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Ogden High senior Vincent Apodaca (1) is elated after scoring a touchdown during a home game vs. Preston (Idaho) Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High sophomore Anderson Curry (28) and junior Max Wilson (7) wrap up Preston (Idaho)'s Conner Iverson (31) during a game Friday Sept. 13, 2024, in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High senior Cy Arnold dives toward the end zone during a home game vs. Preston (Idaho) Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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Ogden High senior Chaz Sanchez (3) dives toward Preston (Idaho)'s Kylton Atkinson (1) during a home game Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Ogden.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

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OGDEN — Even with its share of late-game miscues, Ogden High steered its way to a 42-26 border victory over Preston (Idaho) at home Friday night.

A near-spotless first half by the Ogden (4-0) defense and four interceptions thrown by Indians (0-4) quarterback Carter Perry helped the Tigers inch one week closer to the Tigers’ first 5-0 start since 2009. Ogden can fulfill such a feat next week at home vs. Union.

Ogden quarterback Vincent Apodaca (8 of 15, 97 yards) is one of 11 seniors eager to reach such a milestone and squash any outside doubts about the Tigers’ ceiling in the process.

“It doesn’t matter who’s in front of us,” Apodaca said. “We want to just play the way Ogden plays. That’s one big thing we want to put out in the world … We’re ready to get to 5-0, and even 6-0, we’re ready to move mountains this year.”

A pick-six reeled 40 yards home by Ogden sophomore Blake Weston (eight solo tackles) made the Tigers’ intentions apparent from the game’s opening drive. Junior Max Wilson sacked Perry, prompting Ogden’s second stop of the evening and setting up a short-yardage score by Apodaca for an early 14-0 lead.

Preston’s McKoy Keller later returned the favor intercepting Apodaca during the Tigers’ first drive of the second quarter. With a pair of first downs, the Indians were charging until Ogden senior James Abney and junior Eduardo Contreras chased down Perry for a third-down sack, forcing Preston to punt.

Ogden got back to work on the following drive, with Apodcada finding Weston for a huge chunk of yardage inside the Preston 10-yard line and, soon after, handing the ball to senior running back Kale Flint for a 1-yard touchdown run.

“I love my running backs,” Apodaca said. “Without my running backs, this team is broken … They’re our heart and soul. We’re ready to pound it through anyone’s face — hardnosed football, that’s how we like it.”

Ogden, having stopped Preston short of a score thanks to an interception by senior Chaz Sanchez as the clock expired, came out of halftime with the same edge. Tigers junior Keen Crowther scrambled his way to a 67-yard touchdown less than 30 seconds back onto the field.

Up 28-0 with little under two quarters to go, the Tigers’ defense kept making stops. Perry gave up his third pick of the night to senior Truman Vanorden inside the Indians 10-yard line, setting up an easy Flint touchdown run.

Preston later found the scoreboard on a 10-yard dash by Perry late in the third quarter. Both teams scored once more — Ogden with a 48-yard return by junior Gavin Shreve and Preston on a 3-yard run by Conner Inverson — before the fourth quarter arrived.

Ogden punted away its first possession of the fourth quarter and Preston jumped on the opportunity to march down and score on a 9-yard connection between Carter and Jake Schumann. The Indians defense picked up a second consecutive stop and Schumann caught another touchdown pass with 36 on the clock.

Flint recalled the fourth quarter as a tall task with an Indians team that just wouldn’t quit. The senior running back was impressed with his opponent’s presence up front and how much speed Preston brought late in the night.

“That was probably the most physical game we’ve had to play all season,” Flint said. “They gave it to us at the end … We have things we can work on all of the time. In the fourth quarter, we’ve got to turn it up and we’ll do that next game.”

Ogden welcomes in Union on Sept. 20 in search of a fifth consecutive win. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE

Ogden 14 7 21 0 — 42

Preston 0 0 14 12 — 26

SCORING LOG

FIRST QUARTER

11:05 – Ogden touchdown: Weston 40-yard interception return. PAT good. (OHS 7, PHS 0)

5:47 – Ogden touchdown: Apodaca 1-yard run. PAT good. (OHS 14, PHS 0)

SECOND QUARTER

4:36 – Ogden touchdown: Flint 1-yard run. PAT good. (OHS 21, PHS 0)

THIRD QUARTER

11:39 – Ogden touchdown: Crowther 67-yard run. PAT good. (OHS 28, Preston 0)

9:52 – Ogden touchdown: Flint 9-yard run. PAT good. (OHS 35, Preston 0)

2:48 – Preston touchdown: Perry 10-yard run. PAT good. (OHS 35, Preston 7)

2:39 – Ogden touchdown: Shreve 48-yard return. PAT good. (OHS 42, Preston 7)

0:00 — Preston touchdown: Iverson 3-yard run. PAT good. (OHS 42, PHS 14)

FOURTH QUARTER

5:34 – Preston touchdown: Schumann 9-yard pass from Perry. PAT no good. (OHS 42, PHS 20)

0:36 – Preston touchdown: Schumann 20-yard pass from Perry. 2-point attempt unsuccessful. (OHS 42, PHS 26)

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.