That was a crazy game — probably fun to watch but not fun to coach. – Mountain Crest coach Mark Wootton
SALT LAKE CITY — Nothing’s better on high school football’s opening night than a barnburner. That’s exactly what Highland and Mountain Crest provided in a seesaw battle that ended with the Mustangs grabbing a 35-28 victory in the final minute.
Highland looked to be the stronger team out of the gate on its newly remodeled field. The Rams jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter with quarterback James Pembroke using his legs rather than his arm to score from 1- and 8 yards out. The Rams missed their first extra point due to a low snap, but Camron Keyvani connected for his second try.
But, as good as the Rams looked in the first stretch, the Mustangs topped it in the second quarter with 21 points to go up at halftime. Quarterback Tanner Schwab found a hot target in Dallas Niemann as the duo scored Mountain Crest’s first two touchdowns of the game.
“Niemann is a special kid,” said Mountain Crest coach Mark Wootton. “He played a little for us last year, but this past summer and heading into the game, he’s been on a tear.”
The Mustangs tacked on another score when Cody Olsen scooped up a fumble by Pembroke and scampered 35 yards for the TD. Luis Guerra hit all three extra points.
Out of the halftime locker room, things appeared to be the same with Mountain Crest’s Kort Fuller scoring from the 1-yard line and Guerra converting again to put the Mustangs up 28-13 in the third quarter.
But Highland wouldn't quit and tied the game at 28-28 in the fourth quarter. Highland coach Brody Benson spotted something with the Rams driving around the 10-minute mark, as he called for a timeout that was followed with a 28-yard burst up the middle that left Pembroke untouched for his third touchdown. The Rams made good on their two-point conversion and then Pembroke tossed a 79-yard pass to a wide-open Ryan Lambson before Keyvani booted the extra point to tie the game at 28-28.
In a deadlock, Mountain Crest went back to its bread and butter with Schwab hitting Niemann five times in the final drive, including the game-winner from 13 yards out with just under a minute to play.
“That was a crazy game — probably fun to watch but not fun to coach,” said Wooton. “Brody Benson and his staff are some of the classiest around and we’ve battled each other for years so tonight wasn’t a surprise. Our team kept battling and it was good to come back.”