SARATOGA SPRINGS — When the Wasatch High School varsity football team rolled into Westlake territory on Friday night, it had a mission — to stop the dual threat of playmakers Chaz Ah You and Alemo Te’o.
For the most part, the Wasps came through on that quest. What they failed to do was muster any offensive threats of their own. That, plus, stymie the unexpected big play ability of quarterback Saia Taufatofua and Nathaniel Corporan, who burned the visitors with two first-half touchdown connections.
Those two scores set the tone for the game, putting the Thunder up 14-3 early in the second period, forcing Wasatch to play catch-up football with an offense that had not scored a touchdown since the first half of its win last week at Ogden.
“It's frustrating getting into the red zone and not getting the points,” said Wasatch QB Garrett Davis. “Our defense gave us some opportunities and we moved the ball well at times, but when it counted we came up short.”
The Westlake stadium was packed and fired-up for its team’s home opener, and it showed from the opening kick-off. The Thunder took possession at the Wasatch 20 and marched 80 yards for the first points of the night.
Taufatofua connected with Corporan in the middle of the end zone for a 9-yard completion. Nate Devries nailed his first of five PATs and the score was 7-0 less than five minutes into the game.
Wasatch was forced to punt on its first possession after failing to make a first down, but got the ball back quickly after a Thunder fumble near midfield. The Wasps failed to move the ball again but got a huge play on Skyler Southam’s 50-yard punt that pinned the home team at its own 2-yard line.
A big defensive stand by the Wasps forced Westlake to punt from its own end zone. That gave Wasatch the ball at the Thunder 38, where Southam was able to nail a 33-yard field goal after the visitors showed glimpses of life on offense.
The home team took possession and moved the ball to midfield. On the first play of the second quarter, Taufatofua found Corporan on a short pass on third and 8 that the shifty receiver took 50 yards to the house. Devries made the point after kick, making the score 14-3.
The first half of the game was marred with yellow flags. Penalties on both sides of the ball, especially personal fouls by Westlake, slowed momentum and at times raised the tension on the sidelines.
After a 57-yard kick-off return by the Wasps’ Kaden Trowbridge gave his team first and 10 at the 33, Wasatch was forced to try another field goal. This time the 35-yarder just missed and the Thunder took possession.
More penalties and a stiffening Wasp defense pushed the home team backwards. On second and 20 from its own 10-yard line, Taufatofua was sacked by a hard-charging Jake Davis at the 1-foot line, forcing the Thunder to punt again from their own end zone.
Wasatch looked to be getting another break with good field position until the punt recovery was fumbled, giving the ball right back to the home team.
Sensing a reeling visitor, Westlake went for the throat on the very next play. On first and 10 from the 50, Taufatofua launched a bomb down the right sideline, hitting a wide-open Jed Killian for a touchdown. Devries made it 21-3 with his PAT at 7:44 in the second quarter.
The teams traded drives, resulting in punts before Wasatch was able to penetrate enemy territory after Davis took off on a 36-yard dash that gave the visitors first and goal at the 6.
Failing to capitalize yet again on the red zone opportunity, Wasatch brought in Southam, who booted the 25-yard attempt to bring the score to 21-6 with 37 seconds remaining in the half.
On the Wasps' second possession of the third period, their kicker made good on a long 46-yard field goal to open the scoring at the 8-minute mark in the second half. With Southam closing the gap to 21-9, the visitors were looking for a comeback.
A fired-up Wasatch defense shut down Westlake on three plays after the kick-off forcing a punt before the play that would seemingly kill the momentum for the Wasps.
On third and 10 from their own 40, Davis dropped back on a designed screen meant for his tailback, when Thunder defensive lineman Gabe Summers leaped high for the fingertip interception. With only the Wasatch QB in his way, Summers rambled the distance to paydirt before a frenzied home crowd. Devries added the conversion to give Westlake 28 points to the Wasps’ 9.
Wasatch, refusing to give in, managed a drive that took it to the Westlake 27-yard line after a 45-yard bomb from Davis to receiver Nick Piscitelli. Wasatch, again, stalled offensively after getting to the 14. A bad snap on Southam’s final FG attempt from that spot resulted in the kicker getting sacked with the ball.
Westlake put the game away with a time-consuming drive that culminated in a 1-yard TD run by tailback Kawika Sa’aga. The PAT by Devries was good, making the score 35-9 with just over five minutes to play.
Instead of getting the chance to answer, Wasatch fumbled the kick-off return, handing the ball back to the Thunder. The home team moved the ball into the red zone where Devries was able to boot a 39-yard field goal before the end of regulation, making the final score 38-9.
Wasatch, now 1-1 in preseason, opens its home schedule next week against Orem and hopes to find an offense that has kept it out of the end zone, despite plenty of opportunities provided by a strong defense, for six straight quarters.
Kenny Bristow is the sports editor and staff sports writer for the Wasatch Wave and contributes to the Deseret News high school coverage for the Wasatch region. Email: kennywbristow@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook.