4 TDs for Kariya was almost 1 too many

The Davis Darts came into Friday's 5A final riding a defense that was shutting down opponents. During the team's six-game winning streak to reach the finals, the defense had been giving up an average of 7.8 points per game. Davis winning the state championship did not come as a great surprise. It was the method to the title that was a shocker.

The Darts put 50 points on the scoreboard and needed every one of them in a 50-43 overtime win over Cottonwood. In the offensive explosion, it was Bryan Kariya, a Deseret Morning News Academic All-State player, who took the Colts to school.

Kariya was honored at halftime for the achievement, and his teammates showed their respect as they stayed to watch the presentation before going into the locker room.

"Bryan Kariya is amazing," said teammate Braden Gates. "School-wise or football-wise, he is just awesome."

Kariya finished the game with 216 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns, but it might have been better if he had made only three. How do you fault someone for scoring a touchdown? It is hard to say that a touchdown almost cost your team the game, but his last score in regulation gave Cottonwood a chance.

Davis was driving with less than a minute to go with a one-point lead. Cottonwood was down to one timeout, and one more first down for the Darts and they could take a knee and hoist a trophy. Kariya broke through the line and scampered 43 yards to the end zone. Cottonwood took over the ball with 44 seconds remaining and marched down the field to tie the game.

"I probably should have downed it, but it turned out OK," said Kariya. "I never would have dreamed of scoring 50 points, but our offense just did it. Our line was awesome. I just ran as hard as I could, and they were opening up the holes for me."

It was an offensive line that controlled the game. The hogs up front opened enough holes for the running backs that Davis rushed for nearly 400 yards. It was their constant beating on the Cottonwood defense that allowed Kariya to go 35 yards untouched for the game-winning score in overtime.

"We have been together since Bantams — ninth grade," said center Bart Taylor of his line mates. "We knew we could be something special this season back in July in Cedar City when it was hot and we were working hard, practicing three times a day."

When prodded with exactly what it was that made his unit special, Taylor responded with the creative: "Sticktuitiveness. We just never gave up."

Gates expanded on that by saying, "It was all in the heart. It was our technique, and our coaches did an awesome job, but we have worked as a team all year. It was the heart that comes through."

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E-mail: mblack@desnews.com