That is one of the best defensive efforts we’ve had against a Bountiful team. You have to come prepared against coach Larry Wall. He’s one of the finest coaches in the state and that fullback trap is legendary. – Lone Peak coach Mike Mower
HIGHLAND — Playing Lone Peak on its home field is always a tough way to begin the season, but this year it was especially so for Bountiful which made the long trip south for this year’s traditional opener between the two teams and came away scoreless.
The Knights dominated from start to finish in a 31-0 dismantling Friday night that was the season opener for both teams.
The Knights scored four touchdowns, all by different players, and added a 34-yard field goal by kicker Thomas Rossi.
Not only did the offense roam freely around the field, but the defense also was solid for the Knights.
“That is one of the best defensive efforts we’ve had against a Bountiful team,” said Lone Peak coach Mike Mower. “You have to come prepared against coach Larry Wall. He’s one of the finest coaches in the state and that fullback trap is legendary.”
Lone Peak split playing time between its two quarterbacks, although it was senior Talmage Gunther who ended up with two touchdown passes, both in the first half.
“I like them both,” Mower said of Gunther and junior QB Dakota Hansen. “Either one of them could win a ball game for us. I can’t say enough about the both of them.”
The Knights got on the scoreboard first midway through the first quarter after returning a Braves punt to the Bountiful 30. On the first play from scrimmage Gunther connected with Tyler MacPherson for a touchdown to put the Knights in front 7-0.
Late in the first quarter, Bountiful fumbled on its own 45. The ball was recovered by the Knights’ Terrell Levy. Five plays later, with 11:05 remaining in the half, Rossi kicked his field goal to put Lone Peak ahead 10-0.
Less than two minutes later the Knights forced another Bountiful punt. Thanks largely to a 30-yard pass completion from Gunther to Jackson McChesney and a roughing the passer penalty the Knights had the ball inside the Braves’ 10. Two plays later Gunther found McChesney in the end zone from five yards out to push the lead to 17-0, which was the score at halftime.
The two teams traded possessions to open the second half before Lone Peak’s Britton Bettridge picked off an Austin Parkinson pass and returned it seven yards for a pick six to give the Knights a commanding 24-0 lead with 4:05 left in the third quarter.
With the large lead, the Knights chose to pound the ball inside with Tyler Kap to work the clock down.
The Knights' final score came at the end of a seven-minute, 12-play drive with only 3:37 remaining in the game. Ty Towle got loose from the 6 and found the end zone to close the scoring.
“I loved how we just moved the ball on the ground in the second half,” said Mower. “That’s one of the things I’m pleased with the most, just running between the tackles, which was one of our goals this season.”
Drew Daniels is a Utah County native and has covered local sporting events for several news organizations including the Deseret News since 1988.
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