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SLIDESHOW: Davis vs. Pleasant Grove high school football
KAYSVILLE -- Even with the home-field advantage, Davis was expected to be little more than a speed bump on Pleasant Grove's way to the state football semifinals.
The Darts had other plans.
After being eliminated in the state 5-A quarterfinals three years in a row, the Darts wouldn't roll over for a Vikings team loaded with major college talent, escaping with a rousing 17-9 victory.
"That was a great high school football game," Davis coach Ryan Bishop said. "I don't think you can deny that both teams absolutely played their guts out.
"I told (the team) on Monday that the only people that believed we could have success were standing right there in that room. They did a good job of responding."
Even with starting quarterback and Stanford commit Dallas Lloyd out with an injured ankle, the Vikings fielded a team showcasing seven other players with Division I scholarship offers. In a physical battle, the Darts more than held their own.
After a shaky start that featured a 13-play drive for a field goal on Pleasant Grove's opening possession, 5-A's second-ranked Davis defense settled down, allowing only 125 yards of total offense the rest of the way while recording five sacks.
"Our defense rose to the challenge and we able to keep plugging away (on offense)," Bishop said. "That football team that we played right there is a very physical team and our kids matched them."
Trailing 3-0, Davis put together an 83-yard scoring drive late in the first quarter. After a 45-yard run by Tanner Hinds to the Viking eight, quarterback Gavin Fowler found tight end Landon Horne across the middle from six yards out for the go-ahead touchdown.
After a three-and-out by each squad, Pleasant Grove earned the lead back. Quarterback Donny Lewis keyed a 55-yard drive with a pair of first down completions and a 20-yard scramble to the Dart two. Two plays later he punched it in on a sneak to make it 9-7, accounting for the Vikings final points with 8:15 to play in the half.
With 2:59 left in the second quarter, the Darts scored what would prove to be the winning points. After a series of running plays, Davis caught the Vikings napping and Fowler connected with a streaking Daniel Moffett down the right sideline. With no one within 10 yards of him, Moffett eased into the end zone on the 59-yard completion.
The Darts had two missed opportunities in the half's final two minutes, but couldn't capitalize. Driving in Pleasant Grove territory, Fowler turned the ball over on an interception. However, Landon Hart picked off Lewis on the ensuing play. Following a vicious sack of Fowler by Pleasant Grove's Joe Kruger, the Darts punted to end the half with a 14-9 advantage.
The Davis defense played even better in the game's final 24 minutes, forcing five punts and a turnover on downs in the final seconds with the Vikings attempting to drive for the tying points. The Darts allowed only 64 yards of total offense during the second half.
The Darts had a pair of opportunities to blow the game open, but an interception at the Viking 16 and a fumbled pitch at the Pleasant Grove 12 with 5:11 to play kept things interesting. Mike Jewkes added the only points of the second half with a 29-yard field goal with 11:17 to play.
Hinds put together another stellar performance, rushing for 199 yards on 29 tough carries, putting him over 1,700 yards for the season, as the Darts accumulated 312 yards of offense.
The Darts will face Region 2 champion Hunter at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
