Lions put a hurt on Bulldogs

PAYSON — The Payson Lions pummeled Provo High School 29-7 Thursday night behind two rushing touchdowns each from seniors Craig Hansen and Brandon Jarvis.

It was deja vu all over again for Provo: For the second week in a row the winless Bulldogs blew an early lead and managed to fall to a previously winless opponent.

Provo drew first blood in the opening quarter when senior quarterback P.K. Haws hit junior wide receiver Rob Argyle for a 22-yard touchdown reception. Haws got the Bulldogs into scoring position with a 29-yard quarterback keeper.

Payson quickly answered back, tying the score when fullback Hansen broke through the Bulldog defense for a 57-yard touchdown run.

With 1:10 remaining in the first quarter and Provo backed up deep in its own territory, a long snap sailed over Bulldog punter Brandon Sargent's head and into the end zone. Sargent kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone, scoring a safety for Payson but denying the Lions any opportunity to recover the loose ball for a touchdown.

In the second quarter, Payson drove the ball to the Provo 9-yard line but turned it over when a fourth down pass fell incomplete in the end zone. On their next drive, however, the Lions would not be denied, scoring on 23-yard dash by Jarvis.

Payson led at halftime, 16-7.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Payson fumbled the ball and Provo recovered. Not to be outdone, the Bulldogs proceeded to turn the ball back over on their third play when Payson recovered a botched snap.

Later in the third quarter, the Lions stretched their lead to 22-7 when a 31-yard quarterback scramble by junior Blake Francom set up a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Hansen.

Both teams showed why they had not won a game all season with the sloppy play that characterized the rest of the game.

Payson defensive back Steve Wall recovered a Provo fumble late in the third quarter but then coughed the ball up on the same play while trying to run for a score.

Payson missed two second half field goals, and Provo's punting woes continued into the fourth quarter with a failed fake punt and a blocked punt.

The Lions capped off the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run by Jarvis midway through the fourth quarter.