Certainly a new look for Region 5. With the addition of Logan and Ogden to the mix, it adds new rivarlies and a very different look. When it is all done for the season though, new teams are not going to make a major difference and the class of the league is found in Cache Valley.

1. Mountain Crest - Pending how the brackets are aligned for the playoffs, Mountain Crest is totalUTAHpreps.com favorite to make it to the finals against Timpview for the state championship. With Cottonwood now in 5A, the Mustangs just became the second best team in the 4A ranks. And they could and will play T-View down to the wire. Why? They are loaded. They have arguably the best QB in the state in Alex Kuresa, who as a sophomore, threw for over 2,700 yards and 24 TD’s. He may not post those gaudy of numbers again as MC is capable of running the ball. Alex Knowles rushed for nearly 1,000 yards, 625 passing yards and 13 TD’s. Schedule wise, MC starts with a tough game on the road against Highland. The Rams lost in a last second contest in ‘08.  Other preseason games include Lone Peak (win),  East (win) at Pocatello (close, but a win). They have the Lakers at home (win) and the list goes on. I see MC losing just one game this season until the playoffs, so pencil in a 11-1 record, a Region 5 banner and a state championship contest against the ‘Birds.

2. Sky View -Kyler Carlsen would like to show there is more than one QB to talk about in Cache Valley. With 4,000 yards and 41 TD’s over the past two seasons, Carlsen has a legitimate case to be called the best signal caller in Region 5.  The Bobcats have built a solid program under Craig Anhder, who has won 75% of his games in the past four seasons. Carlsen is the reason Sky View gets the nod over Bonneville for the second seed. SV plays a brutal preseason that will help them come November. Two losses to Jordan and Cottonwood will toughen up the ‘Cats for Region 5 games. They will go 5-0 after that, until a final matchup against Mountain Crest. A second seed, and a 7-3 record will be the result for the Sky View in 2009.

3. Bonneville - The Lakers are getting a lot of love from the fishwrap (newspapers) in the state and back to back years with playoff wins also help the cause.  Bonneville has five games against 5A schools, that could certainly help them prepare for Region 5 battles, or possibly beat them up for the games that matter most. They have to play at Mountain Crest and must beat Sky View at home for a chance at the second seed and a home playoff game. They should knock off the rest of the Region foes with a balanced attack on offense with Devin Mickles and Connor Stephens both returning on offense. Mickles, a smooth RB and Stephens, a big target at receiver will share the bulk of TD’s. QB Manaia Filiaga has the confidence from his team to lead out. Bonneville will be 1-4 to start out before turning their season around with wins against Roy, Ogden Weber, Box Elder before facing Sky View for that pivotal matchup. Final outcome 5-6, first round playoff loss.

4. Logan - Lots of teams in 3A have sent thank you notes to the UHSAA for getting Logan out of that classification. They have had the size of a 4A school for years and have dominated their Region with incredible QB’s (Riley Nelson, Jeff Manwaring). And perhaps no one is happier than the two other county teams that have heard for years how much better the Grizzlies were than MC or SV. Well, now it is time for Logan to show they belong in 4A.

TUP believes they will show they belong and could even sneak into the playoffs. Coach Mike Favero is one of the best coaches in the state, and while the Grizzlies may lack a little experience, they have a proven system that has done nothing but win. It is possible that Logan could shock this Region and even take second place. But TUP pencils in Logan for fourth place due to the tremendous depth and talent of both MC and SV and possibly a Laker team that could live up to its potential. TUP does not like the Logan schedule with very difficult games at Park City, at Judge, at Mountain View and at Mountain Crest. Their only road win will be against Ogden. TUP sees Logan going 4-6 and just missing the playoffs.

5. Box Elder - New coach, new system, new attitude in Brigham City. However, the Bees just don’t have the horses to compete in this race in 2009. They play a brutal road schedule (six games) and the three home games they play, they will go 0-3 with losses to Bear River, Bonneville and Mountain Crest. A win against Ogden and possibly against Copper Hills will be it. Projected finish 1-8

6. Ogden - Why, O, Why did the UHSAA put Ogden in 4A?  Traditionally a great academic school with wonderful programs in lesser known sports (tennis, track), this Tiger team is not in anyway, shape or form ready to compete in 4A, Region 5 or the Plain City recreation league.  Well, they would dominate the Plain City league and to the Tigers credit, they won five games in ‘08, made the playoffs for the first time in this century. Coach Eric Eyre is doing a good job building a program, but the will finish with just two wins (Stansbury and Ben Lomond) and possible a Region win against BE.  2-7 is TUP’s prediction for ‘09