High school football: Stifling defense propels Woods Cross past Olympus in 5A playoffs

Since taking over the Woods Cross program five years ago, coach Brody Benson has preached defense and toughness to his football team. 

On Friday the Wildcats, behind three interceptions and a rugged run defense, punched their ticket to the Class 5A quarterfinals with a 13-6 win over Olympus. 

“This is my fifth year and we’ve just progressively taken steps forward and these guys believed,” Benson said. That’s the difference from years past to this year, is that from top to bottom, everyone believes they are in the fight and can compete with anyone.”

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Woods Cross defeated Olympus 40-7 On Oct. 9. Benson said he expected a different Titans team and a different game Friday and he got one. 

After taking the opening kickoff, the Wildcat offense went three-and-out. Olympus junior Haloti Ngata then blocked a Woods Cross punt that eventually led to a field goal and a 3-0 Olympus lead. 

Three plays later, Woods Cross scored as Cole Asay took a pitch from quarterback Jesse Simmons and raced 67 yards for touchdown and a 7-3 lead. 

Early in the second quarter Olympus was threatening after two first downs and a pass interference call against the Wildcats, but that drive was snuffed out when Shaydon Garrett intercepted an Olympus pass.

“Shane got that interception but I had my hands on it but he just wanted it more,” Woods Cross junior Wyatt Hunter said. 

Pinned deep in its own territory, Woods Cross attempted a fourth down conversion on fourth and 1 at its own 17-yard line. That conversion failed, setting up a 30-yard field goal and Olympus trailed 7-6 at halftime. 

The Wildcat offense started to click late in the third period and the Wildcats took a 13-7 lead after Simmons found Ryan Miller on a 13-yard pass play. Defensively, Woods Cross came up with an interception early in the third period and another midway through the fourth quarter.

For most of the game Woods Cross senior Villami Tapa’atoutai was limited, but in the fourth quarter the Wildcat offensive line took over as Tapa’atoutai finished with just over 100 yards rushing. 

“We condition the heck out of these kids and a lot of these kids, the majority of them are going both ways,” Benson said. “I’m proud of them for pinning their ears back and knocking people off the line. We’re not going to wear down and we play too hard to have a team wear us out.”