WEST VALLEY CITY — During a span of five minutes — more than an hour in real time though because of halftime and a 35-minute lightning delay — Hunter did absolutely everything right against visiting Highland.
It only ran five offensive plays during the stretch, but it scored three TDs and in the process blew the game wide open en route to a 25-7 win Friday night.
"Winning football games is hard work. I tell these guys all the time. It's not easy to win football games," said Hunter coach Dustin Pearce.
The Wolverines are now 2-0, and feeling much better about themselves than they did this time last year after a 27-3 loss to Highland.
The decisive stretch began late in the first half. Davonte Maez scored on a 17-yard touchdown reception from Peter Fuimaono with 37 seconds remaining in the half to make it 10-0. Early in the third, Ekuasi Tavo burst through the middle of the line of scrimmage untouched for an 81-yard score to make it 16-0. It was the first of two big plays for the Wolverines.
Two plays after a 35-minute lightning delay, Mason Hafen hauled in a deep pass from Fuimaono and outran a stumbling Highland defender for a 78-yard score that extended Hunter's lead to 22-0.
"That's good to see this early," said Pearce about the big plays. "We can so some different things and make people be more honest."
That was all Hunter's stout defense needed as it held Highland to 223 yards and forced two turnovers.
"Highland's a good football team, it's very seldom you hold them to seven points," said Pearce. "They had some decent drives, but we hung in and grinded it out. I'm proud of my kids."
Offensively, Tavo was the workhorse. He carried the ball 15 times for 163 yards, but it was his 81-yard touchdown that officially broke the Rams' backs.
"He's a good back. He's having good games because he's worked hard," said Pearce.
Despite trailing 10-0 at the half, Highland played Hunter fairly evenly and knew with a defensive stop and a quick score to start the second half it would be right back in the game. Tavo squashed those hopes two plays into the second with his big run.
Highland put together its lone scoring drive midway through the fourth quarter as Nate Fakahafua capped an 80-yard drive on a 27-yard TD reception from Thomas Barlow.
email: jedward@desnews.com