Prep football: Late takeaway lights fire in Roy’s 37-10 win at Box Elder
Bees (2-3) test unbeaten Royals (5-0) through 3rd quarter
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- Roy senior Robert Young (5) runs the ball during a road game at Box Elder on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Brigham City.
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- Box Elder sophomore Kadyn Reyes (14) runs with the ball during a game against Roy on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Brigham City.
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- Roy seniors Colby Frokjer (1) and Ryan Foss (10) celebrate after scoring a touchdown at Box Elder on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Brigham City.
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- Box Elder senior Jay Macias (21) runs the ball during a home game vs. Roy on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Brigham City.
BRIGHAM CITY — Roy’s offense is growing its reputation as a powder keg.
A five-point halftime lead isn’t exactly the momentum the Royals envisioned entering a rowdy Thursday night environment at Box Elder, but Roy was cooking up quite the fourth quarter to seal a 37-10 victory and remain unbeaten through Week 5 for the first time since 2020.
First-year Box Elder head coach Carson Mund gave sophomore Kadyn Reyes the start under center in hopes of diverting some of Roy’s pregame scouting.
And for a while, it worked.
Box Elder (2-3, 0-2 Region 5) managed to keep its opening drive alive for more than 10 minutes thanks in part to a successful fake punt on fourth down, and later matched Roy’s early second-quarter score — a 10-yard catch by senior Ryan Foss — with a 15-yard connection between senior Carter Buchanan and junior Maddox Earnest.
The switch-up at quarterback did contribute to the Bees’ ability to eat up large swaths of clock with the option and utilize two sets of eyes. Mund has grown continually excited about this season.
“We’re a little bit more able to push the ball in some places,” Mund said. “With (Buchanan) at receiver, we now have a better vertical threat. We’ll do whatever we need to do to put our team in the best spot.”
Buchanan relieved Reyes later in that first scoreless drive, with Reyes returning infrequently throughout the night.
Roy (5-0, 2-0) senior speedster Robert Young found the end zone on a goal-line plunge with 1:34 left in the half and the Royals successfully completed a two-point try to hang to an eight-point lead over the Bees at the break.
Still, Box Elder returned to the field composed and searching for any avenue to win. Senior kicker Ethan Barber delivered a 20-yard field goal early into the third quarter and sophomore linebacker Judd Howells led the way for a key stop at the line of scrimmage with 3:25 left in the third quarter.
Mund was encouraged by his group’s effort in handling what he considers a Roy offense that’s one to watch come postseason time.
“We’re a team defense and we play around,” Mund said. “I thought we put our best foot forward. A couple of plays go differently in the fourth quarter and it’s a different outcome.”
It was Roy senior Mone Keiaho, however, with arguably the most important play of the night. He broke through the Box Elder line to help block and recover a Barber punt at the Bees’ 36-yard line.
The play set up a huge momentum swing for the Royals, with Young charging into the red zone and setting up a 15-yard touchdown strike from Dru Gardner to senior Kahekili Eleneke.
Down 13, Buchanan and the Bees reached a fatal blow when Roy junior Zay Morris ripped a pass out of the air and returned possession to the Royals deep in Box Elder territory. Young said the world’s finally getting the full, uninterrupted version of Morris it deserves.
“(Morris has) been a star since his freshman year, man,” Young said. “If he didn’t get hurt last year, I think he would’ve been one of the top receivers and corners in the state.”
The takeaway led to another Roy touchdown on a 16-yard run by Young filled with twists, turns and three broken tackles — nothing new for the senior running back.
“Whenever I get the ball, I don’t like to go down,” Young said. “Usually, I don’t wear turf tape because I don’t like getting tackled, but sometimes I just break tackles and they miss.”
Young scored once more before the night was over, catching a 20-yard pass from Gardner to close the book on Roy’s fifth consecutive win.
Roy heads to Bonneville on Friday, Sept. 20, in hopes of reaching 6-0 on the season. Also set for next Friday, Box Elder, now having lost two weeks in a row, welcomes in Clearfield in hopes of finding the Bees’ first region win.
BOX SCORE
Roy High 0 15 0 22 — 37
Box Elder 0 7 3 0 — 10
SCORING LOG
SECOND QUARTER
9:29 – Roy touchdown: Foss 10-yard pass from Gardner. PAT good (RHS 7, BHS 0)
4:14 – Box Elder touchdown: Earnest 25-yard pass from Buchanan. PAT good (RHS 7, BHS 7)
1:34 – Roy touchdown: Young 1-yard run. Two-point attempt successful. (RHS 15, BHS 7)
THIRD QUARTER
7:21 – Box Elder field goal: Barber 20-yard kick (RHS 15, BHS 10)
FOURTH QUARTER
8:47 – Roy touchdown: Eleneke 3-yard pass from Gardner. Two-point attempt successful (RHS 23, BHS 10)
6:20 – Roy touchdown: Young 16-yard run. PAT good (RHS 30, BHS 10)
2:00 – Roy touchdown: Young 20-yard pass from Gardner. PAT good (RHS 37, BHS 10)
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
