When the Utah High School Activities Association created the Ratings Percentage Index, or RPI, a few years ago, it changed how team were seeded in the state playoffs. The system is a formula that combines a team’s overall record with its strength of schedule and its opponents’ strength of schedule. Now, the RPI determines the seed a team gets in the postseason, whereas before, region standings dictated he seeding. 

But don’t think winning a region title isn’t important to a team. 

In football for example, a couple of local teams are in contention for winning their regions. Consequently, those teams also have favorable RPI rankings, which could pay dividends when the playoffs begin Oct. 20. 

Davis 

Heading into its Oct. 5 game with Farmington, the Darts were 3-0 in Region 1 and 7-1 overall. The team had won seven consecutive games since losing the season opener. 

Davis won at Layton on Sept. 29 by the count of 31-21, scoring the final 14 points of the contest after being down 21-17 early in the fourth quarter. Bode Sparrow had a 31-yard pass reception from Tradon Bessinger for a touchdown with 6:11 left to play. Then, just a minute and a half later, Owen Talbot crossed the goal line from the 1-yard-line for the go-ahead points. 

Talbot had 15 carries for 67 yards on the night, while Bessinger had 183 yards passing and a TD. The sophomore quarterback missed on just two of his 21 pass attempts. Sparrow not only grabbed a touchdown pass, but he had eight catches for 79 yards in all. Carter Dorius had 11 tackles and a sack, while Jordan Taula had 11 tackles of his own. 

The Darts finish the regular season Oct. 12 at home against Syracuse. At press time, Davis was seventh in Class 6A RPI rankings. The team also had a one-game lead on Syracuse in the league standings. 

Bountiful

The Redhawks began October in a logjam for first place in Region 5. 

Bountiful sat atop the league with three other teams, each with a 4-1 record. Three of those wins came consecutively Sept. 15, 22 and 29. In the third win, which took Bountiful to 5-3 overall, The Redhawks toppled Box Elder in overtime, 34-28 on the road. This game was significant, as it was Box Elder’s first defeat of the season. 

The Redhawks were up 21-7 just before halftime when Siaki Fekitoa scored on a 22-yard TD run. But Box Elder scored three unanswered touchdowns to take a 28-21 lead in the third quarter. Bountiful’s defense held the rest of the way. The offense tied things up with 6:35 left in the game when Britton Tidwell hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Emerson Geilman. In overtime, Bountiful kept Box Elder off the board on its possession. Then, Jacob Brooks secured the big win with a 2-yard TD run. 

Brigham Morrison had 69 yards rushing on 14 attempts and on defense added a game-high 17 tackles. Faletau Satuala had 12 tackles and an interception as well as five catches for 96 yards and two scores. Geilman had three touchdown passes and 236 yards. 

The Redhawks are 13th in RPI rankings as of our press deadline. The Redhawks hosted Roy on Oct. 6 and finish the regular season Oct. 13 at Woods Cross. 

Farmington

Back in Class 6A’s Region 1, Farmington got its first won on Sept. 22, a 43-21 triumph over Layton. 

But it has otherwise been a tough season for the Phoenix. 

Leading up to its clash with Davis on Oct. 5, the team was 1-2 in Region 1 and 1-6 overall. The Phoenix were competitive in a Sept. 29 loss at home against Weber, falling 30-27. It took a field goal with a minute left in the game from Weber for the Warriors to avoid overtime and pull off the win. Travis Hoopes had two touchdown runs for Farmington. Easton Wight ran for a TD and threw for another in his 164-yard passing night. 

Farmington’s final game of the regular season is Oct. 11 at Fremont. At press time, Farmington had the 15th spot in the RPI rankings in 6A. 

Woods Cross 

Out of 27 teams in Class 5A, the Wildcats held the 11th spot in the RPI rankings in Class 5A. At press time, Woods Cross was 5-3 overall and 3-2 in region play, a game behind four other teams in the standings. 

The Wildcats scored a key 38-21 victory over Northridge on Sept. 29. Playing on the road, the Wildcats scored all 38 of their points in the first three quarters and allowed just seven points after halftime. Charlie Coats had two touchdown runs scoring from 4 yards out and 1 yard away, both in the first half. He also had five tackles on defense. 

Viewmont

The Vikings will look to the postseason as a chance to make some surprises. Viewmont has struggled in league play, as it had gone winless in five contests heading into Oct. 5 game at Bonneville. The final regular season game is at home against Clearfield on Oct. 13. The Falcons have yet to win a game this season. 

With two games left, Viewmont had the No. 23 spot in RPI rankings. The team’s last win was a 57-6 thrashing of Taylorsville on Aug. 25. λ