5A State Title Preview
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Meridian Warriors Top Wins: Rocky Mountain – Mountain View (2) – Eagle – Highland Meridian is coming into this game not having lost since last year to this Rigby squad in the state semifinals. Last years game was one for…
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Continue ReadingMeridian Warriors
Top Wins: Rocky Mountain – Mountain View (2) – Eagle – Highland
Meridian is coming into this game not having lost since last year to this Rigby squad in the state semifinals. Last years game was one for the ages as it went into triple overtime with Rigby just hanging on as they moved on to the title game and a state championship. This years Meridian squad is much different than last years team as talented as they were last year this team has a championship defense. Holding some of the top offenses to their lowest point totals of the year. Led by the best linebacking crew in the state in Nathan Reynolds Nathan Reynolds 6'4" | 220 lbs | LB Meridian HS | 2023 State ID , Carson Gooley, Max Gwilliam Max Gwilliam 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Meridian HS | 2023 State ID and do it all Ryan Corder Ryan Corder 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Meridian | 2023 State ID . In the backend they have two play making safeties in Landon Eason and Idaho bound Ethan Beard Ethan Beard 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Meridian HS | 2023 State ID . Outside they have two speedy corners in Mason Mayer and Spencer Aland. This defense is as complete as we have seen all year because not only are they stout in the back end but up front they have Corbin Misner, Jacob Hartsough, and Evan Peart. Offensively the Warriors are led by sophomore phenom Zeke Martinez Zeke Martinez 5'11" | 195 lbs | QB Meridian | 2025 State ID and the monster that is their three headed backfield Marco Del Rio, Rylie Byington Rylie Byington 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Meridian | 2024 State ID and Luke St Michell. Their front line is one heck of a unit as well a group that needs no individual adulation as they have been destroying defensive front all year as one cohesive group. This team uses its superior defense and ball control offense to wear down opponents and are primed to win their first state title in some time.
Important Stats: 6.5 PPG- that’s how much Meridian is giving up on defense, 214 YPG- what meridian averages on the ground
Rigby Trojans
Top Wins: Skyline, Madison, Eagle, Rocky Mountain
The defending state champs are back for a title defense as they travel down to Boise to play last years semifinal opponent but this time for all the marbles. Rigby has been dominant in recent years and are back again in the big game with another top quarterback in Luke Flowers Luke Flowers 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Rigby | 2024 State ID . The junior QB is light it up in the playoffs to the tune of 1037 yards and 16 total touchdowns. His backfield teammate is Sam Gamino and the senior has had one heck of a season. The man to watch out for though is senior wide receiver Brady Packer who looks like Flowers go to target this year. This Rigby offense can flat out score they have been lighting up the score board especially during the playoffs. Defensively they are got hot at the right time and are playing some of the toughest defense they have all year. This team may have lost some talent to graduation last year but they are more than they appear as they have the right to be confident going into this game after all they are the defending state champs and to be on top you still have to go through them.
Important Stats: 40 PPG – What Rigby has averaged in this playoff run, 15.6 PPG – What Rigby has given up on defense in the playoffs