SLIDESHOW: Bonneville vs. Ogden prep football
WASHINGTON TERRACE -- The Bonneville Lakers pulled out a 7-6 victory Friday night in a game that kept a jam-packed crowd at Budge Field on the edge of their seats up to the final snap.
Bonneville's Austin Land scored on an eight-yard touchdown plunge with 1:21 remaining to tie the game at six and Jaden Welsh's kick sealed the deal.
It was both teams' defenses that shone throughout the game. Ogden came into the game averaging 46.6 points per game and were visibly frustrated with the stingy Laker defense.
"We knew we had to get to their quarterback and we knew we had to do some things up front defensively to mess up his reads," said Bonneville coach Matt Williams. "Ogden's a really good team we had to give everything we had to beat them."
Bonneville honored the passing of legendary coach Tom Budge, who is second alltime in Utah high school football with 237 wins and passed away Wednesday. Former players and coaches lined the field and formed a gauntlet for the Bonneville players to pass through as they entered the game at halftime.
"He fathered this program," Williams said of Budge. "All the guys that are coaching here played here for Coach Budge. Our hearts go out to the Budge family. Coach Budge was a great man. We're really pleased to give him a win. This one's dedicated to him."
Ogden appeared poised to find the end zone after a solid drive early in the second half and start the offensive onslaught. The Tigers ended up with a third-and-goal from the one-yard line, but the Lakers came up with the stop. Ogden went for it on fourth-and-goal, but again, Bonneville put up a solid goal-line stand to force a turnover on downs.
Neither team found the end zone until Tigers quarterback Nik Allred scored on a four-yard keeper with 11:23 left in the fourth quarter. The point after touchdown was blocked.
Ogden didn't give up after Bonneville's touchdown with 1:21 remaining. Allred led a drive from his own 20 to the Bonneville 33, highlighted by a 49-yard pass from Allred to Kel Robbins. But it was the Bonneville defense that fittingly ended the game when Nick Pabon tracked down a scrambling Allred and picked up the sack to run out the clock.
Not a soul was sitting for that final 1:21. The raucous crowd, which was a pretty even split between blue-gold and orange-black, left the stadium with varying emotions. But for Laker players and fans, it was a fitting tribute to Coach Budge.
"This was the best game I think I'll ever play in," Pabon said. "Coach Budge was with us the whole time tonight, and it was great to be part of such a great game."
-MOUNTAIN CREST 50 BOX ELDER 17: At Brigham City, Mustang quarterback Alex Kuresa torched the Bee's defense, throwing six touchdown passes.
Mountain Crest quarterback Alex Knowles had four touchdown receptions in the league win.
-SKY VIEW 30 LOGAN 27: At Logan, Bobcat quarterback Kyler Carlsen threw two touchdown passes and rushed for three more scores in the narrow victory over the Grizzlies.
Logan quarterback Tyler Stevens tossed three touchdowns, while rushing for another in the loss.
Comments