Friday night's Orem-Springville matchup served as a showcase of sorts for Utah County prep football. Consider the following pregame spotlights:
- Both teams entered the game with identical 2-0 preseason records, with the visiting Tigers ranked fourth in the Deseret News 4A poll and the host Red Devils No. 3 in the 3A.- The pairing was a rivalry renewed, with the two not having meet since Springville's Scott Mitchell Era - back when Orem was still at the 3A level.
- And some of the area's brightest stars were in the lineup. Orem QB Tyler Nelson is one of the state's hottest college prospects, while Springville tailback John Penrod is coming off a 1,400-yard rushing season. The supporting casts includes talent such as Orem kicker Brandon Inouye, Orem receiver Todd Lewis and Springville wideout Todd Frischknecht.
Oh, and the final score, you ask? Orem wins, 24-12.
Nelson made what amounted to a cameo appearance, completing four of seven passes for 67 yards and two interceptions and rushing for another 44 yards and one touchdown. All of this came in the first half, with the senior QB heading facemask first into an asphalt runway beyond the Springville bench, suffering the proverbial bell-ringer and then spending much of intermission trying to remember who he was and where he was. Orem Coach Paul Clark left no doubt where Nelson would be the rest of the game - on the sidelines for the second half.
Meanwhile, Penrod - who had been averaging 125 yards through the first two games - was held to less than half that total, gaining 60 yards in a dozen carries.
Orem led 14-6 at halftime, thanks to a 1-yard dive by Brian Crow, Nelson's 9-yard keeper and two Inouye PAT kicks.