchdowns on the ground. In the opening round of the postseason, Davis established the single-season state record for all-purpose yards, as he's accounted for 3,380 yards this year and 31 scores.
"The kid can run inside, he can run outside, and he's so explosive, so you can't get a headshot," said Alta coach Alema Te'o. "Plus, he blocks well, he catches the ball out of the backfield, he's a threat on special teams — he's by far the best running back I've ever been associated with in my career at the high school level. He's a special cat."
At their current pace, both runners will break Kelly Smith's record in their next game, and, conceivably, in the potential title game showdown, both players could eclipse the 3,000-yard rushing mark. So how are the two going virtually unnoticed at the next level?
"Personally I think both these guys are Division I-type players," said Te'o. "I don't understand what everybody else is looking for."
Davis recently was upgraded to a three-star prospect by Scout, but he only maintains offers from Air Force, Army, Idaho, Navy, Southern Utah and Weber State. Warren, meanwhile, is a non-rated player on the same service, and only has one offer, from Snow College.
Brandon Huffman, the National Director of Recruiting for Scout, said given Davis' 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame, he lacks game-changing speed — though Alta offensive coordinator Riley Jensen claims Davis has been clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
"When you're 5-10, you've got to be a blazer," Huffman said. "I think the 40 time is the most overrated aspect of an evaluation process when it comes to college, but there are too many schools that rely on that."
As for Warren, Huffman offered the common quarrel with running back prospects operating in Matich's triple-option offense: the system produces gaudy numbers on the ground, no matter which player is carrying the load. The Leopards lead the nation in rushing, but, Huffman said, that doesn't necessarily translate to a player being a next-level prospect.
The same argument has been attached to Davis and Alta's high-powered offense, but Matich refuted the claim for both players. He pointed to Warren's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and his blocking physicality, and Davis' proven versatility in all aspects of the offense and the return game.
"I don't think either guy is a system guy," Matich said. "I don't agree with that, not with Jaylen and Josh."
Both Warren and Matich said the system has little to do with his lack of attention from the collegiate level, but more his poor performance in the classroom during his early years in high school.
"It has motivated me," said Warren, who has a cumulative 2.5 grade-point average. "Right now, I almost have straight A's. It's great, honestly. Usually I'm worried about my grades, but I'm doing what I can to make sure I can continue my career in football."
Matich said after the next two quarters, Warren's academic standing should no longer be a problem.
"He's learned to be a good student," he said. "I'm proud of how far he's come. School is what you hang your hat on. He's realizing that. It's going to enable him to have a future in life. Football will take care of itself. He's going to be getting a free education somewhere."
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
Running down a dream
• East's Jaylen Warren has rushed for at least 100 yards in all 11 games this season, two away from tying former East running back Ula Tolutau's state record of 13 100-yard games in one season. Averaging 12.6 yards per carry and 220.5 yards per game, Warren has run for 2,426 yards and 29 touchdowns.
• Alta's Josh Davis, second in the state in rushing with 2,399 yards, averages 10.5 yards per carry, 218.1 yards per game, and has 27 touchdowns. In the opening round of the playoffs, Davis established a single-season state record for all-purpose yards with 3,380 yards. Football schedule
Class 5A
Quarterfinals, Friday
• Jordan at Lone Peak, 4 p.m.
• American Fork at Syracuse, 4 p.m.
• Taylorsville at Fremont, 3:30 p.m.
• Lehi at Bingham, 5 p.m.
Class 4A
Quarterfinals, Friday
• Timpview at East, 3 p.m.
• Box Elder at Maple Mountain, 4 p.m.
• Highland at Alta, 3:30 p.m.
• Woods Cross at Springville, 4 p.m.
Class 3AA
Quarterfinals, Friday
• Park City at Stansbury, 4 p.m.
• Ridgeline at Desert Hills, 4 p.m.
• Bear River at Dixie, 4 p.m.
• Pine View at Tooele, 4 p.m.
Class 3A
Semifinals, at Weber State
• Morgan vs. Delta, Thursday, 4 p.m.
• Juab vs. Juan Diego, Friday, 4 p.m.
Class 2A
Semifinals, at Weber State
• Summit Academy vs. Beaver, Thursday, 11 a.m.
• San Juan vs. South Summit, Thursday, 1:30 p.m.
Class 1A
Semifinals, at Weber State
• Duchesne vs. Milford, Friday, 11 a.m.
• Kanab vs. Rich, Friday, 1:30 p.m.