HIGHLAND — One way to win a football game is to torch the opponent with a gaudy display of offense, piling up yardage, pulling off big plays and ringing the scoreboard at a frenetic pace.
That's one way.
Bountiful's path to victory took a different course Friday night. The Braves stayed cool through an early deadlock, then displayed an uncanny knack for capitalizing on opportunities as they defeated Lone Peak, 30-9.
"We controlled the ball," said Bountiful coach Larry Wall, whose team turned the Knights' eight turnovers into three touchdowns and three field goals. "I don't know if we had a turnover, and in early-season games that's always a big thing."
Actually, the Braves did turn the ball over on downs on their opening drive, but that stalled effort was the team's only significant missed opportunity. That drive came after Lone Peak fumbled the ball away on its first series, but the stalled Bountiful march allowed the Knights a chance at redemption. Senior quarterback Tannon Pederson completed all six of his pass attempts for 61 yards as Lone Peak drove to the 1-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, however, linebacker Manny Griffiths stuffed the Knights' short rush attempt.
While the Knights did break the scoring ice with a 45-yard field goal by Ryne MacPherson at the outset of the second quarter, that end zone denial was indicative of how Bountiful's defense dictated the complexion of the game. Bountiful was handed short fields and converted with short scoring runs by Mitch Johnson (14 carries, 31 yards) and Ben Lemon (five carries, 30 yards) and three consecutive field goals by Spencer Mohlman.
"I thought that I might be scared, but I was really confident," said Mohlman, who was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts from 23, 35 and 38 yards. "I had a great week at practice."
Pederson (19-for-35 for 201 yards) linked up with a leaping Jacob Hannemann (three receptions, 26 yards) on an 11-yard score late in the fourth period for Lone Peak's only touchdown. Tyler Farr (71 yards on 11 carries) and Johnson carried the bulk of the offensive load for Bountiful, which tallied 160 rushing yards.