Bulldogs break drought with win over Vikings

PROVO — How long had it been since the last time the Provo Bulldogs won a prep football game? Well, the Olympics hadn't come to Salt Lake City yet, John Kerry was just the junior senator from Massachusetts, and Brittany Spears still topped the pop charts.

After winning one game in 2001 and none the past two years, Provo finally broke into the win column by controlling the line of scrimmage and wearing down the visiting Pleasant Grove Vikings for a 21-9 victory Friday night.

Senior fullback/linebacker Rob Argyle scored two touchdowns and provided stellar play on both sides of the ball to lead Provo to the win.

The Bulldogs received the opening kickoff and were on the move when sophomore quarterback Warner Jarman threw an 18-yard completion to senior Jake Cannon. The drive stalled, however, and Provo was forced to punt.

Pleasant Grove proceeded to go three-and-out. Viking punter Kyle Beecher booted it 53 yards, but the punt rolled into the endzone for a touchback and Provo assumed possession on the 20-yard line.

With their offensive line dominating the line of scrimmage and Argyle grinding out the critical yards, the Bulldogs marched 80 yards for a touchdown without completing a single pass on the drive. Argyle converted a key 4th-and-2 with a 6-yard gain, and then capped off the drive by squirting through the middle of the Pleasant Grove defense for a 24-yard touchdown scamper.

"I saw the goal line and I just knew I had to get there," said Argyle.

Provo defensive lineman Ikani Samani sacked Viking quarterback Justin Herrera on the ensuing drive, and the Vikings appeared headed for another punt. Senior halfback Russ Patten, though, infused energy into the Pleasant Grove offense by doing his best whirling dervish imitation while spinning his way to an 11-yard gain on 3rd-and-5. A fourth-down pass from Herrera to Beecher kept the drive alive, but the Vikings stalled at the 7-yard line and were forced to kick a field goal.

At the end of the second quarter, clock mismanagement by Pleasant Grove prevented the Vikings from scoring again. Precious seconds ticked away in the final minute as the visitors mysteriously failed to call their final timeout, and the half ended with Pleasant Grove at the Provo 10-yard line and the Bulldogs leading 7-3.

A 55-yard punt by Provo's Danny Bell midway through the third quarter pinned Pleasant Grove down on its own 1-yard line. Two plays later, Herrera threw an errant pass that sophomore Austin Alder intercepted and returned 12 yards for a touchdown. Bell missed the extra point for a 13-3 Bulldog lead.