It’s surreal. Anytime you get a chance to win a state championship it’s crazy, but a three-peat ... I’m on cloud nine right now. – Timpview defensive lineman Gabe Reid
SALT LAKE CITY — Timpview’s stalwart defense proved to be the difference-maker in the Thunderbirds' 4A championship victory over Roy on Friday night.
After giving up a first-quarter touchdown, Timpview's 'D' shined the rest of the way to propel the T-Birds to the title.
“It’s surreal. Anytime you get a chance to win a state championship it’s crazy, but a three-peat ... I’m on cloud nine right now,” said Timpview defensive lineman Gabe Reid. “We came out kind of soft, but our defense stepped up in the second half so I think we deserve this one.”
Limiting the Roy offense has been more than a challenge for teams this season, with the Royals averaging 38 points against their respective opponents. Friday night was a perfect example of defense winning championships.
“Our coaches knew that we could live up to last year's defense, and we know that we could too,” defensive lineman Devin Kaufusi said after his two-sack night. “We wanted to prove to everyone that Timpview is ran on defense, and that defense wins championships.”
After leveling the game at 7-7 in the third quarter, it was the Timpview special teams that stepped up on the ensuing Roy possession. Forcing the Royals to punt deep in their own territory, Will Watanabe took the return 70 yards to pay dirt.
“Shout out to my teammates for all the blocking down the way. We did it all together,” said Watanabe. “I just kept telling myself to keep running. Keep running baby!”
The touchdown sparked a 28-point unanswered scoring streak that led the T-Birds to their third-consecutive 4A championship.
Not that it was easy to ultimately get there.
All didn’t seem well for the two-time defending champs in the first half. Trailing 7-0 heading into the break, it was a sense of urgency that the Timpview coaches preached in the locker room.
“Coach came in and said we’ve been down here at Rice-Eccles before, so it’s nothing new. This is our house and we own it,” said Kaufusi. “We’ve just got to settle in, and we knew that we had a lot more to go tonight.”
Own it, Timpview did.
“The coaches leave it up to us to be athletes, and that’s what our defense is," said Kaufusi. "If all 11 guys are doing their jobs, that’s all we’ve got to do.”
The T-Birds managed to finish the night with three interceptions.
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