Riverton scores twice late, posts victory over Provo in season finale

RIVERTON — For much of Wednesday night's game between Riverton and Provo, it appeared as if neither team wanted to win the game.

It was apparent from the opening whistle that it was more important to both coaches that their teams stayed healthy than to earn a victory.

But someone had to win the game, and the Silverwolves put together two scoring drives late in the game to earn the 20-7 victory in the regular-season finale for both teams.

"This was pretty much a J.V. game for both teams," Riverton coach Mike Miller said. "Provo is a great team, and they should be a force to reckon with in the playoffs."

Riverton started the game with a long, sustained drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Brandon King.

The touchdown was set up by a 30-yard pass from Chris Savage to Ryan Harward and hard running by King and Mitch Carter.

Provo countered quickly following the Silverwolves' score. It took them only three plays to tie the game, scoring on a 46-yard run by Austin Alder.

That's when the futility set in.

Over the course of the next two and a half quarters neither team was able to close the deal and score. Both teams had their chances but found some way to kill their drives, whether by turnovers or penalties.

A prime example of this came in the third quarter.

Riverton had the ball on the Provo 48-yard line when junior running back Westin Ellis busted through the line and scampered to the 1-yard line before he was caught from behind by Ryan Laws who forced him to fumble the ball into the end zone, resulting in a touchback for the Bulldogs.

The scoring drought finally ended with 7:46 remaining in the game when Silverwolves reserve quarterback Joe Schrader scored on a two-yard touchdown plunge.

Schrader helped set up the touchdown run with a 39-yard rush to open the drive. Conner Nelson also rushed three times on the drive for 15 yards.

Provo looked to match Riverton's score after a good return by Laws gave the Bulldogs the ball on their own 40-yard line, but Provo threw an interception on the first play of its drive, ending its hopes of a comeback

Riverton put the game away on its next possession when Jerris Koplin scored on a five-yard run.

Both teams are headed to the state playoffs next week, with Riverton traveling to Fremont on Oct. 29 and Provo hosting the No. 4 team from Region 6.