MURRAY — If there is an award handed out for the prettiest football game, Cottonwood's 34-20 win over Sky View at home Friday night was most definitely not a candidate. Amidst a multitude of penalties and dropped passes from both teams, the Colts (1-1) managed to cobble enough big plays together to hold off the Bobcats (1-1).
Cottonwood running back Stephen Carter rumbled his way to 138 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Crosby Jensen threw for three scores of his own. While those two posted the most glossy stats, it was the Colts' defensive front that dominated the game and frustrated Bobcats star Kyler Carlsen.
"Sky View is a really good team, so I'm proud of our guys," Colts coach Cecil Thomas said. "Our defensive coaches did a great job of
preparing them (for Carlsen). We knew if we could slow him down then we'd have a chance."
Cottonwood jumped out of the gates immediately with a 52-yard kick return by Spencer Larsen that put them deep into Sky View territory.
Carter then thundered through the defense for a 29-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Jordan Neilsen and the Sky View defense were then able to force the Colts into an interception and punt on two consecutive possessions, but a missed field goal, several dropped passes and an interception thrown to Shane Hansen kept the Bobcats from scoring.
Carter would answer again for Cottonwood, this time with a 44-yard dash to the end zone through the heart of the Bobcat defense. While the Sky View offense continued to sputter, Jensen found his groove and threw for two touchdowns to spot the Colts a 28-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Sky View finally responded with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Carlsen to tight end Brad Lenkersdorfer to narrow the gap just before halftime. Inspired, the Bobcats came out strong in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 28-14 on a 25-yard interception return by Andy Maughan.
Hopes were dashed, though, by Jensen's 38-yard bomb to a wide-open Jason Lundquist for the receiver's second score of the night and a 34-14 lead. The Bobcats continued to battle, but mental errors and the tough Cottonwood defense, led by stout nose guard Brennan Wrinkle, had already taken their toll.
Carlsen finished the night 21 for 53 for 215 yards and two touchdowns along with 51 yards and a score on the ground.
The winning margin could have been larger, had it not been for several personal foul calls and nearly a dozen dropped passes by the Colts. Even still, the win served to heal some of the wounds left by their loss at Alta last week.
"I'm proud of the way our kids bounced back from last week," said Thomas. "They stayed focused and answered back tonight."
Cottonwood takes the long trip to St. George to play Pine View next week, while Sky View returns to Salt Lake for a night at Jordan.