The Weber-Syracuse matchup, featuring the two teams to have won Region 1 the last four years, headlines the fifth week of prep football in Northern Utah.

Region 5 and Region 11 play begins this week for teams in Weber, Davis and Box Elder counties while Region 1 enters its second week.

Last week’s prediction record: 13-2. Season record: 47-13.

WEBER at SYRACUSE

Game of the Week

If Weber has shown anyone anything in Region 1 the past few years, it’s that defense wins championships. So how about Syracuse so far, allowing just 34 points in its first four games en route to a 4-0 start?

That will be the key for the Titans: slowing down a high-powered Warriors (2-2) offense, something only the state’s elite teams have been able to do. If this game’s in the 20s, Syracuse has a good chance. If it’s a shootout, it’s all Weber. Prediction: Syracuse

SOUTH SUMMIT at OGDEN

Ogden (2-2) looks pretty good so far, even with the number of injuries the Tigers have had. They put 42 points on Grand in the first half of last week’s tribute game to coach Erik Thompson, then raised about $20,000 through a variety of ways for Thompson, who’s battling ALS.

According to prep football historian George Felt, this is the first meeting between Ogden and South Summit despite OHS having started football in 1898 and SSHS in 1913. South Summit, though, is 4-0 to start the season and hasn’t given up points since its second game. Prediction: South Summit

VIEWMONT at BONNEVILLE

There’s a reason Bonneville (1-3) loaded up against good teams in its non-region schedule, to prepare itself against good Region 5 teams such as Viewmont (2-2). The Vikings have found some early confidence and are realistically a handful of plays away from being 4-0.

This should be a close game with the scoring somewhere in the 20s. Prediction: Bonneville

BEN LOMOND at JUDGE MEMORIAL

The teams have a common opponent in Layton Christian, but Judge fared better against the Eagles, “only” losing 40-0 in the opener compared to BL’s 60-6 loss to LCA.

That said, Judge is trending as one of the worst teams in the state. But the way things are going, and unless things drastically change, Friday represents Ben Lomond’s (0-4) best chance at getting a win this year. Prediction: Ben Lomond

ROY at WEST

In what is now a region contest, one can bet Roy wants this game after the way last year’s playoffs ended for the Royals (West returned a kickoff for a game-winning touchdown with no time left).

Royals quarterback Parker Kingston, who committed to BYU earlier this week, got injured last week against Hunter and Roy (3-1, 1-0 Region 2) was still able to grind out a win, showing some guts that are going to get the Royals places this year.

West’s run defense hasn’t cracked all season, Roy’s passing game is still on the tarmac and the Panthers have a big size advantage. Prediction: West

FREMONT at LAYTON

Right now, Fremont’s (3-1, 1-0 Region 1) defense is leading the way with nine turnovers through four games. And, it’s giving up an average of 10 points per game the last three weeks. Linebacker Christian Blanch has 48 tackles with six tackles for loss. The Silverwolves’ challenge is to slow down Layton’s (3-1, 1-0 Region 1) high-powered offense where receiver Nic Sanders has caught nine passes for 325 yards and five scores. Prediction: Fremont

NORTHRIDGE at BOX ELDER

Through four games, Northridge (3-1) quarterback Maximus Fonoti-Maikui has 1,161 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. The offense looks worlds better than last year and the Knights overall appear to be much improved from 2020, despite some reservations with an easier schedule they’ve played. Box Elder’s pass defense has been better than its run defense this year, but the Bees (1-3) haven’t seen a quarterback like Fonoti-Maikui yet. Prediction: Northridge

CLEARFIELD at FARMINGTON

Farmington’s scoring offense has trended up the last two games and so has Clearfield’s scoring defense. Expect a competitive game, but the Phoenix will pull away at some point. Prediction: Farmington

DAVIS at ALTA

The Darts’ region bye week is filled with Alta — a team that beat Layton, which beat Davis last week. Davis’ offense has been slow to take off and the Darts need to put up points to beat an Alta team that spreads defenses apart. Prediction: Alta

BEAR RIVER at SKY VIEW

If things go according to plan, this will be Bear River’s last of five road games to open the season thanks to its new turf field being installed late. This week’s test is Sky View, which still looks the part of a defending 4A state champ. Prediction: Sky View

MORGAN at MANTI

This is the first regular-season meeting between the teams since 1996, back when they were in the same region. Morgan has, per usual, played above its weight class this year and the computers like the Trojans a lot in this game. MHS receiver Gavin Turner has had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. Prediction: Morgan

BOUNTIFUL at WOODS CROSS

This might be the hardest game to figure out this week. Is Bountiful (1-2) going to rebound after blowing a 20-point, fourth-quarter lead last week in a 38-36 loss? Is Woods Cross about to turn a corner after starting 0-4 against teams that are a combined 11-1 while getting outscored 168-32 in the process? Prediction: Bountiful

GUNNISON at LAYTON CHRISTIAN

LCA (2-2) running back Jessaia Giatras-Moala has 626 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, averages 9.5 yards per carry and has crossed the 120-yard mark each game. What may really put this game, which kicks off at 4 p.m., in LCA’s favor is defense because the Eagles have held three of their four foes to season-lows in points. Prediction: Layton Christian

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