From Deseret News archives:
High school football: Giddyap! Colts ride big first half to win
"We knew they were a good team and a bunch of fighters that wouldn't give up, and I am just proud of the way our guys came out there and did what was necessary to get the win," said Colts coach Cecil Thomas.
It took a little while for Cottonwood to get rolling — but once it did, watch out. After a 7-0 lead after the first quarter on a Steve Romero five-yard touchdown run, the Colts blitzed East for 30 points in the second.
It began with a 13-play, 63-yard drive that was capped by a Sofele one-yard run. On East's next offensive play, several Cottonwood defenders drilled Leopards quarterback Danny Tuai, forcing a fumble. Jason Bilanzich picked it up and began running, but Bilanzich noticed his much faster teammate Jason Lundquist next to him and pitched the ball, allowing Lundquist to scamper into the end zone for the score.
Unbelievably, on East's next play, it again fumbled and was picked up by Bilanzich, where he again pitched the ball, but this time the player was immediately tackled.
"Everyone was just yelling pitch, so I threw the ball out hoping we could score on it," said Bilanzich of his decision to try to get the ball to a teammate. It was an unselfish play, but that is not something that surprised Thomas.
"Unbelievable. He is a great player," added Thomas. "He has been great all year. He is a very smart kid, a smart football player. He is where he needs to be at all the time. He is a great student. One of our leaders and one of our captains. We expect that out of him."
Romero threw a 21-yard pass to Lundquist for the score making it 29-0, and Sofele scored from one-yard out to make it 36-0. The rest was simply holding on to the big lead.
Bilanzich added an interception in the fourth quarter, giving him three takeaways for the game.
"Nope, never," added Bilanzich of ever recording three turnovers. "Not even when I was in little league. I was just in the right place at the right time."
Sofele scored on a 69-yard touchdown run to punctuate his 33-carry, 166-yard day.
"He is a warrior," Thomas said of his workhorse back. "He does that everyday in practice. He never takes a day off. I am very proud of him."
East kept it interesting as Tuai threw for two scores and ran for two others, but the second quarter back-to-back-to-back scores by Cottonwood truly ended all doubt to the eventual outcome.
"We just want to keep on winning," added Bilanzich. "We want to take the region, and then hopefully state."
E-mail: mblack@desnews.com
