Woods Cross handed Westlake its first loss of the season, topping the Thunder in Saratoga Springs 28-10 Friday night.
The win gives the Wildcats their second straight victory for the first time this season after they flip-flopped wins and losses in their first four games of the year.
“I’m super proud of my kids for just putting their head down and continuing to fight,” Woods Cross head coach Brody Benson said following his team’s win. “I wanted everything that they had for four quarters, and I know that they gave it to me.”
The Wildcats never trailed, though 10 straight points from Westlake in the third quarter cut the visitors’ lead to four with 4:15 to play in the period.
Despite the score tightening up, Woods Cross stayed loose. After the Thunder got close, senior quarterback Jesse Simmons quickly connected with senior wideout Marcus Stepan for a 60-yard touchdown pass to give the Wildcats back their two-score advantage with 4:02 to go in the third.
“I don’t think there was any real pressure on our sideline,” Benson said of that moment. “I thought our kids stayed relaxed, both offensively, defensively. … I thought (Simmons) did a great job running our offense and leading that group. He’s a general, and he acted like it tonight.”
Then with 1:34 left in the third, Woods Cross senior fullback Viliami Tapa’atoutai barreled his way into the end zone from three yards out for his second touchdown of the game after the Wildcats had recovered a kickoff to Westlake.
In the blink of an eye, the visitors were back in charge.
When asked what the key was to those quick scores, Benson said, “There wasn’t anything special. It’s just staying true to who we are and what we’re about and playing just physical football.”
Woods Cross played physical all night long, taking control of the game from the get-go. The Wildcats used 13 run plays on their first possession before Tapa’atoutai paid things off with a 3-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats the 7-0 lead.
“I definitely have faith in the offensive line,” Benson said. “I thought they did a fantastic job tonight. … Those guys are dog tired.”
The Woods Cross’ offensive line had reason to be tired, as the team finished the evening right where it started. The Wildcats played keep away and bled the last 8:57 of game clock on 15 run plays, including two fourth down conversions, before lining up in victory formation and putting the Thunder out of their misery.
“That’s what option football is about,” Benson said of his team’s time-killing final possession. “We score fast and then we can drain it pretty quick, too.”
Woods Cross will soak up this win in before it begins region play next week, with the Wildcats returning home for a contest against Bountiful.
Westlake, meanwhile, will look to get back on track when it resumes region play on the road against unblemished Herriman.
Both games are set to begin at 7 p.m.