Forced into a rematch by missed opportunities in the first half last Friday, Mountain View turned the tables on Alta Tuesday. The Bruins returned two interceptions for touchdowns before halftime en route to a 31-21 victory over the Hawks in a Region 4 tiebreaker at chilly Jordan High.
"It feels good," said second-year coach Randy Rehrer, whose team will travel to Bonneville for the 5A playoffs Saturday. "I'm real proud of how our kids hung in there."The Bruins opened the game by marching 79 yards on six plays to take the lead for good. John Preston capped the initial series with a 24-yard touchdown reception off a pass from Joel Hawkins.
Leading 7-0, Mountain View began solidifying the notion that the best offense is a good defense. Kalun Merrill picked off an Alta pass and rambled 31 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt failed, leaving the score 13-0 less than six minutes into the contest.
Alta, which forced the tiebreaker tilt with a 17-7 victory Friday, did make things interesting, however. Chris Nelson's 81-yard touchdown run helped the Hawks close the gap to 13-7, but Alta would draw no closer.
Mountain View increased its lead to 21-7 with 2:45 remaining in the first half when J.C. Davis returned an interception 72 yards for a score and Hawkins linked with Nate Sorenson on a two-point conversion. Alta proved pesky though, countering the touchdown with one of its own in the final three seconds. Nelson scored for the second time when he pulled in an 8-yard pass from Lance Jensen - an aerial that caromed off at least two players beforehand.
The seesaw scoring continued in the second half, though exclusively in the fourth quarter, with Hawkins hitting Matt Rowe on a 37-yard touchdown pass for Mountain View before Jensen teamed with Tony Neilson on a 7-yard counterstrike.
The latter made it 28-21 entering the final six minutes.
After exchanging punts, Mountain View kicker Mackey Henderson dealt Alta a fatal blow with a 25-yard field goal in the final minute to provide the margin of victory.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Prep summaries
REGION 3
WEST JORDAN 13, GRANGER 3
Granger 0 3 0 0- 3
West Jordan 7 0 0 6-13
G - Hood 1 yd fumble recovery (#31 kick)
W - Judd 26 FG
W - Tahi 3 run (kick failed)
REGION 4
MOUNTAIN VIEW 31, ALTA 21
Mountain View 13 8 0 10-31
Alta 7 7 0 7-21
MV - Preston 24 pass from Hawkins (Henderson kick)
MV - Merrill 31 interception return (pass failed)
A - C. Nelson 81 run (Harris kick)
MV - Davis 72 run (Sorenson pass from Hawkins)
A - C. Nelson 8 pass from Jensen (Harris kick)
MV - Rowe 37 pass from Hawkins (Henderson kick)
A - T. Neilson 7 pass from Jensen (Harris kick)
MV - FG Henderson 25