Prep football: Davis stuns Layton on Butler 49-yard field goal
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- Davis player Easton Baggett (1) runs the ball as Layton’s Mike Shumway (39) dives for a tackle in a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Layton. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Layton’s Braxton Martin (21) fights through two Davis defenders during a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Layton. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Layton’s Kaleb Green tries to secure the ball as Davis players Carter Dorius (7) and Dane Langpap (22) arrive for a tackle in a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Layton. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Davis quarterback Jackson Stevens (38) fires a pass against Layton during a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Layton. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Layton’s Tyler Wensel (7) tries to hold off Davis defender Cam Wilson (44) in a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Layton. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- A Layton player rises for a catch as Davis defender Damon Brown (11) defends in a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Layton. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Davis receiver Ty Wilson (9) leaps during a Layton field goal attempt in a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Layton. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Team captains for Layton, left, and Davis watch the pre-game coin toss before a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Layton. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
LAYTON — To most outsiders, Davis High football was left for dead after weeks one and two.
Notwithstanding that its first pair of opponents were a combined 6-0 coming into this week, the Darts were shut out twice and allowed a total of 82 points to Lehi and West Jordan.
They rebounded a week ago to get in the win column by defeating Granger. And then, Friday night, before a standing-room-only crowd, they pulled off another stunner.
The Davis defense controlled Layton’s typically potent offense throughout the first half and knocked the Lancers from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 26-23 victory.
A wild fourth quarter culminated in a 49-yard Gage Butler field goal from the right hash with 8 seconds to play that delivered the win for Davis in the Region 1 opener.
Both defenses controlled the game in the early going as the only points on the scoreboard until the final seven seconds of the first half were registered by the respective kickers.
Butler drilled a 36-yard field goal at the 8:07 mark of the second period, while Layton’s Ryan Wensel connected on a three-pointer from 31 yards out at the 5:31 mark.
Following a Dart punt, a botched snap prevented another Lancer field goal attempt with less than 2 minutes to play in the half. The Darts took advantage.
Starting at its own 22, Davis took advantage of a Layton defense that softened up and allowed small chunks of yardage down the field. Finally, with only seven ticks remaining on the clock and the ball at the Layton 28, Easton Baggett beat the Layton secondary on a post pattern and quarterback Jackson Stevens dropped it perfectly into his awaiting arms in the back of the end zone to put Davis up 10-3 at the intermission.
The Lancers stormed out of the break, however.
Three plays in, Tyler Wensel completed a pass to Elias Parkinson on a 37-yard fly pattern. Parkinson bobbled it, then secured it and raced into the end zone to tie the score.
The second half turned out to be the mirror-opposite of the first as offenses took control.
Davis secured the lead again early in the fourth quarter on a 13-yard Camden Wilson run, but the extra point doinked off the upright to make it 16-10.
Layton answered with a 66-yard Wensel to Teague Farr catch-and-run touchdown. But the point after attempt was blocked, leaving the score knotted 16-16.
Once again the Darts went ahead on a 2-yard Kailiki Byrd run with 6:46 to play, but the Lancers again punched back. Wensel flipped the script and caught a touchdown from Brigham Lawson on a reverse on fourth-and-4 with 3:19 left.
Akin to the end of the first half, the Darts again ran their 2-minute drill to perfection, setting the stage for Butler’s heroics.
