Prep football: Hurst helps Layton shift tide, but Weber too strong in 48-20 win
Parker tallies 4 rushing touchdowns; Warriors add 2nd region win
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- Weber’s Josh Hamblin blasts off with the opening kickoff during a region football contest vs. Layton on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton’s J.P. Garlick raises the football after a play is whistled dead during a region football contest at Weber on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton’s J.P. Garlick defends a pass caught by Weber’s Brock Dean during a region football game on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton’s Gavin Hurst breaks through a tackle during a region football game at Weber on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber’s Dyson Parker charges into the end zone during a region football game vs. Layton on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber’s Dyson Parker, left, receives the hand-off from Carter Payne during a region football contest vs. Layton on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Students from Layton and Weber dress the field with the American flag before kickoff of a region football game on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Pleasant View.
PLEASANT VIEW — As Weber’s offense trotted back out onto the field for the fifth time in Friday’s first half, Mo Cannon reached a little deeper into the playbook.
Moments earlier, Weber intercepted Layton senior quarterback Koen Doane for a second time, this one by junior safety Carson Hill, and the head coach Cannon decided to have a little fun. The former Weber State offensive lineman turned toward the home sideline and grinned.
“Watch this,” Cannon said.
The resulting 42-yard, textbook flea flicker touched the hands of senior skill players Dyson Parker, Josh Hamblin, and finally Brock Dean for a 27-0 Weber lead before the half.
Parker already had himself 3 of 4 total rushing touchdowns, and sophomore quarterback Carter Payne would soon amass two touchdowns through the air. That brand of Weber offense carried the load to defeat Layton 48-20 at home — but not without some second-half turbulence that positioned the Lancers for a hostile takeover.
Layton’s Gavin Hurst, moving from wide receiver to running back midseason, completed Layton’s first scoring drive with a 2-yard, stiff-arm-powered touchdown rush before halftime. After four unsuccessful offensive drives, including two turnovers, the Lancers (2-5, 0-2 Region 1) were on the board.
With the ball back to begin the second half, Doane reoriented himself for a chunk pass to junior tight end Jack Anderson on third down. Hurst followed up Anderson’s first-down reception with his second touchdown rush, this time from 11 yards out.
With time, the Koy Cannon-led Lancers offense established a two-hit punch on the ground.
“You just find another gear,” Hurst said. “I’ve started at receiver and moved to running back. It’s been back and forth, just seeing who’s starting and stuff, but taking half the snaps is just enough and having (J.P. Garlick) back there, just two powerbacks, it’s been nice.”
The subsequent Weber (4-3, 2-0) drive yielded a key takeaway by Anderson, falling on a dropped catch by Dean near midfield. Doane completed a short-yardage touchdown a few plays later, and the Lancers found themselves at the bargaining table down 27-20 after a missed PAT.
Parker found Dean after the turnover and reassured his teammate of the game in front of them.
“His head was kind of down, but I just had to remind him that big-time players make big-time plays,” Parker said. “Go out there, lock up on defense, and do what he does.”
Weber — specifically Parker — didn’t take the Layton rally lightly. The senior speedster cleared 55 yards one play into the first drive back for a 14-point lead.
Despite the defensive miscue, Layton’s seemingly rejuvenated offense returned to the field and produced another quality drive with the limited weapons at its disposal. Garlick reeled in a deep ball from Doane up to the Weber 16-yard line, and the Lancers suddenly had their mojo again.
Two stabs at the end zone by Hurst were zeroed out and, on fourth-and-goal, Doane found himself flushed and sacked by Weber senior linebacker Cade Judd and senior defensive end Ty Hellman. The stop was monumental, and Dyson pointed to it as the motivation needed to put Weber’s 2-0 start to region play back on track.
“There is a lot of trust in our guys to do their tracks and make big plays,” Dyson said. “(Layton) came out (and) responded, but it’s all about the game of war. Both teams responded, but we’re just the better team.”
The stop gave way to Payne’s second touchdown pass of the game in the fourth quarter, a floater to junior wide receiver Bracken Day, as well as a direct-snap-for-touchdown by Hamblin, wheeling off 47 yards for the game’s final points.
Weber’s firepower ultimately paved the way for a reassuring finish to the second half, and marks a second consecutive win following a gritty, 35-31 victory at Farmington last week.
In an uninterrupted series dating to 1977, Layton’s all-time lead now decreases to 30-22 with Weber’s win.
The Warriors host Syracuse in their home finale on Friday, Oct. 3. Layton travels to West Field for a nonregion bout in the fallout of Northridge’s 42-38 upheaval of the Longhorns on Friday.
Connect with reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
