We just said defense keep doing what you're doing, offense do what you're doing, and we're right where we went to be – South Summit coach Mike Grajek
OGDEN — Running back Riley Bayles has been a footnote to South Summit’s success this year — until Thursday.
The junior rushed for a season-high 174 yards and two touchdowns to lead South Summit to a convincing 38-21 victory over San Juan in the 2A semifinals at Weber State.
Over half of Bayles’ yards came in the second half as South Summit broke open a tie game at the half by scoring 21 unanswered points.
“They emptied the box on us and dared us to run,” said South Summit coach Mike Grajek. “We’ve been telling him all year that he’s one of the best backs but we haven’t had to show it and he showed it today.”
Despite San Juan emptying the box in an effort to slow South Summit’s passing game, the Wildcats were still just as lethal through the air as quarterback Nick Beasley completed 23 of 39 for 354 yards and two touchdowns.
Beasley, however, deflected all credit to the effectiveness of Bayles with consistently moving the chains.
With the victory, South Summit advances to next Saturday’s 2A championship game at Southern Utah, where it will face Beaver at 11 a.m. in a rematch of last year’s title game.
Turnovers plagued both teams on Thursday, with San Juan committing five and South Summit four. The turnovers really hurt South Summit early.
San Juan opened the scoring on a 15-yard halfback touchdown pass from Jaxon Lee to Jordan Blake midway through the first quarter one play after a Beasley interception.
Later in the second quarter with the game tied 14-14, Beasley threw another interception, and this one was returned 87 yards for a touchdown by Blake.
Just before halftime, though, Keagan Stracher hauled in a one-handed 26-yard touchdown pass from Beasley to tie the score at 21-21.
“I just told the kids it’s a good thing we can score. I don’t think our offense had any doubt, and we went in at halftime and that’s what we talked about,” said Grajek. “We just said defense keep doing what you’re doing, offense do what you’re doing, and we’re right where we went to be.”
South Summit’s defense forced three more interceptions in the second half and the Bayles-led offense continued to do its part.
Bayles gave South Summit a 28-21 lead on a 1-yard plunge with 9:13 left in the third, and then Trey Hatch stretched the lead to 31-21 on a 29-yard field goal.
Hagen Miles iced the victory with a 2-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter.
South Summit finished with 577 yards of total offense compared to just 280 yards for San Juan.
Deseret News prep editor and Real Salt Lake beat writer. EMAIL: jedward@deseretnews.com