Box score

The highlights kept coming for Bountiful Friday night as the Redhawks rolled past Park City 38-20 in the 5A playoffs. It was an impressive effort by Bountiful on both sides of the ball.

“We’ve been working hard all week and had a great game plan walking in here,” said Bountiful’s Drew Bowles. 

Bowles and his teammates didn’t mark up the scoreboard first in the game. That honor went to Park City after Stephen Shagen booted a 33-yard field goal on the opening drive that ate up more than five minutes of the clock. But it was the only time Park City looked in control of the game as Bountiful built a 17-6 halftime lead using both its passing and ground game.

“I can’t say enough about our offensive line tonight,” said Bowles. “They always dig deep and work hard.” 

That line kick-started the Redhawk offense by giving quarterback Owen Geilman enough time to find a wide open Teagan Dougher for 49 yards and a quick answer on the ensuing drive. Ben Smith added the PAT, and then made good on a 44-yard field goal attempt 14 seconds into the second quarter. Park City tried to find an answer after the two Redhawk scores, but Dougher intercepted a Miners’ pass that eventually led to a 1-yard plunge by Bowles. 

Shagen added a 42-yard field goal for Park City to end the half, but settling for field goals with Bountiful rolling was not what Park City wanted.

Bountiful added two touchdowns in the third quarter, one from its offense and one from its defense to build the lead to 31-6. Corbin Cottle made a few moves behind his lead blockers for a 16-yard touchdown, and then it was Bowles turn for an interception that he returned 48 yards as the third quarter ended.

“Our defense played really hard, really well tonight,” said Bountiful coach Jason Freckleton. “Coach (Jason) Walker does a fantastic job with those guys. All week long they studied film, broke things down, made adjustments and it showed tonight.”

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Park City’s Chase Breyer scored the Miners’ first touchdown of the game on a 7-yard keeper, but the kicked failed to keep the game at 31-12 with 4:47 left to play. Trying to just eat up the clock, Bowles broke free behind his blockers for another Redhawk score. The run one-upped his interception return as this dash was from 49 yards with 3:50 left in the game. The Miners capped off the scoring on an 86-yard run by Blake Tabarracci and two-point conversion.

“It’s always tough (to lose), but at some point it’s going to come to an end,” said Park City coach Josh Montzingo. “You hope to be a little bit closer than we were tonight, but unfortunately we ran into a really good team.”

Bountiful looks to keep its momentum going against 5A power Orem next week

“Hats off to Park City, great program,” said Freckleton. “Now we are looking forward to next week and another tough team.”

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