Miners break out in 4th to stop Kahuku

CEDAR CITY — In what could possibly go down as one of the most physical games of the year, the Bingham Miners pounded the Kahuku, Hawaii Red Raiders for three quarters until finally breaking through in the fourth to win, 27-0.

Sam Langi had 202 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries for the Miners, who can now claim to have beaten the defending Hawaii state champion and one of the legendary prep programs in the country.

"I think this was a situation where the team from Hawaii didn't respect these guys from Utah very much," Miners coach Dave Peck said after the game. "But I'm proud of the way our guys went out there and fought. Sam Langi is one of the best running backs in the state, but a lot of the credit should rest with our offensive line."

For three quarters the two teams took turns sending their running backs up the gut of the opposing defense, and neither was able to gain notable ground. Langi and fellow running back TJ Ford finally broke through with several big runs to begin the fourth quarter, capped with Langi's one-yard dive to put the Miners ahead. With that play the floodgates opened, as Bingham scored three more touchdowns over the next five minutes to blow the game apart.

The first half was just one pummeling after the other, as each team took turns gashing the ball straight down the middle of the defense. Neither team was able to make any significant ground on the other, meaning the punters became the key players.

In the end, it would be three brutal quarters of the Miners' offensive line and the tough running of the 5-10, 200-pound Langi that would eventually make all the difference in the game.