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Rocky Mountain tops Wahlquist for undefeated season, WSD junior high football title

By BRETT HEIN - Standard-Examiner | Nov 2, 2023

Photo supplied, Freddie Lacey/FBL Photography

Rocky Mountain's Bridger Young (11) pursues Wahlquist's Ryder Wade in the Weber School District junior high football championship game Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at Roy High School.

The Rocky Mountain Grizzlies defeated the Wahlquist Eagles 24-14 to claim the Weber School District’s junior high football championship Tuesday in a game played at Roy High School, capping an 8-0 season for the West Haven school.

Rocky Mountain got out to a 24-0 lead in the third quarter when Mason Engstrom hauled in a 5-yard pass from Gunner Pearson and Roc Hansen ran in the two-point play. Engstrom finished with 141 rushing yards.

RMJH pitched four shutouts on the season, including a 30-0 win over Wahlquist in their regular-season meeting.

But Granthony Wegelin made sure that didn’t happen again, returning the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown to get the Eagles (5-3) on the board. Payson Malan threw to Breckon Phillips for a successful two-point play.

After forcing a three-and-out, Malan, a backup quarterback who took over due to injury, drove Wahlquist 71 yards. The Eagles got the score to 24-14 when Titan Jordan rushed in from 5 yards out and the two-point play was unsuccessful. Malan finished 7 of 9 passing for 89 yards.

But Rocky Mountain held on from there.

Hansen rushed in a 12-yard touchdown and the two-point play to get Rocky Mountain on the board in the first quarter. He had 81 rushing yards.

Engstrom scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown and the two-point play in the second quarter for a 16-0 halftime lead. Daison Merrill and Jonathon Metz both had interceptions for the Grizzlies’ defense.

RMJH head coach Doug Brown said his team’s offensive and defensive lines were key to the strong season. The Grizzlies made the title game after beating South Ogden/TH Bell 18-0 in the semifinals.

Wahlquist head coach Kelly Cooper pointed to Ryder Wade, Ashtin Reed, Noah Doutre and Phoenix Sandoval as other top contributors in the title game.

Wahlquist (Farr West) made the title game by upsetting second-place Sand Ridge 12-6 in the semifinals.

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