Syracuse was 3-1, needing a victory over the Darts (4-0), that would throw the region into a three-way tie for the championship.

Davis had other ideas.

After clinching at least a tie for the title last week, the Darts wanted to own it outright.

“We’re not sharing this. There’s nothing worse than a tie,” Davis freshman wide receiver Bode Sparrow said. “With that motivation, we came together all week long and got the ‘dub’ today.”

Davis never trailed and, although things were tight at times, seemed to be in control most of the way, taking down the Titans 22-10 for its first region ring since 2016.

“It means everything. Region 1 is fricking tough,” Sparrow said. “There’s some good teams and everyone knows everyone here so it’s always fun to play against these guys and get a region championship. I was in third grade last time we won and can’t remember it, so it’s a great feeling for sure.”

Only 14, Sparrow said he didn’t have trouble getting noticed by his coaches as he commutes across the street from Kaysville Junior High every day to practice.

“I work with the coaches all week and make plays. I just have the confidence that nobody else does. I balled out in spring and showed them I could play,” Sparrow said.

Sparrow finished the night with seven catches and 125 yards for the Darts (9-1, 5-0 Region 1). Sophomore quarterback Tradon Bessinger was red-hot in the passing game, completing 29 of 35 attempts for 287 yards and a touchdown.

“I’ve played basketball with Tradon since day one. Me and him go way back,” Sparrow said. “I’ve played in football tournaments with him for a couple of years now, so we’ve got that chemistry.”

Senior receiver Kash Gates also joined the triple-digit club for the Darts with 12 grabs and 101 yards.

Syracuse (7-3, 3-2) only managed a 20-yard field goal by Rhett Thompson in the second half that cut the Davis lead to 16-10 but otherwise, defense ruled supreme.

“We just kept our heads up and came together,” Sparrow said. “We stuck with the game plan, made adjustments and played as a team.”

The Titans’ field goal came on the opening play of the fourth quarter, then Davis ran an 11-play, 78-yard drive that ended in a 3-yard Owen Talbot TD midway through the final frame for the 22-10 win.

Talbot scored two touchdown runs, letting his offensive line lead the way.

“We get down close and we’ve got those big old hogs; they’re always reliable to get a yard or two,” Sparrow said.

For Syracuse, DJ Mayes had a big day with 108 yards receiving on 10 catches and a touchdown before leaving with an apparent injury. Quarterback Jake Hopkins was 22 of 37 for 226 yards and a touchdown toss.

Davis led 16-7 at the break, scoring the first and last points of the half.

The Darts had possession for 7:28 of the first 7:36 of game time, running 18 plays compared to Syracuse’s one play, but only led 3-0.

In a wide swing of scoring drives, Davis took eight plays and 2 minutes, 59 seconds to put a 28-yard field goal on the board by Finn Garff, then covered 51 yards in just two plays on its next drive.

After a failed Syracuse fake punt, Bessinger connected on a 50-yard pass to Sparrow for a Davis first-and-goal at the Titan 1-yard line.

“Our line balled out and gave Tradon time; I ran my route hard and got open,” Sparrow said. “We saw the safety pin down and coach said let’s do a skinny post and Tradon gave me a great ball and I went and got it.”

Talbot wrapped up the “drive” on a 1-yard plunge and Davis led 10-0 with eight seconds left in the initial quarter.

Syracuse finally broke through when Hopkins found Mayes over the middle for a 17-yard scoring strike early in the second stanza, closing the gap to 10-7.

Two punts later, the Titans tried to rally back but Nick Johnson picked off a pass late in the period for Davis and Bessinger turned the mistake into points when he tossed a 6-yard touchdown to Gates with 25 seconds remaining.