PROVO — One week after a jittery, penalty-filled win over Pleasant Grove, the Timpview Thunderbirds look to be rounding into form just in time for a huge game against Alta next week. Timpview gave visiting Highland, Idaho, plenty to think about on its long bus ride home, rolling over the Rams in a 45-12 blowout. Thunderbird quarterback Christian Covey completed 13 of 14 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Bryson McKenzie added 138 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries.
"He really spreads the defense," Covey said. "At any given moment Bryson can break one, and he's also a great pass blocker."
The senior running back broke the game open early. On Timpview's first play of the game, McKenzie burst through the Highland defensive line, leveled a linebacker, and rumbled down the east sideline for a 67-yard touchdown run. Just two minutes later, a pair of Covey completions set up another 58-yard McKenzie rushing touchdown.
"He impressed me for as big as he is," Timpview coach Louis Wong said. "I hope people are watching him because I think he's a real talent."
Despite their dominance throughout most of the first half, the Rams were able to take advantage of a Timpview miscue late in the first quarter. After recovering a fumbled punt return, Highland quarterback Tanner Nielson led his team on a six-play, 64-yard scoring drive. The senior found junior Justin Lindberry in the northwest corner of the end zone for the Rams' first touchdown.
Highland continued to move the ball better in the second and third quarters, but struggled to put points on the board after long drives. The Rams also had no answer for Timpview's powerful offense. Covey completed his first 11 passes and found nine different receivers. Zack Van Leeuwen, Covey's favorite target of the night, had four catches for 119 yards, including a 66-yard reception near the end of the first quarter that set up another McKenzie rushing touchdown.
"Our receivers did an excellent job tonight of getting yards after the catch," Covey said. "They're all extremely talented."
Timpview led 38-12 at halftime. After another Covey touchdown pass to Ricky Shumway early in the third quarter, Wong pulled his starters and watched his team coast to a 45-12 victory.
With the win, Timpview improves to 2-0, which is a better start than last year's state champion squad. The Thunderbirds opened their 2009 campaign with a loss at Pleasant Grove, and a close win over Highland. Could Timpview actually be better than the team that marched through the 4A State playoffs virtually uncontested a season ago?
"You know, it's early, but eventually, yeah," Wong said. "That's always our goal — to be better every year. That's what you have to do to be where we are today."
The Thunderbirds' final preseason game will be a big test of that proposition. Next Friday Timpview hosts Alta, a team that handed the Thunderbirds their worst loss of the season last year.