Here's what most people will be talking about - Woods Cross running back Kitt Rawlings rushed for 275 yards and scored all five of his team's touchdowns as the Wildcats - perhaps better called "Kitt's 'Cats" - beat Mountain Crest 35-22 in first-round action Friday of the 3A prep football playoffs.
If you think the game was another offensive showcase for Rawlings, who rushed for a mind-boggling 417 yards in last week's region-finale against Bountiful, well, you're half right. While Rawlings was racking up some impressive numbers on the ground, Mountain Crest showed a propensity for posting some eye-popping passing performances.Consider that quarterback David Johnson completed 25 of 48 attempts for 375 yards to a number of receivers, including Jason Miller, John Weese and freshman back Ryan Pond. But Johnson's primary target was Steve Pond, who snagged 12 tosses for 200 yards, scored two TDs of 43 and 53 yards, and earned Wildcat Coach John Haning's praise as an honors candidate.
And consider that while Woods Cross went out in front with leads of 21-7 and 28-14, Mountain Crest kept it close by drawing to within 21-14 and later 28-22 in the final minutes. But an onsides-kick attempt failed and Woods Cross not only ran out the clock but Rawlings ran up another score as well.
They call it the "Kitt Count" among Woods Cross faithful - so, for those of you counting, here's Rawlings' numbers for the game: 28 carries for 275 yards and four touchdowns on runs of 74, 9, 1 and 39 yards; one reception of 73 yards for a fifth TD; and 348 yards of offensive yards.
And through the season, you ask? 1,864 rushing yards on 199 carries for a 9.4 yards-per-carry average; 16 receptions for 285 yards; 24 TDs and one 2-point conversion; 10 kickoff returns for 254 yards; and 17 punt returns for 281 yards.
Care for a recap of Rawlings' scores?
- First quarter, second play from scrimmage. Rawlings takes the ball toward the middle of the line, stutter-steps his way past would-be tacklers and out of the grasp of others and sprints his way for a 74-yard run and a 7-0 Woods Cross lead.
- Second quarter, first-and-goal from the 9. Rawlings is looking for a right-end sweep when he's hit head on by a Mustang defender in a scene similar to those wild ram collisions in wilderness films. However, Rawlings kept his balance - and his head - and continued past for a 9-yard score, making it 14-7 Woods Cross.
- Second quarter, three minutes before intermission. Rawlings shows some rushing diversity by going airborne - up and over the line - from 1 yard out, giving the Wildcats a 21-7 lead going into halftime. The 5-foot-11 back gained 202 yards on 16 runs in the first half alone.
- Fourth quarter, eight plays after the Wildcats held Mountain Crest on four downs inside the 5. Rawlings snags a Tye Rogers screen pass near the line of scrimmage at the 27 and zig-zags his way for a 73-yard scoring reception and a 28-14 Wildcat lead.
- Fourth quarter, the Wildcats trying to preserve a 28-22 margin win a half-minute to play. Rawlings takes the ball on a play designed to merely run out the clock at the Mustang 39. However, center Mike Hawley notices that the MC defense is stacked to the middle and calls an audible for the line to revamp its blocking schemes. The result - Rawlings blasts his way 39 yards for his fifth TD, with Matt Clapham's fifth PAT kick making the final score 35-22.
Meanwhile, Mountain Crest Coach Dan Cox was willing to give his Mustangs at least part of the credit - or blame - in Rawlings' big-run performance. "You've got to wrap up number 24 and take him to the turf," said Cox, bemoaning tackling troubles.
Next on tap for the fifth-ranked Wildcats is the winner of the Dixie-Uintah game Friday night, with the top-ranked, host Flyers expected to advance to the 3A quarterfinals. A Dixie-Woods Cross contest would be played in St. George.
The 3A titlist two seasons ago, Mountain Crest ends 1989 with a 6-3 record, with the losses going against the ranked threesome of Box Elder, Logan and Woods Cross, which have a combined overall record of 24-5.