CEDAR CITY — Kanab may have taken a few lumps earlier this year, but those injuries and suspensions are a distant memory. On Saturday, the Cowboys reiterated that when at full strength, they're the best team in 1A.
After falling behind early in the second quarter, Kanab reeled off 23 unanswered points to pull away for the 30-9 victory over Enterprise to claim the 1A state championship at Southern Utah University.
"I'm so proud of my guys. They played their hearts out for four quarters," said Kanab coach Bucky Orton, who led the Cowboys to their last state title back in 1994. "What better way for eight seniors to go out."
Asked whether the championship was as meaningful considering that Kanab dropped from 2A to 1A this year, Orton simply said, "a championship is a championship as far as I'm concerned."
Just like its previous two playoff games, Kanab rode its defense to the championship victory.
After falling behind 9-7 early in the second quarter, Kanab's defense bottled up Enterprise's passing and rushing attack, particularly in the second half when the Wolves' offense didn't cross midfield.
"The first half they kind of pounded it down our throats," said Kanab's Tanner Chamberlain. "We came out in the second half and we weren't going to take it anymore."
Of Enterprise's 151 yards of total offense, only 60 of those came in the second half.
Orton credited defensive coordinator Coby Glover for the great defensive game plan.
"Coach Glover . . . sits up in the box, and he's pretty good at seeing things and making halftime adjustments," said Orton.
Kanab flexed its defensive muscles very early in the third quarter. After a holding penalty backed the Wolves' offense back to the five-yard line, Kanab blitzed and forced a safety to take a 17-9 lead.
Three minutes later Kanab increased that lead to 23-9 as Chamberlain hauled in a 25-yard touchdown reception from Mitch Glazier.
With a two touchdown lead, and Kanab's defense playing great, it was only a matter of time until the Cowboys' championship drought was over.
Kanab's Tyler Ramsey tacked on a late touchdown on a 1-yard score with 6:50 remaining in the game. Ramsey finished the game with 60 rushing yards for Kanab, which finished with 236 yards of total offense.
"It's been 11 years," said Chamberlain. "This isn't just for us, but it's for the whole school."
When Kanab and Enterprise met earlier this year, Kanab was missing three key players because of suspension and Wolves' took advantage for the 29-13 victory.
Orton never used the situation as an excuse or a motivational ploy, because he fully expected to win that September game and was disappointed when it didn't happen.
In the rematch two months later, Kanab jumped out to the 7-0 lead on its opening drive with a 58-yard touchdown run by Caleb Vincent.
Enterprise appeared to be headed in for the tying touchdown midway through the second quarter, but that 15-play drive ended in a fumble at the eight-yard line. The impressive drive wasn't a total waste, because the Wolves' defense forced Kanab to punt and the snap went over the punter's head for a safety.
Three plays later Enterprise took the lead 9-7 on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Cody Nielson to Jerron Evans.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com