Pirates, Cougars to clash in battle of unbeatens

DAYTON — The West Side Pirates have won seven state championships in 17 seasons under head coach Tyson Moser, and are a favorite for No. 18 this season.

The Pirates (2-0, 0-0) have started their season with one-sided victories over Snake River (0-2, 0-0) and Firth (0-1, 0-0), outscoring their opponents by a combined 50 points — 64 to 14. But their first test of the season comes to Dayton this week in the form of the South Fremont Cougars (2-0, 0-0), who themselves boast a plus-73-point differential, including a 53-0 Week 0 victory over North Fremont.

West Side has ridden, and will continue to ride, First-Team All-State running back Drake Sage, while the Cougars spread the yards and points around a bit more.

Sage’s opposite number, South Fremont running Tayson Farley, though, has been their go-to man through two weeks. That means Sage, who double-duties at linebacker, where he was selected Second-Team All-State last year, will have a chance to leave a massive impression on both sides of the ball.

The two teams met last year, on Sept. 5, in South Fremont, with the Cougars handing the Pirates their only loss of the regular season. West Side and South Fremont have split their two previous meeting during the Tyson Moser era of Pirate football, beginning in 2009.

Kick off at West Side High School is scheduled for 7 p.m.