Jordan wins on blocked kick

LAYTON — Jordan blocked an extra-point attempt to pull out a 27-26 victory Friday over Northridge.

The Knights-Beetdiggers season-opening encounter was a rematch of last year's first-round playoff game, won by Jordan. The Beetdiggers' last-minute kick in that memorable game, which could have easily gone either way, was undoubtedly weighing heavily on the minds of both teams.

The two teams came at each other with a lot of energy and after both teams tuned up on a couple of practice drives the race was on to seize early control of the game. The Beetdiggers were the first team to hit paydirt when two-time all state receiver Cody Raymond scored his first touchdown of the evening late in the first quarter.

Peni Maka'afi and Braden Mitchell went to work, Mitchell connecting with Maka'afi to score two unanswered touchdowns. The Diggers wouldn't go quietly, Chaun Cook finding Raymond for his second touchdown of the night to level the score.

The Knights' bitter memories of the last meeting between the two teams may have caused the team to respond with a sense of urgency on the ensuing kickoff. Blake Smithing quickly found his way to the sidelines and hauled in a 95-yard kickoff return, giving Northridge a 20-13 lead at halftime. The lead didn't last as the Beetdiggers recovered a fumble deep in Knight territory and capped their short drive with Cook's 9-yard touchdown pass to Raymond.

The Beetdiggers grabbed another Northridge fumble deep in their own territory and assembled a long drive. The drive belonged to Hayden Moss, who had six carries for about 50 yards in the drive and sealed his team's push into the end zone with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Trailing by a touchdown, the Knights pushed back and capped a short drive, Mitchell connecting with Blake Hansen for what could have been the game-winning or at least game-tying moment. But the Beetdiggers blocked Danny Mortensen's extra-point attempt, preserving the 27-26 lead.

The excitement of the game came to a screeching halt with just over seven minutes remaining in the game when lightning lit up the sky over Northridge Stadium.

The game was called after an hour and a half delay.