ST. GEORGE — As far as impersonations go, Alec Mecham does a pretty good James Lark.
Mecham, Pine View's junior signal-caller, was spectacular in leading the Panthers to a 46-13 win over Douglas, Alaska.
Wearing jersey number seven, Mecham tossed five touchdown passes and ran for another, reminding many Pine View fans of former Panther and current BYU Cougar James Lark.
"We just took what they gave us and they chose to stack the box on defense," PV assistant coach Telly Esplin said. "Alec really spread the ball around well and made some great reads."
If the Crimson Bears' scouting report said to stop the Pine View rushing game and rely on man coverage, it would make sense as the Panthers were an impressive running team last season with QB Justin Ence at the controls.
But the team from Juneau found out very early that this is a very different team than last year. Mecham found senior captain Mike McLaws on a 67-yard catch-and-run TD less than four minutes into the game to put the Panthers on top.
Two more touchdown throws in the first quarter, one the Chris McDonald and the other to Cole Wilstead, may have had the Bears wondering why they made the seven hour plane ride. Before the first quarter siren had sounded, Mecham had nearly 200 passing yards and the Panthers led 21-0.
Mecham found Kaden Hosner for another score and a pair of fumbles by Douglas mafe it a 28-0 advantage at the half.
All totaled, Mecham was 24-for-34 for 352 yards passing and five scores. In a ball control second half that was a little more reminiscent of Ence and Co., Mecham racked up 97 yards and rushed one in from four yards out.
"They chose to man cover our receivers and we have an excellent receiving corps," Esplin said. "They adjusted a little at halftime, but by the time they scored we had pulled most of the varsity players."
Five different receivers caught at least four passes for the Panthers, including McLaws (four catches for 136 yards), McDonald (5-46, two TDs), Cole Wilstead (4-61, TD), Hosner (4-59, TD) and running back Matt Feula (4-26), who also rushed for 56 yards in the game.