Dixie Dismantles Dons in 4th to Take Title

Spanish Fork faced-off with its third team from St. George in a four week span; Pine View and Desert Hills had been defeated by the Dons, but now they met the Dixie Flyers for all the marbles at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The third time proved to be the charm for the city of St. George against Spanish Fork as Dixie dominated the 4th quarter to bring the 3A title down south.

The game was actually very close most of the time. The teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter and looked to be doing the same in the second after Dixie scored a second time Spanish Fork drove down to the Flyer 8-yard line looking to tie the game up.

Two plays later the Flyers hit pay dirt on a 36-yard bomb to take a 21-7 lead which held for the rest of the half.

Spanish Fork had found themselves 21-7 for the second week in a row and knew what it needed to accomplish. The defense held up its end of the bargin as the Don offense struggled to get back on track. Finally part way through the 3rd they broke the drought and scored on a 32-yard touchdown run to cut the game to 21-14.

Dixie and Spanish Fork exchanged two drives each with the defenses keeping things in check. When the Flyers scored on another big play; a 78-yard pass to once again take a 14-point lead.


Spanish Fork responded quickly with a 60 plus yard touchdown pass of their own to close out the 3rd quarter 28-21.

The comeback was not to be however as the Flyers scored on two more big plays on their next two drives; running plays of 63 and 36 yards to go up by 21. A Spanish Fork interception returned for a score by Dixie with just over 4 minutes left in the game sealed the championship for the Dixie High School Flyers with a final score of 49-21.

Congratulations Dixie High School!

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The Black Knights Triumph in Snowy Championship

The night of November 9th brought heavy snow and a cold morning on the 10th did nothing to relieve the playing field of a think blanket of the white stuff. Both teams braved the elements for the chance to be the Fall 2012 UTFL champions, but only one could leave with that title.

The cold and wet conditions made getting traction and keeping possession a very difficult task. Both offenses sputtered while the defenses controlled the game. Slowly the field position battle went in favor of the Knights allowing them to break the 0-0 tie and take the lead.

The Black Knights defense got more aggressive with the lead bringing constant pressure and breaking up BYU passes left and right. The Cougars inability to move the ball kept the Black Knights in good field position giving them a chance to lengthen their lead.

BYU found themselves trailing 13-0 and needing a score. The Knight pass rush and the elements proved too much for the passing style offense run by the Cougars. The Knights scored once more to take an 18-0 lead. Time ran out and the Black Knights were crowned the kings of the UTFL completing an 8-0 season.

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THANK YOU!

I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for helping me reach 1,000 views. Hopefully we can reach a thousand more and a few more followers as well. I will post twice more before Thanksgiving then take a break because I am going to DISNEYLAND!!!!!! for the holiday. Thanks again.

Dons Hold Off Thunder To Reach First Championship Game

Rice-Eccles Stadium was the venue for the Utah High School Semi-Final game between Spanish Fork and Desert Hills. Both teams had reached this point a year ago but fell short of their championship aspirations. Looking to reach new heights both teams put out an excellent effort and what turned into a great football game.

 

After being stalemated on their first drive the Thunder went 98-yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 lead. The catalyst of the drive was this 47-yard run and was capped off on a 38-yard scoring pass.

                                    

Spanish Fork responded with a scoring drive of their. Aided by a personal foul on the Thunder defense the Dons drove 80-yards and scored on a 20-yard pass to tie the game at 7 on the first play of the second quarter.

Midway through the second quarter Desert Hills scored on a 10-yard touchdown scramble to break the tie.

The Thunder struck (sorry couldn't help it) again on their next series, a 42-yard bomb to go up 21-7.

Trailing by fourteen late in the second quarter Spanish Fork looked to be in dire straights. Spanish Fork's sophomore QB Jason Money played beyond his age orchestrating a perfect 2-minute drill with four completions on four attempts totaling 63-yards. His play set up 16-yard draw play to bring the game to 21-14 score.

 

Spanish Fork kicked off to start the second half. The kicked was short and high and landed amidst several players. I think what happened was the Thunder blockers treated it like a punt and stayed away from the ball until they realized a hair too late that the ball is live on a kickoff. Spanish Fork got to the ball first. The Dons scored on the first play from scrimmage in the second half tying the game at 21. In less the two minutes of play Desert Hills went from leading by 14 to being tied up.

The Thunder offense stalled out on its first possession of the second half. The Don offense was red hot and looking to gain its first lead of the game. The Desert Hills defense needed a big play and made it happen with this interception.

A short field couldn't fix the Thunder's offensive problems. They tried a field goal which was blocked but given another shot when the refs ruled a time-out had been taken. The second attempt sailed wide left leaving the Thunder empty handed once again.

Spanish Fork took advantage of the Thunder miscue driving down the field for another touchdown to take a 28-21 lead on the last play of the 3rd quarter.

It was do or die time for the Thunder. They needed to stem tide after giving up 21 unanswered points. They proved they didn't make the long drive from St. George to roll over when faced with adversity. They responded in a big way driving 67-yards and scoring on a 1-yard touchdown plunge to tie the ball game.

The Thunder defense came up with another huge stop. Giving the offense the ball with just over 5-minutes left in the game and a chance to take back the lead. Disaster struck the Thunder (sorry again) on their first play of the drive the Dons picked off the Desert Hills pass.

The Dons started with great field position and capitalized on the opportunity punching the ball in from 2-yards out.

The Thunder ended up turning the ball over on downs allowing Spanish Fork to advance to the State Championship Game for the first time in school history.

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BYU Upsets UVU to Reach UTFL Title Game

In a rematch of an exciting regular season game UVU and BYU met in the UTFL semi-final. In the first meeting the Wolverines escaped a furious Cougar come back with a last second touchdown pass; so this game had the making of a great match up.

BYU got out to a quick 7-0 lead on a long touchdown pass. The scoring settled down as the defenses took control of the remainder of the first half. UVU caused havoc in the BYU backfield harrising the quarterback with constant, and sometimes overwhelming, pressure. The Cougar defense turned into ball hawks forcing UVU into multiple turnovers.

In the second half the Wolverines finally figured out the BYU defense and tied the game up at 7-7

 

This is actually the extra point play

In what had become a hard hitting defensive match up points had become hard to come by when BYU broke the tie on another TD pass and adding an extra point to go up 14-7.

UVU found themselves trailing late in the game and needed to move the ball. On a short pass to the flat disaster struck the Wolverines as the ball was intercepted and returned for a touchdown which BYU followed up with this PAT.

 

If you are looking for complete unbiased journalism skip this paragraph. You have been warned: I ask for forgiveness on this portion because I am going to become biased on this paragraph. Seeing I play in these games and haven't come off to biased or at least haven't been told that I do I am going to indulge a bit.
Before the snap some of the UVU players were yelling at Ryan (BYU's Quarterback) that they were going to hit him, which they did a lot of in this game. Ryan replied by saying, "Come get it." Then he proceeded to back it up.

Now down by 14 with about a minute left UVU had no choice but to go deep quickly and the ball hawking Cougars struck again to seal the game on this play.

He catches the ball seven seconds into the clip and is brought down at twenty seconds. 13 seconds of awesome.

Their were some "altercations" after this play and the officals called the game. BYU wins 21-7 to advance to the UTFL Championship.

The game will be on 10 November 2012 noon at Lakeridge Jr High School. Be there for more exciting UTFL action between the BYU Cougars and the Black Knights.

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Dons Overcome Slow Start to Advance

This game started with traded interceptions. Morgan tossed one on their opening series in their own territory, but escaped unscathed when Spanish Fork threw it right back on the next play. The Dons however gave up a field goal to fall behind 3-0
        

 On Spanish Fork's following drive a bad snap was recovered by Morgan. The Trojan offense was able to move the ball methodically down the field with a power running game, but sealed the drive with a touchdown pass to take 10-0.

At the end of the 1st quarter it looked as though the Dons were in trouble. Morgans power run game was ugly but affective keep the high powered Don offense off of the field. Mean while Spanish Fork's offense was suffering from a turnover bug. SF needed to get their act together in a hurry or they would be looking elimination in the face.

 

The 2nd quarter was a totally different story. Braxton Argyle finally cracked Morgans defense to make the game 10-7 affair.

                                  

This was the start of an onslaught. Spanish Fork went on to score 33 unanswered points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Including these scores. 

 Morgan did show life in the 4th quarter scoring twice to bring the final score to 33-23.

Random Thoughts: No player or play of the game this week due to the lateness of the post sorry... Spanish Fork needs to make their extra-points. The last two game have been within reach of their opposition because of missing multiple PATs... I am going to the semi-final game up at Rice-Eccles tomorrow night. I think its a pretty nice venue, but I think playing in an NFL stadium would be cooler. I got to play in the Metrodome my senior year and it is an experience I will never forget. Only if Utah had an NFL team... I will hopefully get a post up Friday from my game in the UTFL this past weekend.

BYU Avenges Week One Loss, Advances to Semi-Final

The BYU Cougars and the Utah Warriors clashed in the first round of the UTFL playoffs in a rematch of a week one game. The Warriors were looking to go 2-0 against the Cougars and advance to the semi-finals, while BYU wanted redemption for its last second lost from earlier in the year.

BYU went to the air early with a long bomb to take an early 6-0 lead after the failed extra point attempt.

After the early fire works the defenses took over the game. BYU shut down the Warriors offense with great tackling and pursuit.

 Meanwhile the Warriors came up with key turnovers to keep BYU from increasing their lead.

 

 In the second half the Cougars finally broke the stale mate with this huge touchdown catch and run.

                                  

BYU made good on its extra point this time going up 13-0. The Warriors had comeback and scored on BYU earlier in the year and were looking to repeat that success. It was not to be, however as the Cougs came up with their own timely take-away and then ran out the clock.

Andy Sims has the ball after an interception

 

The Cougars advance to the semi-final round for a rematch with UVU at 10 am.
Saturday 3 November 2012 @ Lakeridge Jr High. Check out the highlight reel from this game on YouTube.

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Dons Hold Off Panthers To Advance

Spanish Fork hosted Pine View to start the playoffs and were given all they could handle as they had to stave off a comeback to advance to the second round.

Colton Olsen started the scoring off with a pick six, his second consecutive game with one, to give Spanish Fork an early lead.

At this point Pine View used their size advantage in the trenches to turn the tide. They pounded away at the Don defense and tied the game on a 9-yard touchdown pass.

They would go up 14-7 in the second quarter following another punishing drive down the field capped by a 4-yard Prentiss Miller run.

Both defense tightened down in the second quarter. Spanish Fork pinned Pine View deep in their own territory forcing them to punt out of their own end zone twice. The Panthers did not shrink from the challenge coming up with two interceptions to keep the Dons off the board.

Spanish Forks defense gave its offense a short field for a third time to close out the second quarter. Proving the third time is the charm the Dons completed a 34-yard touchdown play to tie the game up going into the half.

The Don offense woke up in the 3rd quarter scoring on two Braxton Argyle touchdown runs, giving Pine View a taste of its own ground and pound attack.

Colton Olsen came up with another big interception with Pine View Driving to help maintain the 26-14 lead.

Pine View managed to find pay dirt with 5 minutes to play in the 4th quarter and the missed PAT's by the Dons loomed large as the game was 25-21.

I promise this play was eventually ruled a touchdown.

Pine View decided to kick it deep with their defense playing so well in the final period. In hindsight this may have been a mistake as the Dons were able to pick up first downs when they needed to and killed the clock to advance to the second round.

Honorable Mention for Player of the Game: Braxton Argyle, RB, Spanish Fork 

Braxton had a slow start but his performance in the second half, the 3rd quarter in particular, proved to be the difference in the game. He scored two touchdowns and rushed for 98-yards on 20 carries.

Play of the Game: On a 4th down with about 7-yards to go and around a minute left Spanish Fork had three options; one punt the ball and hope to pin Pine View deep or at least get a touchback. This could lead to a bad snap or a big return costing them the game. Option two, run the ball. This would kill a little bit of time unless you manage to break a big play, highly unlikely, but risk a fumble. Option three, throw the ball for the first down yardage. Which could lead to a game ending first down or a lot of negative options. Giving the circumstances a sack or incomplete pass were not that big of a deal; even a pick, if tackled quickly is no different then a punt. Spanish rolled the dice a heaved the ball up. Jason Money had a good game heading up to this point. But he didn't go to his ever reliable cousin Cameron Money; who had over a hundred yards on the day, or even the hot hand Colten Olsen. He went to Cooper Beck who caught the 29-yard pass to seal the win. His only catch of the game came over the top of the defender at a crucial moment. That is what is to referred to as clutch. I really wish I had video or pictures of it to give Cooper some credit, I hope the win is enough for him.

Player of the Game: Colton Olsen, DB, Spanish Fork. 

 

He had a pick-six to start the scoring and a huge pick in the third to kill a Pine View drive. If he doesn't make one of these plays the panthers probably pull off the upset. He also added 40-yards on 4 catches. Great game Mr. Olsen. (Sorry I used the same pic twice but it's the best one of him in the game.)

Random Thoughts: Pine View has a sweet helmet logo.

 They also have two of the coolest names I have heard on a team all year; this team features a Thor and a Shaq. Simply awesome.... As close as this game was Spanish Fork should have won by a lot more. Kudos to the Panther defense coming up with turnovers to keep the Dons from scoring with short field position.... Pine View's black and white unis looked great with the Breast Cancer Awareness pink that doesn't work with most uniforms... Pine View's long snapper Justice Herschey (another really cool name) was impressive on all of his snaps. Especially the two shortened ones out of the end zone. I know this is a weird thing to notice but having been a long snapper, I backed up in high school, it isn't easy to adjust the length when you get into a rhythm at a particular distance. Justice if you read this I strongly recommend you send a compilation of your snaps to colleges. You have a particular skill set that could pay for your college... Sorry about the lateness of this post. I will be at the Spanish Fork game against Morgan this evening.


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