Manti 31, Milford 14PROVO -- In Milford coach Daren Cheney's ultimate game plan, the Tigers would take advantage of the play-action pass, mix in a few trick plays and not turn the ball over.
Then Milford, a 1A school, would be in the 2A championship game. And what a way to go, by upsetting undefeated and top-ranked Manti in the 2A semifinals.
But instead of perfect execution Saturday at Timpview High School, Milford got this: six turnovers, including three fumbles on its first three possessions.
Despite their mistakes, the Tigers only trailed 24-14 after Milford's Trent Thompson returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown with 4:13 left in the third quarter.
But Manti's Cade Anderson completed the game's scoring when he cashed in an 11-yard run for a touchdown with 5:38 left in the game that gave Manti a 31-14 win.
"We made mistakes and had some turnovers, and you can't do that against good teams like that," Cheney said. "Manti didn't beat us, we beat ourselves."
Milford drove the ball to the Manti 11 on its first possession of the game but then fumbled to end the threat.
Manti coach Brenan Jackson said the key to the game was Brady Nielson's 36-yard interception return with 3:53 left in the second quarter that gave the Templars a 21-7 lead.
"That interception turned the momentum in our favor," Jackson said. "It put them in a deficit where they had to do some different things offensively rather than run the ball, which they do well."
SOUTH SUMMIT 22, BEAVER 21: First, Curtis McEntire broke the state record with his 16th field goal of the season, then when that wasn't enough, McEntire kicked Beaver out of the playoffs when he booted a 25-yarder with 1:10 left in the game to give South Summit a 22-21 win Saturday at Timpview.
"I've never been that scared in my life," McEntire said. "It just gets your heart pumping."
McEntire's field goal completed a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback for South Summit.
Beaver had the Wildcats on the ropes when the Beavers converted on a fourth-and-goal from the South Summit six.
Under tremendous pressure, Beaver quarterback Craig Foster rolled out and found Anthony White in the end zone. The Beavers completed the two-point conversion to go up 21-12 with just 7:39 left in the game.
The Wildcats answered with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Joey Edmunds to Body Lewis with 3:34 left. South Summit's defense then forced Beaver to punt, setting the stage for McEntire's game-winning field goal.