Copper Hills is 0-7 against Riverton since September of 2017 but things could change on Friday. The Grizzlies will face off against the Silverwolves at 7:00 p.m. Copper Hills has given up an average of 29.4 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Copper Hills is headed into the matchup out to prove that what happened against Herriman on Friday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Grizzlies were dealt a 42-13 defeat at the hands of the Mustangs. While losing is never fun, the Grizzlies can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Utah football rankings (they are ranked 53rd, while the Mustangs are ranked eighth).
Despite the loss, Copper Hills had strong showings from Skyler Thomas, who rushed for 85 yards and one score on only 12 carries, and Logan Batt, who picked up 94 receiving yards and one TD.
Meanwhile, Riverton didn't have quite enough to beat Westlake last Friday and fell 31-28. The Silverwolves have struggled against the Thunder recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost matchup.
Copper Hills will have to contain Rocky Downs as he made an impact in Riverton's last game. He rushed for 94 yards and one touchdown.
Even if they lost, Riverton's defensive line still kept up the pressure with four sacks. The heavy lifting was done by Benjamin Vakauta and Jonas Riddle, who racked up all four sacks between them. Riddle also set a new season-high mark in total tackles with seven. Riverton received some extra help from Coleman Garn, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Riverton's defeat dropped their record down to 3-5. As for Copper Hills, their loss dropped their record down to 3-6.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Copper Hills has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 151.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Riverton struggles in that department as they've been averaging 154.5 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Copper Hills might still be hurting after the 42-19 defeat they got from Riverton in their previous matchup back in October of 2024. Thankfully for the Grizzlies, Andrew Neilson (who rushed for 68 yards and a pair of TDs on only seven carries, and also threw for 107 yards and three touchdowns) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
