Prep football: Box Elder out-duels Northridge in big plays to win Region 5 opener
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- Box Elder running back Daxton Sumko rushes the ball during a Region 5 football game against Northridge on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton.
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- Northridge High’s Kaden Henning (1) runs the ball as Box Elder defenders Braylon Majors (13) and Keaton Jeppsen (30) pursue during a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge High’s Zach Smith, left, runs for a touchdown in a Region 5 football game against Box Elder on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton.
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- Box Elder’s Cole Mortensen (4) leans for a tackle attempt against Northridge’s Zach Smith (19) in a Region 5 football game Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton.
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- Box Elder’s Braylon Majors runs with the football in a Region 5 football game against Northridge on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge quarterback Malikai Williams pulls back to throw during a Region 5 football game against Box Elder on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Box Elder’s Easton White tucks and runs during a Region 5 football game against Northridge on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Northridge High player Adonis Tillman (6) tries to extend a play during a Region 5 football game against Box Elder on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Jacob Speredon (75) and Mason Obray (5) lead Northridge onto the field for a Region 5 football game against Box Elder on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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- Box Elder’s Tallin Chappell runs for a big gain during a Region 5 football game against Northridge on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
LAYTON — Coming into Friday night, both Box Elder and Northridge High’s football teams were averaging more than 30 points per game.
So Box Elder’s 25-13 victory over the Knights was a little surprising from a scoring standpoint, but there was no shortage of electric plays in the Region 5 opener for both schools.
Box Elder junior quarterback Ryan Griffin accounted for all three Bees touchdowns, throwing two TD passes and running for a final score that put the game out of reach.
In a battle of dueling quarterbacks, Griffin and Northridge senior signal caller Malikai Williams matched each other with two touchdown passes each on the night.
Backed into a hole late in the third period, Williams threaded the seam for an 85-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Fresques, helping the Knights (2-3, 0-1 Region 5) close the gap to 18-13 with 1:22 left in the quarter.
But, after an exchange of punts in the fourth quarter, Box Elder (4-1, 1-0) countered with a five-minute possession when Griffin scored on a 10-yard rollout with 3:38 left in the game to close out the scoring.
Griffin threw two touchdown bombs to senior wideout Cole Mortensen in the final moments of the second quarter as it turned a four-point deficit into an 18-7 lead at the break.
The Bees took possession of the opening kick on their own 14 and went on a 9-play drive that ended with a Mortensen 25-yard field goal midway through the first quarter and an early 3-0 lead.
Dax Sumko rushed for 64 yards on the drive, had 92 yards in the first quarter and well over 100 in the half for the Bees.
Northridge was stagnant on offense most of the first half but found a big play up its sleeve when Williams uncovered receiver Zach Smith on a 42-yard, catch-and-run touchdown at the 2:51 mark of the first quarter. The Knights led 7-3 after one.
Griffin then connected to Mortensen on a 53-yard score with 2:44 left in the half. After a Northridge punt, Mortensen again broke free, this time for a 62-yard touchdown reception scamper with 48 seconds remaining and the 18-7 halftime advantage.
The field was littered with penalties as 19 were called on the two teams.