Game Details - Football

No. 12 Olympus (6-5) travels to No. 5 Woods Cross (7-3) Friday in a second-round 5A playoff matchup that represents both redemption and survival. Less than a month ago, the Wildcats thoroughly dominated the Titans 40-7 in a one-sided Region 6 game. In that Oct. 9 contest, Woods Cross running back Viliami Tapa'atoutai gashed the Titans for three touchdowns, including a backbreaking 61-yard scoring run that helped build a 26-0 halftime lead. The Titans enter Thursday's rematch with momentum after shutting out Cyprus 42-0 in the first round. Quarterback Preston Ferran was effective, connecting on multiple touchdown passes including a pair of 36-yard strikes to Wes Wright and Sam Brown. Woods Cross, well-rested after earning a first-round bye, presents a formidable challenge behind its punishing ground game. Tapa'atoutai has accumulated 1,382 yards and 16 touchdowns on 238 carries this season, averaging nearly six yards per attempt. He's the centerpiece of a triple-option attack that bewildered Olympus defenders in their first meeting. The Wildcats aren't one-dimensional, though. Quarterback Jesse Simmons has thrown for 787 yards and 11 touchdowns against just two interceptions, with Shayden Gerratt (154 yards, three TDs) and Teiyon Halbasch (240 yards, three TDs) serving as his primary targets. Olympus will counter with its balanced attack led by Ferran (609 yards, 13 TDs) and running back tandem Beckham Allred (690 yards, five TDs) and Easton Zito (156 yards, five TDs). Linebacker Adam Bywater (113 tackles, six interceptions) anchors a defense that must find answers for the Wildcats' ground game. For Woods Cross, defensive back Wyatt Hunter (three INTs) and linebacker Hayden Thorne (102 tackles) lead a defense that has allowed just 17.4 points per game this season. The key for Olympus will be containing Woods Cross' triple-option attack that dominated the first meeting. The winner advances to face either No. 4 Orem or No. 13 Timpview in the quarterfinals.