Game Details - Football

In a classic rivalry matchup, No. 9 North Sevier visits No. 8 Gunnison Valley for the first round of the 1A State Tournament. This enduring rivalry, with the schools just 13 miles apart, has Gunnison Valley leading the all-time series 19-16. The teams have faced off annually since 1993, and this marks their third playoff encounter—and second in two years—with North Sevier winning both previous playoff meetings. North Sevier enters the game with a (1-9, 0-4 1A North) record, having scored 124 points while yielding 384 this season. Despite the challenging year, they secured a 48-0 victory over Grand, indicating their potential. Quarterback Houston Mickelsen leads with 750 passing yards and 6 touchdowns. Zander Christiansen drives the rushing attack with 291 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Brody Bulloch excels in receiving with 389 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, Rhyder Snow is pivotal, anchoring the team with 60 tackles. Gunnison Valley stands at (3-6, 1-3 1A North), scoring 145 points and allowing 203. Their season highlights include a 45-0 victory over Grand and a recent 21-0 win against North Sevier. Key contributors include Bronson Allen, who has rushed for 314 yards and 6 touchdowns, and Ryder Coates with 407 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Talan Dyreng adds 429 passing yards and 6 touchdowns, while Waylon Sorenson leads in receiving with 191 yards and 3 touchdowns. On defense, Wrigley Crouch has chipped in with 37 tackles and 2 sacks. In their last meeting earlier this month, Gunnison Valley's defense dominated, holding North Sevier scoreless and seeing contributions from players like Bronson Allen and Ryder Coates. The winner of this playoff clash will advance to face No. 1 Kanab, who boasts an impressive 8-1 record, in the quarterfinals on October 31. With both rivalry pride and postseason aspirations on the line, each team is eager to extend their playoff journey.