2A high school football playoffs: Templars spoil Broncos' season

CEDAR CITY — Manti spoiled San Juan's perfect season and ousted the Broncos from the 2A playoffs with a 26-13 victory on Saturday in the state semifinals.

Wide receiver Nick Tibbs and quarterback Griffin Aste, both seniors, came up big for the Templars (10-1) against the previously undefeated Broncos (10-1) at Southern Utah University's Eccles Coliseum. Tibbs caught five receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns while Aste rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown and completed nine of 13 passes for 156 yards.

"Nick Tibbs just had a huge day catching the ball," Manti coach Cole Meacham said.

"Tibbs was huge," Aste said. "That's what we play for our senior year ... to play big in big games."

Up 13-7 at the half, Manti made some defensive adjustments in the second half to try to stifle the Broncos, Meacham said.

Russell Hugentobler's 12-yard touchdown run for Manti with 4:16 to go in the third quarter put the Templars up 19-7 after a two-point conversion failed. Aste's 14-yard touchdown pass to Tibbs with 11:11 left in the fourth quarter increased the Templars lead to 26-7.

On the San Juan's next drive, Jace Holliday ran 88 yards into the end zone, but the play was called back because of a block-in-the-back penalty. The Broncos did find the end zone on that same drive, however, when Holliday scampered four yards for six. Black's point after failed to make the score 26-13.

Manti kept the ball for 8:17 on its next drive, which ended when the Broncos sacked Aste on the 30-yard line on a fourth down play.

"We just wanted to keep doing what we were doing.... Nothing special," Aste said.

Receiving the ball with only 1:29 to go and down by 13, the Broncos drove to the Manti 41-yard line before Templar Matthew Olson intercepted Johnson to seal the victory.

The Manti offense controlled time of possession the entire game and converted 23 first downs.

"That's our kids running and blocking hard," Meacham said of his team's offensive success.

Manti struck first with 7:22 remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Griffin Aste trotted 20 yards into the end zone and Robert Peterson hit the extra point to go up 7-0.

The Templars looked like they might score another touchdown at the end of the first quarter, but on fourth and goal from the 2-yard line, San Juan sacked Aste for a loss of seven yards.

San Juan knotted the game at 7-7 when Bronco receiver Terron Jack caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle Johnson and Kohler Black hit the extra point with 8:05 left in the first half.

Black was the Broncos' leading rusher, netting 71 yards on eight carries. Johnson completed eight of 16 passes for 146 yards in the losing effort.

The Templars answered less than four minutes later when Nick Tibbs scored a touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Aste. Black's PAT failed, making the score 13-7.

Manti will face North Summit in the 2A championship game on Saturday at Timpview High School. The Templars defeated the Braves 29-21 during the regular season.

"It's going to be a great game," Meacham said.

"They're a great team," Aste said. "It'll be a shootout."