It's tough to win a football game in the playoffs when your opponent racks up 467 yards of total offense. Judge proved in Friday's semifinals that statistics aren't everything.

Spurred on by an opportunistic defense that made the necessary big plays, Judge forced five turnovers and punched its ticket into the 3A state championship for the first time since 1993.

"When they got in the red zone we stepped up," said Judge linebacker Tyson Moll. "In the huddle we said, 'this is where defense wins championships."'

In a game filled with countless big plays by Judge's defense, perhaps the biggest came midway through the second quarter when Jordan Benson intercepted a Rhen Richard pass and raced 59 yards to put the Bulldogs ahead 35-6.

It was one of three interceptions by Judge, with Keenyn Walker accounting for the other two. Judge strong safety Chris Pell recovered one of two fumbles as Judge avenged a 40-35 loss to Union in Region 10 play earlier this year.

"We've been waiting for this ever since we played them the first time," said Pell. "Our defense was ready all week, everybody had a great game."

Judge coughed it up six times in that loss to Union, a week after turning it over eight times against Wasatch. Those two losses — Judge's only two of the season — represented what many people thought was the beginning of the end for the former No. 1 team in 3A.

"We went back and looked at some tape of earlier in the year, and we can be very physical when we want to," said Judge coach James Cordova. "We just decided to come out and play physical again."

Those 14 combined turnovers against Union and Wasatch forced Judge to get physical away from the cozy confines of their new football stadium.

The Bulldogs' defense played OK in a first-round win at Morgan, but they were tremendous in a 28-10 quarterfinal win over Cedar last weekend. That win was against Cedar's option offense, but Union was an entirely different beast. Led by Richard, Union likes to spread the field and air it out. Judge's secondary and tremendous press from the defensive line never let Richard get into a rhythm, limiting him to 22-of-51 passing, even though he did finish with 424 yards.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com