SANDY — The Brighton-Alta boys soccer rivalry has a lot to live up to. Through the years, the two titans of the state's largest classification have produced a host of memorable moments and a number of thrilling matches.
Add their latest encounter, which Alta won 3-2, to that list. And few would complain if you put it somewhere near the top.
Brighton and Alta, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Class 5A, renewed their fantastic rivalry Tuesday afternoon, and the emotionally-charged contest featured, among other things, a handful of well-worked goals, a monstrous crowd, a controversial red card, and several outstanding individual performances.
Both teams also showed plenty of determination, and in the end, it was the Hawks who earned the three points.
"That's what I'm so happy about — we played with heart," said Alta coach Lee Mitchell. "You've got to be good and you've got be lucky, and today, we were both."
It was the Hawks' first victory over their arch rival since 2001.
Alta senior Blake Tillotson led his squad with a fantastic effort. The central midfielder won ball after ball for the Hawks, helped shut down Brighton star Ryan Ulanch, and scored Alta's first two goals.
Both of Tillotson's strikes came off assists from striker Colby Swensen. Brighton fought back each time to equalize the scoreline, but Swensen finally put them away in the 72nd minute.
After collecting a ball from a Brighton attack, Alta goalie Aaron Weymann quickly boomed the ball down field. It eventually broke to forward Garrett Losee, who played a sweet through ball to Swensen. He beat Brighton goalie Jaddon Rogers, who was rushing off his line, and clipped the ball into the net.
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Swensen, a senior transfer from Jordan, enjoyed his first taste of the Brighton-Alta grudge match.
"It definitely turned out to be an intense rivalry," he said.
That intensity showed through when Brighton coach Russ Boyer was red-carded in the 77th minute. Boyer was given a straight red card for entering the playing field, even though the rule book says a yellow card should be awarded for such an offense.
Tillotson's first goal came just 70 seconds into the match. Less than a minute later, though, he was shown a yellow card for an innocuous challenge. However, he managed to keep his cool and continued to anchor Alta's midfield without getting a second yellow.
The three-sport star has signed to play basketball at Utah State, and, as Mitchell pointed out, he showed Tuesday he could probably make it as a D-1 soccer player, too.
"He's just a phenomenal athlete," said Mitchell.
Because of basketball, Tillotson only had one soccer practice before the season began. However, it seems like he's now back in the flow of things.
"I think maybe it took me a while to get my touch," he said.
Justin Latimer and Jantzen Romney scored the Bengals' goals. Romney clipped the post twice, but the senior captain finally bagged his first goal of the season later in the match.
In other action Tuesday:
REGION 2
ALTA 3, BRIGHTON 2:Blake Tillotson scored twice and was magnificent in midfield as the second-ranked Hawks beat their arch rival and Class 5A's No. 1 team for the first time since 2001. Colby Swensen scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute. Justin Latimer and Jantzen Romney each had one strike for Brighton.
JORDAN 3, SKYLINE 0:Jake Hustedt found the net twice and Sina Alipour added another goal as the Beetdiggers' Adam Norris recorded the shutout.
TAYLORSVILLE 2, HILLCREST 1: Taylorsville's Alex Nelson scored the game-winner with about two minutes remaining in the second half. Jared Trussell had the other goal for Taylorsville. Both goals were assisted by Mike Trussell.
REGION 3
COPPER HILLS 2, KEARNS 0: Copper Hills goalkeeper Michael Clausen had a strong game, preserving a shutout victory over Kearns. Jake McNinch and Evans Tackie scored for the Grizzlies as they improved to 2-0-1 in region play.
HUNTER 3, RIVERTON 2: Wolverines' Dennis Sellis scored twice including the game-winner with less than five minutes remaining in the game to hand the Silverwolves their first region loss. Robbie Brito scored twice for the Silverwolves in the first half and Chris Hoyt also found the net for the Wolverines.
WEST JORDAN 2, BINGHAM 0:Adrian Martinez found the net twice on assists from Josh Vanrij, while Walker Bickmore as James Conrad and the Jaguar defense has yet to allow a goal in Region 3 play.
REGION 4
MOUNTAIN VIEW 4, AMERICAN FORK 0:David Salazar, Michael Delatore, Mike Moreno, and Scott Carlson each scored and Michael Chesler picked up the shutout to keep the Bruins undefeated in region play.
REGION 5
SKY VIEW 2, MOUNTAIN CREST 1: The Bobcats improved to 4-1 in region play, receiving goals from Lathan Lawson and Vic Carlson.
WOODS CROSS 0, ROY 0 (2OT): The double-overtime scoreless game showcased the goalkeeping of Matt Jensen and Jordan Petersen for Woods Cross and Jake Peterson for Roy.
BONNEVILLE 2, BOX ELDER 1 (OT):Jesse Kupfer scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
REGION 6
EAST 4, COTTONWOOD 1:Sean Swenson, Eric Alatorre, Judd Tidwell and Jake Cook each scored goals as the Leopards downed the Colts on the road. Igor Ivakovic scored for the Colts in the loss.
WEST 2, MURRAY 1 (2OT):Nick Zumaeta scored twice including the golden-goal in the second overtime with less than a minute remaining to help the Panthers edge the Spartans. Mike Bird scored for the Spartans in the loss.
HIGHLAND 6, CYPRUS 0:Hogir Ali had a hat trick in the first half and Phillip Menezes had four assists to lead the Rams to the win. Bewar Yousif picked up the shutout.
OLYMPUS 3, GRANGER 0:Elvis Bajrektarevic scored first, Zack Neff converted on Jeff Sonntag's corner kick and Andrew Radcliffe finished the scoring off a penalty kick as Nate Young recorded the shutout for the Titans. The Titans have not allowed a Region 6 opponent to score a goal yet.
REGION 7
OREM 4, PROVO 2:Brad Howard played well in the goal as the Tigers scored four goals in 12 minutes to begin the second half and upset second-ranked Provo. Jason Bodine scored twice and Eric Sackett and James Parker each netted one goal.
REGION 9
SNOW CANYON 1, HURRICANE 0:Luis Alegria scored the lone goal off of a deflection during a free kick with less than eight minutes remaining in the second half in the Warriors victory. Trevor Moore recorded the shutout for the Warriors.
DIXIE 3, CEDAR 1: The Flyers improved to 6-0 in region play thanks to a two-goal effort by forward Travis Del Toro. Matt Hansen scored the lone goal for Cedar.
PINE VIEW 2, CANYON VIEW 1:Francisco Arellano and Ricardo Arrellno scored for Pine View in the second half, breaking open a scoreless tie.
REGION 11
LOGAN 3, BEAR RIVER 2:James Calvinmonte scored in the first half and Fabrice Kalala and Shay Merrill each added a second-half goal as No. 2 Logan took control of Region 11. Blake Pence and Seth Hansen both scored once for the Bears.
BEN LOMOND 1, TOOELE 0:Christian Garcia accounted for the Scots' lone goal as he deflected in a free kick. Alex Leon earned the shutout.
OGDEN 2, GRANTSVILLE 0:Andrew Van Hook recorded a shutout in his first varsity start, giving the Tigers an easy victory. Ogden got goals from Brandon Gilbert and Nick Smock.
REGION 14
ST. JOSEPH 6, SOUTH SUMMIT 0:Joe Puskedra recorded a hat-trick and Giuseppe Cuminetti, Colter Gilliland and Ben Cilwick each chipped in with goals as the Jayhawks pounded the Wildcats. Mark Howerton recorded the shutout for the Jayhawks.
WATERFORD 2, ROWLAND HALL 1: Waterford's Matt Ward scored the game-winning goal with 15 minutes remaining in the second half on a breakway past Rowland Hall's defense. Rowland Hall's Stan Freedman and Waterford's Spencer Linsley each scored in the first half.
REGION 17
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE 8, LAYTON CHRISTIAN 2: Colton Kley scored four goals and Jeong Hwan Jee added another two goals for Christian Heritage. Justin Watts and Jinsu Joung also scored for Christian Heritage and Colby Liston and D.J. Lester scored for Layton Christian.