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Box Elder's Judd Howells, 0, sheds two defenders during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Box Elder's Pierre Pierren lifts the ball in celebration during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Bear River wraps up Box Elder's Kadyn Reyes during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Box Elder's Jaxon Jeppsen, right, reaches for Preston Wilkinson's pass during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Bear River's Dalton Marble races upfield during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Bear River's Eli Braegger, defended by Box Elder's Rhet Richards, turns inward for the ball during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Bear River's Glaiden Behrens races upfield during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Box Elder's Bridger Richards breaks loose from Bear River's Delyn Groom, left, during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Box Elder's Jackson Lifferth, right, speaks with an official during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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Box Elder and Bear River pictured during the 106th annual Golden Spike football game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at Bear River High School in Garland. (DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

(DREW NIELSON, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

❮ ❯

GARLAND – After answering 5A favorite Box Elder’s offense at nearly every turn, the Bear River football team received a standing ovation from the home crowd.

It was quite a sight for first-year head coach Craig Anhder, tasked with rebuilding a 4A contender out of a Bears program that’s historically struggled in the Golden Spike rivalry with six consecutive losses spanning three different coaching staffs.

Fans stuck around through wildfire smoke seeping in from the blaze located roughly three miles north of the field, as a valiant effort fell short 50-34 on Friday in Bear River’s first loss of the season.

“It speaks to the character of these kids,” Anhder said. “Those guys, they’re the No. 1 team in 5A. We’re a freaking little 4A school, and our guys went toe-to-toe and didn’t back down. I’ll get better as a coach and help them finish this next time… There’s a bitterness. We don’t like losing, but I’m really proud of how they played.”

A known coaching name up north, Anhder enjoyed sustained success in Cache Valley at Sky View and Green Canyon, but his latest task hit extra hard when a Bears team that averaged just 12.5 points per game a year ago led mighty Box Elder 34-30 entering the fourth quarter.

Despite a considerably strong second start, Bear River (1-1) starting quarterback Preston Wilkinson muffed a handoff early in the fourth quarter, rattling the hive just enough for Kadyn Reyes to spot senior tight end Pierre Pierren with arguably the most important sequence of the night. The Bears followed up the turnover with a three-and-out, and subsequently turned the ball over on downs as the Bees waltzed toward a sixth consecutive win in the series since 2021.

Tricky injury tests Bear River late

It was through Wilkinson’s arm that Bear River maintained its presence throughout Friday’s disappointing loss, but more concerning is the unconfirmed status of primary running back Rigdon Vonk. Anhder confirmed the junior skill player was banged up following the game, but wasn’t sure what his status would be entering next week.

Despite working with a banged-up Vonk out of the backfield, Wilkinson’s three touchdown passes tallied 44 yards, and the senior quarterback battled his way in for two more touchdowns at the goal line. Where the run goes from here is mainly dependent on Vonk’s health, but it’s clear Anhder wants the Bears utilizing the backfield as much as possible.

“They bought in,” Anhder said. “They care, and we’ve worked hard to establish the run as well so it helps open up those guys and they can go do some creative things.”

Hitting his targets all day long, Wilkinson and the Bears emerged from that fumble without an answer and ultimately produced their second turnover, handing the ball back to Box Elder on downs in BR territory. It’d set up another touchdown sequence via Howells, effectively sealing their Week 2 fates.

Wilkinson, whose MaxPreps profile read just 11 completions entering his senior year at Bear River, recorded both of his team’s rushing touchdowns on Friday, while Vonk appeared capable out of the backfield for the majority of the contest leading up to the fourth-quarter collapse. Karson Summers, too, appeared rattled after sustaining a big hit late in the fourth quarter.

Summers caught one of three touchdown passes by Wilkinson, who targeted senior wideout Eli Bragger with the other two: first for a 7-6 lead in the first quarter and again in the third for a 27-23 lead on a 17-yard scoring reception.

Bear River hardly answered the run

Anhder left Friday’s performance knowing his defense must do better against the run, and that nobody is cutting his team any favors when it comes to slowing down tailbacks. Judd Howells and Bridger Richards are among the best in the state.

Box Elder’s 1-2 punch out of the backfield provided fresh hits to the Bears seemingly every snap, and, after a lightning delay saw the Bees lead just 16-14 coming out of the first half, a special teams return by Josh Pugsley and a 60-yard touchdown trot by Reyes were further indicators that Bear River simply didn’t have their number on the ground.

That tandem of running backs is providing more than big yards per carry, Reyes said.

“They made it so the hole opened up for me widely, and they just did a great job with themselves getting downhill,” Reyes said.

Through two games, Bear River, hosting Thunder Ridge (Idaho) next week, is allowing 23.5 points on defense.

“We can get better,” Anhder said. “I’d love to play these guys again,” Anhder said. “Our kids’ effort was 100%, and that’s why we play teams like Box Elder. Now we know where we got to go to, and what level we’ve got to play at.”

Box Elder emerges from the Golden Spike Game a two-win program entering a home game with Highland next Friday, Aug. 28.

Connect with Standard-Examiner sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net, X @ctbecker and Instagram @standardexaminersports.