No snoozer — with a dozen 'mo' changes

Only three weeks into the prep season, and we've already seen a lot of good football. For the most part, however, it's been on one side of the field. A good share of the games have been snoozers, decided early and lopsided by the end.

The Lehi at Payson game last Friday was not one of them. Looking at how both teams had played in games prior, you wouldn't have expected this one to be a thriller, but it was. Critical plays throughout the contest repeatedly turned the tide. This game had the kind of suspense that fans want when they go to watch high school football. It was the best game I've watched so far.

Here's a sampling of what you missed.

On Lehi's first possession, Payson's Tony Davis swiped the ball from a runner to end a Pioneers' drive. Lehi was poised to score again a few minutes later when the Payson defenders forced another fumble. If you're counting, that's two momentum changes.

After a 40-yard bomb from quarterback Blake Francom put the Lions deep into Lehi territory, Spencer Nielsen booted a 35-yard field goal that would have been good from 50 yards. Lehi responded with an eight-play drive to pay dirt that Tyson Thompson and Abe White made look easy by cranking out 10 to 15 yards per carry. Momentum switch three, back to Lehi.

But right when it seemed as thought the Pioneers would run all over the Lions, Payson put together a 13-play 80-yard march that ended with Francom throwing a perfect lob to Nate Quist in the corner of the end zone with only seconds remaining before half. Francom was masterful on the drive. Change No. 4, back to Payson.

Davis kept the crowd ignited when he returned the second-half kickoff 50 yards. But hold on, a yellow napkin brought the ball back to Payson's 8-yard line. A good break for Lehi and tide change No. 5. But the home crowd was deflated for only a few seconds. Davis, who should have been on the bench taking a nap after his 50-yard return, snuck behind the Pioneers' D on the next play to haul in a perfectly thrown ball from Francom and sprinted untouched for a 92-yard TD. Momentum change No. 6 in favor of Payson.

Minutes later Lehi was on Payson's 20-yard line when QB Aaron Larson tossed a bullet to tight end Lance Turner in the end zone. Oops, bring it back. Illegal receiver down field, leaving Lehi with a fourth-and-21 from the 30-yard line. Momentum switch No. 7. But Lehi went for it, and that paid off when Riley Rampton grabbed an inside screen and rambled down to the goal line, setting up a Thompson TD dive on the next play. Tide change No. 8 back to Lehi.