From Deseret News archives:

Major Miners: Bingham buries Diggers in classic

Published: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006 1:19 a.m. MDT
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SANDY — Bingham remains the king of Utah prep football.

In September.

In the preseason.

The top-ranked Miners made their latest stake to that claim Friday night, beating No. 3 Jordan 31-29 in a game Bingham never lost control of throughout the night.

"Our whole thing this year has been — not to look ahead — but to be the best team in the state from week to week," said coach Dave Peck.

So far so good. Friday's win over high-flying Jordan concluded another tough preseason schedule for Bingham, which stands 4-0.

Like it did a week earlier at Fremont, Bingham's tough and talented offensive line led the way. Jordan pulled within a score twice in the second half. Both times, though, Bingham responded with 80-yard scoring drives to seal the win.

"Our team comes big up when we need them the most," said O-lineman Star Lotulelei.

The Miners' final scoring drive, which was late in the fourth quarter, came after a three-yard touchdown reception by Cody Raymond had pulled the Beetdiggers within three points at 25-22. Bingham's offense took 14 plays and chewed 7:34 off the clock.

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During that stretch, the O-line — comprised of Lotulelei, Alex Tate, Matt Valenzuela, Sam Tione and Derek Tuimauga — blew open holes for running backs Doug Fiefia and Sam Langi to blaze through.

Fiefia capped the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. He finished with 152 yards and three touchdowns. Langi added 115 yards.

The key play on the drive — and probably the game — came when quarterback Dusty Heap scrambled for nine yards on third-and-nine from Jordan's 16. His improvisation kept the Miners' drive alive and left the Diggers' super offense on the sidelines.

"Just saw an opening and took it," said Heap. "We had great blocking, got around the edge and just got there. Huge play. I give credit to the blocking right there."

In addition to the O-line, Bingham's receivers blocked well. Peck said his receivers have been blocking as well as any set of receivers he's ever had.

Trailing 31-22, Jordan, paced by quarterback Sean Taylor, got the ball back with 2:15 remaining and drove 80 yards for a score. However, the 'Diggers couldn't recover the onside kick. Taylor finished with three TD passes.

Bingham led 19-7 at halftime.

Friday's game at Jordan was the most high-profile contest of Bingham's grueling preseason schedule. Fans filled the bleachers and poured into areas around Jordan High's stadium, including a grass section in one of the endzones. There were approximately 7,000 people in attendance.


E-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com

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Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Morning News

Jordan's Alex Blaisdell (17) and Bingham's Tyler Strong compete for the ball in the endzone as Blaisdell made the interception but Bingham still won.

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