Critical second half defensive adjustments, turnovers and fourth down stops key to Sky View’s 4A semifinal win over Dixie

SALT LAKE CITY — For most of the season, the Sky View Bobcats could boast they had one of the best defenses in the 4A classification.

Heading into Friday night’s semifinal contest against the Dixie Flyers, the Bobcats had allowed only 10.8 points per game, second only to Park City. 

Shutouts were the norm in and around Smithfield, as Sky View blanked five different opponents over the course of the season, including Ridgeline, Bear River, Providence Hall and Cedar Valley.

“That is something we have thrived on all year long. Including our fourth-down stops, we have created 52 turnovers this year. These kids know it — they thrive off of it.” — Sky View coach Chris Howell

Through the first half of their 49-21 win over the Flyers at Rice-Eccles Stadium, however, that stifling defense was nowhere to be seen. 

Dixie, of course, boasted one of the best offenses in the classification — the Flyers were No. 2 overall in points scored per game at 41.8 — and it showed early, whether it be a rushing touchdown by quarterback Reggie Graff in the first quarter, a 19-yard reception by Tyler Walden in the second quarter or a 6-yard scoring run by Preston Moore two minutes before halftime.

At the half, the Bobcats and Flyers were knotted at 21 points apiece, and if not for the play of the Sky View secondary, chief among them Traeson Martindale and Scout Morris, who had 12 and eight tackles at that points, respectively, Dixie may have held a lead.

Everything changed in the second half, though.

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A few small adjustments brought back the once dominant Sky View defense.

The result was a second half shutout by the Bobcats.

“Just super impressed with the way our kids played in the second half,” Sky View head coach Chris Howell said. “Thought it was a complete turnaround. We came out and got a stop and got our defense energized a little bit. A really simple adjustment to where their back was setting got our guys relaxed and then they played.”

• Watch replay: Sky View 49, Dixie 21

Turnovers proved vital as the Bobcats finished with two interceptions, one by Martindale, the other courtesy of Mason Falslev.

Throw in the Flyers’ 0-for-2 mark on fourth-down tries and the Bobcats forced four turnovers in the game.

That is nothing new, according to Howell. That is simply Sky View football this year.

“Turnovers was the other thing,” he said. “That is something we have thrived on all year long. Including our fourth-down stops, we have created 52 turnovers this year. These kids know it — they thrive off of it.”

They certainly did Friday night.