Prep football: Box Elder blanks Northridge in region shutout
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- Box Elder quarterback Kadyn Reyes, fore, sheds the tackle of Northridge’s Derek Haney during a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Box Elder players Judd Howells (0) and Thomas Morrill (38) celebrate scoring a touchdown against Northridge in a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge quarterback Liam Fresques, left, breaks free from Box Elder’s Jaxon Jeppsen to eventually complete a pass downfield during a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Box Elder receiver Cammon Bushnell, right, hauls in a reception against Northridge High’s Jantson Willie (3) during a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge High’s Luke Fisher (23) tries to find a hole past Box Elder’s Thomas Morrill (38) during a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Box Elder’s Cammon Bushnell finds his footing while rushing the football against Northridge during a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Box Elder’s Rhet Richards (12) carries the football as Northridge High’s Bracken Smith attempts a tackle during a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge High students enjoy their time at a Region 5 football game against Box Elder on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge High running back Colby Rhees totes the football during a Region 5 football game against Box Elder on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge High quarterback Liam Fresques holds the ball while looking downfield against the Box Elder defense during a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Box Elder football captains Judd Howells (0), Talan Sumko (32), Cole Bushnell (2) and Grady Judd (76) join hands as they walk to midfield before a game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Box Elder quarterback Kadyn Reyes looks in a snap during a Region 5 football game against Northridge on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge linebacker Jack Hall (8) leads the Knights onto the field before a football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
LAYTON – Buried deep in the stat sheet is a 38-yard, over-the-shoulder, helmet-loosening, diving catch by Box Elder wide receiver Cammon Bushnell late in the first quarter.
The reception didn’t result in a touchdown, but it created a buzz for the Bees, getting them in scoring position and on their way to a 34-0 shutout Region 5 victory over Northridge on Friday.
“It makes me feel great. It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s a touchdown or not,” Bushnell said. “I’m just glad my team got in there and scored; it helped us win the game.
“The call was a fade down the sideline. They were crowding the box, and we realized we could take a shot downfield. I had to make a play when it mattered. The corner was pressing outside leverage, so inside was free for me to take. I just had to go in and beat him,” Bushnell said.
Four plays later, running back Judd Howells found the end zone from one yard out and Box Elder led 7-0 at the 9:52 mark of the second stanza. That touchdown capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive which chewed 5 minutes, 29 seconds off the clock.
Howells got a little bit more of the workload on Friday, as Box Elder’s other running back, Bridger Richards, was injured three plays into the game.
“(He) went down, so we had to battle through that. It was a big loss for us; we were really sad but came out and got the win for him,” Howells said.
A TD on their second possession of the game proved a big relief to the Bees, after they came up dry on their first try, where they had the ball for 6 minutes, 41 seconds before a poor punt gave the pigskin to the Knights on their own 30 midway through the first period.
“With Bridger out, the run wasn’t working as well, so we started to pass a little more, but we had a couple of drops and miscommunications which led to us being shut down on that drive,” Bushnell said. “We came back in the second quarter and fixed it.”
The Box Elder (4-0, 1-0 Region 5) defense forced Northridge (1-3, 0-1) to punt on a three-and-out, setting up the second-quarter touchdown.
“Our defense was able to get a great stop, and we were able to rebound and come back and put some points on the board,” Howells said. “The defense played amazing.”
Box Elder nipped Northridge 7-3 last year on a late score, so getting seven in the second quarter was a boost to the team, Howells said.
“To be able to score that touchdown early instead of the fourth quarter meant a lot to be able to push through.”
Sophomore kicker Tytan Hupp made two field goals on the night, a 47-yard boot that ended the first half with Box Elder ahead 10-0, and a 50-yarder to close out the game.
As a captain, Howells gave his team a little pep talk in the locker room, exhorting them to come out more physical in the second half.
“I gave a halftime speech to the guys to get them up and ready to go,” Howells said. “We needed to punch them in the throat more; that’s what we did. They didn’t want to play in the second half, and we came out and took it to them.”
Howells walked the talk on his second touchdown Friday, when he raced 23 yards to pay dirt with 6:59 left in the third quarter, as the Bees led 17-0.
“The line did a great job; they opened up a perfect hole for me. I was able to hit it…break away. It was wide open,” Howells said. “Shout out to those guys; it was all about them, not me.”
Quarterback Kadyn Reyes had one other highlight besides the pass to Cammon Bushnell: a 32-yard touchdown toss to twin brother Cole Bushnell, one play into the fourth frame. Box Elder’s other touchdown came on a blocked punt and recovery in the end zone by Josh Pugsley.
The Box Elder defense forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter, with the blocked punt and interceptions by Tayson Wylie and Witten Eddings.
Box Elder came into the game averaging 43 points per game, and Northridge had been shut out twice in its first three games, so the Region 5 opener played out somewhat like how the season has gone thus far.
“I expected a little more out of our offense, but we put our JV guys in to give them some reps during the fourth quarter,” Cammon Bushnell said. “I’m proud of them. They put in work every single day and deserve some time on varsity.”
Bob Judson has been covering high school sports for the Standard-Examiner for 51 years.
