SALT LAKE CITY — Cyprus tasted victory for the first time this season in Week 5 after surviving a roller coaster fourth quarter.
Trailing 17-10 heading into the fourth, Cyprus scored 22 points in the fourth quarter — highlighted by a game-clinching 35-yard interception return by Spies Tia — to rally past Taylorsville 32-30 as it improved to 1-3 on the season. (Box Score)
“It was a rollercoaster of a game, both teams made some mistakes and we were fortunate to be able to capitalize on a few late in the game and were able to secure a victory in a very close game,” said Cyprus coach Tyler Garcia.
“Our defense gave up some big plays but were able to deliver some big plays that sealed the win.”
Cyprus tied the game early in the fourth quarter at 17-17 on a Rush Monsen three-yard TD run, but Taylorsville went back in front at the 7:09 mark on a Humani Wolfgramm 64-yard touchdown strike to Tristan Rosenau.
Taylorsville missed the extra point though, which proved costly when later in the quarter Cyprus converted a two-point conversion to go up nine points with 1:05 remaining. It rendered Taylorsville’s TD meaningless with 11 seconds left in the game.
Also in Region 2, West improve to 2-0 and 4-1 overall as it held off West Jordan for the 38-35 win. (Box Score)
West dominated the second quarter, scoring 24 points highlighted by a Sesi Vailahi 82-yard TD reception and then 11 seconds later a Talitui Pututau 22-yard interception return.
West was comfortably ahead 31-7 at halftime, but West Jordan scored the next 21 points to whittle the deficit to 31-28 with 7:55 remaining.
After struggling offensively in the second half, West finally put a drive together late in the quarter to go ahead 38-28 as Clarence Bird Butler scored on a 17-yard run for his third TD of the game.
Region 2 favorite Kearns played its final preseason game in Week 5, and absolutely dominated Riverton for the 44-19 win. (Box Score)
Naki Leha rushed for four touchdowns to lead the Cougars, while Charles Henderson returned an interception the length of the field in the third quarter.
After the game, Kearns coach Matt Richards was quick to remind his team that the next five region games will define the season for the now 5-0 Cougars.
“That’s what is important. That’s what we try to teach them,” Rickards told the Desret News. “We’re 0-0 again.”
In Region 1, Davis, Roy and Weber all rolled to region wins to remain perfect on the season.
Weber has been the biggest surprise of the three, and it showed no signs of slowing down with the 48-0 win over Northridge. (Box Score)
“Our guys played well tonight. I’m proud of the way they prepared this week. When given the opportunity they made big plays and executed the game almost perfectly. I love how our guys are playing with passion and energy. Each week presents a new challenge and I’m excited to see how we prepare and match up with the teams in our region,” said Weber coach Jayson Anderson.
Jake K with the TD, Weber up 41-0 pic.twitter.com/f4gr2VeUtr
— Weber (@WeberPrincipal) September 12, 2020
Jake Lindsay threw three touchdown passes to lead Weber, while Cannon DeVries added a fumble return to go along with his earlier 48-yard TD reception.
David Spjut’s stretch of three straight games with a punt return came to an end on Friday night, but the Davis receiver still found his way into the end zone twice in Davis’ 40-7 win over Layton. (Box Score)
He scored on TD receptions of 45 yards and 6 yards in the first quarter from Chance Trujillo as Davis raced to a 30-0 lead after the first quarter. The lead ballooned to 40-0 by halftime, and with the running clock in the second half the game was over by 8:45 p.m. in arguably the fastest game of the season.
The best game of the night involved a 6A team was likely Pleasant Grove’s 35-29 overtime win over Lehi. (Box Score)
Pleasant Grove looked comfortably ahead 21-9 at the half, but Lehi found another gear in the second half scoring three straight touchdowns to go ahead 29-21 with 2:54 remaining in the game.
With their perfect season in jeopardy, the Vikings put together a game-tying drive to force overtime. Darrius Clemons cut the deficit to 29-7 on a 40-yard TD pass from Sam Leavitt with 29 seconds remaining, and then Rex Connors converted the resulting two-point conversion to tie the game 29-29.
2 pt conversion is good. 27 seconds left in the game. PG 29 lehi 29 @utahpreprag @UHSAAinfo @UTSportsAction1 @preprally @kslsports @DNewsRewind @desnewssports #football pic.twitter.com/Ntq7d3V5R9
— PG Vikings Football (@pgvikings) September 12, 2020
In overtime, Lehi had possession first but Pleasant Grove’s Cooper Camberlango intercepted a pass in the end zone. The Vikings sealed the win on their possession as Spencer Tauteoli scored on a 1-yard TD.
“That’s a really good team we just beat,” Pleasant Grove coach Mark Wootton told the Desert News after the game. “I feel bad for them, but we weren’t playing well, and didn’t have a lot of momentum, but to pull that one out is pretty amazing.”
While Pleasant Grove narrowly escaped a Region 7 contender, Lone Peak had a bit of an easier time with a different Region 7 team as it also improved to 5-0.
Luke Romney tossed a pair of touchdowns as Lone Peak scored the final 17 points and played lights out defense again for the 24-7 win over Orem. (Box Score)
“The defense was awesome tonight,” Lone Peak coach Bart Brockbank told the Deseret News after the game. “Their effort was great. Kids now have grown up in the system and that makes a huge difference.”
As for the rest of Region 4 heavyweights, it was dominant business as usual.
Jaxson Dart passed for four touchdowns and rushed for three more as Corner Canyon rolled to the 56-6 win over Alta. (Box Score)
A week after throwing for nine touchdowns, American Fork’s Maddux Madsen tossed seven touchdowns on Friday as American Fork rolled to the 56-6 win over Herriman. (Box Score)
Not to be outdone, Skyridge’s McCae Hillstead passed for six touchdowns and rushed for two more as Skyridge rolled past Jordan for the 68-7 win. (Box Score)
Four of Hilstead’s TDs went to James Palmer.
James Palmer! You sir, are ridiculous!!!
— Game Night Live Rewind (@GNLRewind) September 12, 2020
4 TDs in a half including a 96 yarder! #mercy
On a side note, does anybody throw a prettier deep ball that McCae Hillstead?
This duo is something else!@skyridgefb @mccaehillstead @jamespalmer6_ pic.twitter.com/s5ljt6DA23
Between Madsen, Dart and Hillstead, they’ve combined to throw a whopping 67 touchdown passes at the midway point of the season. Dart and Madsen are both still on pace to each break the current state record of 58 TD passes in a single season.
Bingham won its second straight game with a 24-3 win over Westlake, and dominant defense was again the catalyst. (Box Score)
Isaiah Glasker provided the big play defensively as he returned an interception 66 yards midway through the second quarter to put his team ahead 17-0.
What can't Isaiah Glasker do?
— Game Night Live Rewind (@GNLRewind) September 12, 2020
Last week he made our Top 5 Plays with an impressive catch. This week? How about a pick-6 where he just won't go down!@isaiahglasker @JacobCHatch @TylerGibb8 pic.twitter.com/mWOGnSDaRa
It’s been a disappointing preseason for Region 3 teams so far this year, but as region play begins next week Bingham has emerged as the favorite. It faces its two toughest region foes over the next two weeks against Herriman and East.