The Football Gods finally smiled down on Woods Cross on Friday night.
Perhaps the most unlucky team in Utah this season after losing all four region games by one possession — twice with double digit leads in the fourth quarter as well — Woods Cross let out eight weeks of frustration on Viewmont in Week 9.
Canton Naegle passed for two touchdowns and Griffin Hess rushed for two more as the Wildcats rolled to the 38-0 win over Viewmont. (Box Score)
Now 1-8 on the season, Woods Cross will likely end up around a No. 20 RPI seed in the playoffs but its the type of team that could make some noise in the playoffs now that the team has tasted that elusive victory.
“Four weeks of frustration coming out all in one game. We’ve had some tough breaks a long the way and it feels good to finally have the ball bounce our way. Hopefully we can build off this feeling and keep it rolling into the playoffs,” said Woods Cross coach Tyler Gladwell.
The Region 5 title was on the line on Friday when Bonneville hosted Box Elder, but there wasn’t much drama thanks to the Lakers dominance in the 42-14 win. (Box Score)
Leading 14-7 after the first quarter, Bonneville stretched the lead to 28-7 by halftime and then 35-7 early in the third quarter as it claimed its 19th region title in school history, but first since 2002.
“I think that we (have) matured as a team week to week,” Bonneville coach Jantz Afuvai told the Deseret News after the game. “We’ve got to learn to control our emotions a little bit better, but we’re playing to win, we’re playing aggressive and I think that right now that’s working.”
Bonneville quarterback Kamen Best threw for four touchdowns in the victory.
Bountiful wrapped up third place in Region 5 on Friday afternoon with an impressive 16-0 shutout victory over Farmington. (Box Score)
The offense did all its scoring in the first quarter on a Jaden Tidwell touchdown pass to Brooks Fornelius and then a Corbin DuBois 57-yard touchdown run.
The Braves defense did the rest from there, even scoring on an intentional ground safety late in the fourth quarter.
To say that the Bountiful defense was dominant today would be doing a grave injustice to just how good they were! Farmington had to feel like there were 22 Braves on the other side of the ball! @anisipurcell @KelemeteJunior @teagan_dougher @AuvaaKalii @BravesBountiful pic.twitter.com/lAaxXPn6pU
— Game Night Live Rewind (@GNLRewind) October 10, 2020
While Bonneville wrapped up the Region 5 title in Week 9, the Region 8 title is completely up for grabs heading into Week 10 with Salem Hills, Maple Mountain, Wasatch and Springville all tied with 3-1 region records.
Wasatch had a chance to stay in sole possession of first place on Thursday night, but Salem Hills had other plans.
The Skyhawks played dominant defense for four quarters, and then Jarret Elmer threw for three touchdowns to lead his team to the 21-0 win over Wasatch. (Box Score)
Salem Hills hosts Wasatch next Friday with a chance to claim a share of the Region 8 title.
“We got a good chance at (a region championship) on Wednesday with Maple Mountain coming in. They have a good team and we’ve never won a championship here,” Salem Hills coach Jeff Higginson told the Deseret News after the game. “So we talk about it and we now have a shot. I couldn’t ask for anything more and I’m just proud of our guys.”
Wasatch, meanwhile, will have a chance to earn its share of the Region 8 title next week as it travels to Springville.
Maple Mountain earned its shot at a piece of the Region 8 title with a dominant 42-17 win over Provo. (Box Score)
Quarterback Tyler Nelson rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two more as his team jumped out to a 35-14 halftime lead and then put the game on cruise control in the second half.
Maple Mountain was well rested heading into the game after last week’s nonregion game with Mountain Ridge was canceled because of COVID-19.
Now, the preseason Region 8 favorites have a chance to back up that hype with a region title next Wednesday.
In the other Region 8 game on Friday, Spanish Fork dominated Payson as expected with the 58-0 victory. (Box Score)
It was still a very notable night though in Payson as the teams met for the 100th time. It was the second Utah rivalry that reached the century mark this season as Box Elder-Bear River also played their 100th game earlier this season.
Spanish Fork now leads the series 53-43-4, with Payson’s last win coming back in 2006.
Payson started played football back in 1909, while Spanish Fork started playing in 1916.
The teams met for the first time in 1917, playing twice with Payson prevailing 77-0 in the first meeting and then 61-6 in the second meeting.
Payson won the first seven meetings before Spanish Fork won its first game in 1929 13-0.