If Skyridge’s 42-38 homecoming win over cross-town rival Lehi Thursday night is a precursor of things to come in Region 3 football over the next five weeks, it’s going to be a wild, exciting ride.
Skyridge overcame numerous turnovers, a 14-point deficit in the first half and then a 10-point deficit to start the fourth quarter to rally for an important mental victory after a humbling 23-point loss against the No. 1 team in Colorado last week.
With a date with Corner Canyon on tap next week as well, the Falcons needed some momentum, and a defense that had been gashed by big plays all night delivered when it mattered most.
Lehi had three possessions in the fourth quarter — the first while still leading 38-35 — but it never crossed the 50 yard line in any of them. They ended with a punt, failed fake punt and turnover on downs, the last of which came with 1:39 left in the game as the Falcons finished the game off in victory formation.
“It’s homecoming, it means a lot to us. Win at home, coming off a loss on the road, it means a lot to us. That loss left a taste in our mouth we didn’t like,” said Skyridge quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne.
Sweetwyne cut Lehi’s lead to 38-35 on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 1-yard plunge. After a Lehi punt, he marched Skyridge downfield on a 10-play, 73-yard scoring drive that Lincoln Tahi capped with a 1-yard TD run of his own.
From there, Skyridge’s defense took over.
“Field position is something we talk about every single week, right? And understanding how important field position is throughout the course of the game, and defense getting off the field is great, but also gives offense the opportunity with shorter field, drive and execute what we need,” said Skyridge coach Justin Hemm.
While the defense came up clutch late, Skyridge’s offense was really good most of the night when it wasn’t shooting itself in the foot with turnovers. It finished with 474 yards of total offense, while Lehi ended with 442 yards of offense.
Sweetwyne, who received a Utah offer last week, threw three interceptions against Lehi a week after throwing four at Cherry Creek, Colorado, but his mental toughness in bouncing back each time was the story of the game as he led his team to victory.
On the heels of his rough game last week, throwing two first quarter interceptions against the Pioneers was the worst start imaginable for Sweetwyne.
His first interception nearly went for a pick-six as Lehi defensive lineman Briggs Love returned it 25 yards to Skyridge’s seven yard line.
Lehi running back Devaughn Eka punched it in one play later for the 7-0 lead 6:49 into the first quarter.
On Skyridge’s very next offensive play, Lehi defensive back Treyson Fabrizio intercepted Sweetwyne again. Four plays later, which included a 62-yard run by Legend Glasker, Love barreled into the end zone from 1-yard out for the 14-0 lead at the 5:27 mark of the first quarter.
On the sideline, Sweetwyne just kept reminding himself that there was way more game left.
“Just trying to keep my head in and keeping (his teammates) in it, because if I go down, they go down. So just keep them up is what I’m trying to do,” said Sweetwyne.
Skyridge responded to cut the deficit to 14-7 on a Sweetwyne 4-yard TD pass to Latu Moeai, but the momentum was short lived. Lehi’s offense scored one play later as Cash Hollingshead hit Glasker on a 75-yard TD pass up the left sideline for the 21-7 lead late in the first quarter.
The mood on the sideline for Skyridge remained calm with at least three quarters of football left.
“We focus a lot on next play mentality. At the end of the day, what’s the most important play? It’s the next play, right? And regardless of all that stuff that takes place previously … we truly believe one play out of 80 is not going to end the ball game,” said Hemm.
“Same thing defensively. These guys trust that and believe in that, and I think we have great leadership among the key players in our team.”
Skyridge’s offense marched quickly down field and had a first-and-goal situation, but the drive stalled on a fourth down incompletion.
Lehi’s offense had an opportunity to really put the pressure on Skyridge, but the Falcons’ defense had a big answer as Briggs Parker returned an interception 23 yards to cut the deficit to 21-14 with 9:09 left in the first half.
Skyridge’s defense got another quick stop, and Sweetwyne responded again with a 82-yard scoring drive that Tahi capped with his first of two 1-yard touchdown runs.
Lehi’s Bode Hammond kicked a 48-yard field goal to put Lehi back ahead 24-21 with 1:32 left in the half, but that was plenty of time for Skyridge’s offense to respond.
Sweetwyne connected with Hunter Sheffield on a 24-yard TD pass with 36 seconds remaining to give Skyridge the 28-24 lead heading into halftime despite the two disastrous turnovers.
The turnover bug bit again, however, on Skyridge’s first possession of the third quarter as Fabrizio intercepted Sweetwyne for the second time.
Just as it had on the previous two turnovers, Lehi capitalized on the interception as Eka scored on a 45-yard TD run, reclaiming the lead at 31-28.
After Skyridge’s offense stalled with its only three-and-out of the game, Lehi’s big-play offense went to work again as Hollingshead hit Cam Wren with a 55-yard TD pass for the 38-28 lead with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter.
From that point on, the Falcons took over the game on both sides of the ball as back-to-back short touchdown runs by Sweetwyne and Tahi helped them rally for the win.
“We had a couple mistakes early and then also in second half, but we came out here and prepared and did what we know how to do,” said Sweetwyne.
The senior finished the game completely 30 of 43 passes for 371 yards, with Hunter Sheffield leading the team in receiving with six catches for 122 yards.