The Hive Sports

by Daniel Olsen

Although the season is just beginning, two unbeaten teams remain in the 2A ranks. While San Juan and any team with Summit in the name have emerged as early contenders, it’s important to look at how productive each quarterback has been to their team’s wins.

1. Parker Snyder – San Juan

The Broncos currently have the longest active winning streak in the UHSAA. They have won 14 straight games including the 2A State Championship last year. Snyder has completed seven passing touchdowns this year so far. His 504 passing yards rank sixth best in the state to this point.

The Broncos shouldn’t be tested too much the rest of the season. Beaver has been dominant in the past, but they aren’t at the moment. While it’s unknown what San Juan will do in Colorado against Bayfield High this week, they could possibly have a date with an unbeaten Milford team in Week 4. Time will tell if Snyder can keep up this stellar pace; early signs say yes.

2. Devin Watson – Summit Academy

Devin Watson, the starting senior quarterback for the Bears, has had four years of varsity experience. He made a handful of throws as the backup in his freshman and sophomore years.

Last year, Watson made football look elementary as he helped his team advance all the way to the championship game. While they did lose 42-28 in the rematch with the San Juan Broncos, they could be a formidable competition for anyone they face in the 2A State Playoffs this year. Summit Academy has lost the last three matchups to San Juan and last beat them on August 21, 2020.

Watson has completed seven passing touchdowns so far, which is tied for the second most in the state alongside fellow 2A quarterback Parker Snyder. He is also doing this at a 69 percent completion rate, which is higher than Snyder. The only place Snyder has proven to have an edge is in the on-the-field success.

Watson has the chance to claim the title of best 2A quarterback if Summit Academy can have better regular and postseason success than they have in past seasons. These teams won’t play each other again until a possible rematch deep into the State Playoffs. Time will tell if these top two talented pigskin slingers face off again.

3. Bracken Lassche – South Summit

South Summit is the only other unbeaten team in 2A besides the San Juan Broncos. The Wildcats have a solid first time starter in junior quarterback Bracken Lassche. He has completed 476 passing yards, which is good enough right now for the tenth most in the state on an efficient 67 percent completion rate.

While all of the top three quarterbacks have two interceptions so far, Lassche is only slightly behind the other two. He hasn’t thrown as many touchdowns and passing yards as the two players ahead of him. He is undefeated, but his opponents so far haven’t been very challenging. Uintah lost 35-7 to Union the week after losing 40-8 to South Summit. Rival North Summit did win a close matchup over Delta, but other than that, the Wildcats haven’t been tested.

If South Summit can beat Summit Academy, arguably their toughest game on the schedule for the regular season, then they, along with Lassche, should be taken more seriously. As of now, it’s safe to say that he is at least in the same pantheon of the other two players in front of him.

Honorable Mentions: The Field

While there are other serviceable quarterbacks that can possibly help their teams make a run in the state playoffs, they aren’t in the same group statistically as the top three.

Four other quarterbacks have completed two or more passing touchdowns: Carter Abraham of South Sevier, Calvin McAward of Judge Memorial, Tatym Biscoe of Grand, and Hunt Robison of Delta.

Despite only completing one passing touchdown, Wade Stilson of Emery also deserves an honorable mention for completing the most passing yards behind the top three. He has thrown for 319 yards so far on the season.

Prediction: Too early to decide

This list is fluid and could still change by the end of the season. It’s also a team game and some less productive quarterbacks could have success if they have a great team surrounding them. Beaver is an example of a well-coached team that could get back to their dominant ways if things start to click.