Dixie earns blowout win, respect

DRAPER — In a battle of the undefeated 3A teams, the Dixie Flyers flew past Juan Diego, 48-14.

The Flyers struck on the first play of the game and never looked back. Dixie quarterback Logan Bleazard hit Tanner Gatchell for a 68-yard touchdown. Juan Diego managed to tie the game with a four-yard touchdown by running back Trevon Murphy, but after that, it was all Dixie.

After the Flyers' defense blocked a 29-yard field goal, their offense erupted for another big play. Nate Bennion slipped though the left side of the Juan Diego defense and then sprinted 62 yards for the score.

Bennion ran wild in the game, amassing 232 yards and two touchdowns.

"Our offense was awesome tonight," Bennion said. He says that the team was just looking for a little respect tonight. "We read the papers from around Utah and they don't give us much respect," the senior said.

Late in the second quarter, Dixie added to the lead when Bleazard found receiver Dean Mills in the back of the end zone for a touchdown and a commanding 20-7 lead. It appeared that Mills had one foot down, while he was being pushed out of the end zone, but it was ruled a touchdown.

The Flyers dominated Juan Diego in the second half putting up four more touchdowns, including a 74-yard run from sophomore Nate Carter. Junior receiver Tanner Gatchell would have been the star of the game if not for Bennion's dominating performance. Gatchell blocked a field goal on defense and caught three touchdown passes.

Juan Diego tried to make a game of it when Michael Robinson ran in a 53-yard touchdown that pulled the Soaring Eagle to within 27-14 but was unable to contain the red-hot running of Dixie.