WEST JORDAN — It wasn't pretty, but for coach Wes Roesler and the Box Elder Bees a 22-20 win over Copper Hills despite 110 yards in penalties was a welcomed improvement.
"I didn't think it was sloppy. Last week we threw three interceptions and gave up some touchdowns on punts. The kids had a rough week of practice to correct some mistakes from last week and they've responded."
A week ago the Bees dug themselves a 35-12 hole in three quarters against long-time rival Weber and could not close the gap despite 17 fourth-quarter points.
A comfortable seven-point fourth-quarter lead against the Grizzlies marks improved play by the Bees, but also Copper Hills' early offensive failures.
"We're just loaded with penalties," said Copper Hills coach Art Erickson. "We came up with some big plays but offensive penalties killed us."
Copper Hills racked up 11 penalties for 91 yards, including two personal fouls on 6-foot-2, 340-pound lineman Sealver Siliga. Siliga lost his cool during a pileup after failed Box Elder fourth down conversion near mid-field. The senior was ejected, and instead of taking over possession in good field position, The Bees got the ball back on the Grizzly 15.
Two plays later quarterback Roman Neville found Jake Robertson in the corner of the end zone.. After a Sean Barnett two-point conversion, Box Elder held an 8-0 lead at half time.
The Grizzlies picked things up in the second half. After only 30 yards in the first half, Damian Tippets ended the game with 131 yards on 18 carries, including a 70-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14.
"We tried to establish the run in the second half," Erickson said. "(Tippets) did an excellent job for us." After Neville capped a late fourth-quarter drive with a two-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion, the Grizzlies took over with eighty yards and two minutes to go. Grizzly quarterback Jake Lisonbee scrambled for twenty yards for a first down near midfield, and after two Box Elder penalties, Copper Hills found themselves on the Bee twenty-five with less than a minute to play.
Lisonbee found receiver Parker Beveridge inside the five with forty seconds left. After an incomplete pass, Lisonbee found the end zone on a bootleg, cutting the Box Elder lead to two.
But Box Elder's Jeremy Galvin and Raul Puga stuffed Tippets at the one yard line on the two-point conversion attempt. After a failed onside kick, Neville took a knee as the remaining 20 seconds ticked off the clock.
The Bees will host defending 3A state champ Bear River next week while the Grizzlies visit the Hillcrest Huskies.