But, on third and long with 19 seconds remaining in regulation, quarterback Carter Payne connected with tight end Reese Cantwell over the middle for a 38-yard touchdown pass.

Weber took the lead for the first time and pulled out a come-from-behind 30-23 victory in a Region 1 rumble.

Tied at 23, the Warriors took possession at their own 27 with 1:26 left in the fourth quarter to start their winning drive.

“We do the two-minute drill every week in practice; stay composed. I try to hype the guys up in the huddle,” Payne said. “We knew (Layton) was going to be in cover two, so we knew the middle was going to be wide open.”

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Weber advanced to the Lancers’ 32, but Payne was sacked and fumbled at the 38, where the Warriors were fortunate to recover.

“We had missed on a play earlier and (offensive co-ordinator) Chad (Davis) said ‘it’s right there for you across the middle,'” Payne said. “Reese ended up looking back for the ball, and I hit him right in stride. Great play by him-and way to get into the end zone.”

Cantwell recounted the play from his point of view:

“After the fumble we were behind the sticks. We were like ‘we need a deep shot; we have to try something,'” Cantwell said. “I had run that route twice, and there was only a backer in coverage. The safeties were super wide, and I ran straight down the middle of the field, and we got it.”

Weber’s rally spoiled a stellar performance by Layton running back Luke Byers, who scored three touchdowns-all on sustained drives, ending in 1-yard runs.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Layton’s possessions were 3:44, 3:43 and 3:57 of clock time and included 10, 10 and nine snaps.

“The O-line was doing a great job on the run plays. We ran the ball pretty well today,” Byers said.

The Lancers scored on their opening drive of the game, for their first points in three games after consecutive shutout losses, taking a 7-0 lead at the 8:16 mark.

“We put in our heavy package with me at wildcat, and we kept running it down their throats towards the goal line and pushed it in,” Byers said. “It was definitely a confidence booster. This week we emphasized run-blocking, and it helped us score and gave us things to look forward to.”

Byers tallied his second touchdown with six seconds left in the half, offsetting a 1-yard run by Weber’s Wyatt Nielsen, giving the Lancers a 14-7 lead at the break.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

“We went in the half ahead, but in the second half they started moving the ball on us, and we made a couple of mistakes on offense that led to punts,” Byers said.

A 34-yard field goal by Miles Neuteboom kicked it up to 17-7 for Layton before Weber got its offense untracked late in the third quarter.

“It was definitely a slow start. The other team controlled the ball well,” Payne said. “But when we get in the red zone, our mindset is to score, and that’s what we did on our last drives.”

Down but not out, Weber (4-3, 1-1 Region 1) had prepared for Friday’s deficit scenario.

“When we’ve been playing from behind lately, we’ve kind of got down as a team. We’ve been working all week to keep our juice up,” Cantwell said. “We stayed positive. No one was complaining about anything; we just drove and got it done.”

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

The Warriors scored three touchdowns and a field goal in the final 17 minutes and six seconds, beginning with a 1-yard score by Payne late in the third period.

“When the D-end didn’t bite, I pulled it; I kind of knew where our lead blockers were going to be and I followed them right into the end zone,” Payne said. “You’ve just gotta stay with the game plan. Don’t get too high; don’t get too low. Our defense got a lot of great stops and the offense converted.”

Bridger Rasmussen’s 17-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter tied it at 17 for Weber before Byers added his third rushing touchdown midway through the period, as Layton led 23-17.

Cantwell had an earlier touchdown before his game-winner, an 18-yard catch with 3:37 left, setting the stage for the 23-23 tie.

“We ran Reese on a little corner route. We faked the run, and he popped wide open when they lost their assignment,” Payne said.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

Doing the math, both teams missed their PAT opportunities after reaching 23, adding to the drama.

Layton (2-5, 0-2) ran five plays after Weber tied the game, punted, and the Warriors took possession for the winning drive with 1:26 left.

“Our defense has been huge the past three weeks; they’ve been balling out,” Payne said. I told them, ‘You get the ball back and we’re going to go score for you guys,’ and that’s what they did.”

Bob Judson has been covering high school sports for the Standard-Examiner for 51 years.

Weber High's Creed DeVries (4) carries the football as Layton's Nate Wensel (11) lunges for a tackle during a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

Layton High quarterback Tillman Thomas rears back to throw during a Region 1 football game against Weber on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

Weber High's Draycen Munoz (3) grips tightly to the uniform of Layton's Kass Huntsman (0) during a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

Weber High's Wyatt Nielsen (6) carries the football as Layton's Liam Arismendi (2) closes in during a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

Layton High's Jake Strong, right, corrals the football as Weber's Draycen Munoz pursues during a Region 1 football game Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Layton. (BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)

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