High school football: Darts' 'D' delivers victory over Viewmont

BOUNTIFUL — Last year, the Davis defense needed a goal-line stand to prevail in a low-scoring slugfest against Viewmont.

This year, the Darts didn't let the Vikings close enough to require a similar effort.

The Davis 'D' dominated, stifling host Viewmont's offensive game plan and causing a turnover to set up the Darts' first score en route to a 14-3 Davis victory in Region 1 action Friday night.

"Our defensive coaches ... said we needed to stop the run and minimize the big play, and we'd have a chance," Davis coach Ryan Bishop said. "My hat's off to the kids and coaches on the defensive side of the ball."

And it was virtually every Dart on that side of the ball who contributed.

The defensive line — featuring James Cowser, Mason Buttars, Josh Kariya, John Lindsay, Troy Hinds and Tony Hill — chased and hurried Viewmont quarterback Ryan Workman, sacking him four times and stuffing many a running play. Viewmont tried several times to send running back Dustin Grigg or receiver Jeff Rawlings in motion to take a handoff but with very little success.

The Darts (4-3) held the Vikings to 27 yards rushing in the first half.

"(Davis) came out with a great game plan; we didn't," Vikings coach Robbie Gunter said.

When Workman completed short passes, the likes of Davis linebackers Marshall Burton and Matt Waldron and defensive back Sam Lloyd made sure the Vikings didn't break any big gains.

When Viewmont tried to take a shot downfield, Davis cornerback Jaron Badger lived up to his surname and badgered Workman and the Viking receivers by knocking down a few passes. On the other corner, Davis' Jordan Welk delivered a big blow late in the first quarter.

With Viewmont facing third-and-9, Workman fired a pass deep, but Welk picked it off at the Davis 28 and ran it back 42 yards to the Vikings' 30.

Three plays later, Davis running back Tanner Hinds took a handoff 22 yards to pay dirt. Mike Jewkes' extra point made it 7-0 Darts in the second quarter.

After Viewmont made it 7-3 on an Austin Duncan field goal in the third, Hinds added an insurance score.

With Davis facing first-and-17 from its own 25, a few Viewmont defenders showed blitz, but they all backed off. Davis ran an option play; quarterback Gavin Fowler made the read and pitched it to Hinds. With the help of great blocking, Hinds found an opening and scampered 75 yards to the end zone.

"I just saw the hole and just went full speed," said Hinds. "It was all the (offensive line blocking)."

Viewmont (4-3) found an offensive sparkplug late in the game in Anthony Tuli. The junior running back gained more than 40 yards catching and running on Viewmont's last possession.

"If we have the same intensity and ... urgency that (Tuli) brought to the table all the time, we're going to be in pretty good shape," Gunter said.

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E-mail: rtrishman@desnews.com