PROVO — Coming out of the blocks, the Provo Bulldogs (1-1) looked deflated after giving up a touchdown to the Lehi Pioneers (0-2) on the opening kickoff.
But settling down, Provo ripped off three straight unanswered scores en route to a 26-19 nonregion win.
Clint Ash's scamper 75 yards for Lehi quieted the crowd, especially after Ash fumbled a bit on the squib kick before marching through the Bulldogs' special teams.
"Special teams killed us," Provo coach Clint Christiansen said. "We gave them all the points on special teams. Offensively, I was happy the way we played. Defensively we played great."
After the obvious setback, it was running back Cameron Meyers who later stole the show in racking up 135 rushing yards on 17 carries. Quarterback Matt Griner also helped him out on the option with 35 rushing yards.
The big play for Meyers came on the Bulldogs' only completed pass of the night, a screen pass that turned into a 70-yard dash down the left sideline on their first series.
"It was an 18 screen just to the outside," Meyers said. "Coach (Christiansen) tells us to go up the sidelines, so that's what we did."
Anthony Miles put Provo up for good on a punt return that looked to pin them back at first. Miles' muff would have started the offense back at the 15-yard line, but somehow he got to the right sideline and didn't look back for the touchdown that put the Bulldogs up 13-7 in the first quarter.
Kyler Hamilton finished Provo's scoring in the first half with a nice run from an option pitch.
Lehi didn't come out of the break looking as if they had already lost the game. Josh Miller's 85-yard touchdown punt return cut the deficit to six. A 45-yard field goal from Spencer Gray and a safety on a blocked punt in the end zone gave Provo only a one-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter.
Meyers put the game away with a seven-yard run up the middle, but a dropped snap by Griner still gave Lehi a chance with several minutes left to play.
"If we didn't get that (touchdown), it would have been down to the wire because it would have kept them in it," Meyers said.
The Pioneers defense tried to give the team a chance, but a roughing-the-punter call let Provo run down the five minutes left on the clock. They got within Lehi's 10-yard line and decided to let the last few seconds tick off.
"As long as we get a little better, we will be all right," Christiansen said.