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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