Orem runs down winless Payson

PAYSON — When a team doesn't have to punt much it usually means things are going pretty well on offense. In Friday night's 29-14 victory over the winless Payson Lions, the Orem Tigers punted only twice.

The Tigers, behind a great performance from the offensive line, put on a running show by gaining five to 10 yards on almost every carry. It didn't seem to matter who was carrying the ball. In fact, Orem's three starting backs, Mike Eckohawk, Blake Steele and Ryan Hogue, were all out with injuries. But backups Jake Schroeder, A.J. Pope and Kavika Kauwe filled in nicely. Quarterback Billy Strong didn't have a bad game himself, rushing for 90 yards on only eight carries.

"That's the good thing about the option is somebody usually has a hole to run through, and tonight the holes were there for Billy and he had some big runs," Orem coach Robert Steele said.

The Tigers owned the first quarter and pretty much the entire first half. After 24 minutes of play, Orem had 14 first downs to Payson's four. The Lions, who went four downs and out on both first-quarter possessions, didn't gain a first down until midway through the second quarter.

Orem got on the board first when Kai Kamoe booted a 28-yard field goal to cap off an 11-play, 55-yard drive. The Tigers scored again in the first quarter when Strong hit Devin Wilkins over the middle for a 19-yard scoring pass, ending a nine-play, 65-yard drive. Kamoe's extra point put the Tigers up 10-0.

On their first possession of the second quarter, the Tigers marched 50 yards on 10 plays to score again. Schroeder plunged in from five yards out for the touchdown. The extra point was no good, putting Orem on top 16-0

Payson finally mounted a drive after taking over with six minutes remaining before intermission. Two long completions from Brett Hiatt to Brandon Jarvis put the Lions inside the Orem 20-yard line. Jarvis finished the drive off with a 10-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down play. The Lions were unsuccessful on a two-point pass attempt, making the score 16-6.

Orem marched downfield again on the final possession of the first half and threatened to score one more time. But Schroeder fumbled on the final play before intermission at the goal line, giving the Lions some life heading into the locker room.

Payson got the offense clicking in the third quarter and moved the ball impressively on its first two possessions. However, both drives ended without points. The first stalled when Travis Barney intercepted a Hiatt pass in the end zone. The second drive came up empty when the Lions missed a 35-yard field goal attempt.