High school football: Darts' defense makes it a long night for Knights

KAYSVILLE — In a key game for positioning in Region 1, the Davis Darts downed the Northridge Knights 31-7 Wednesday night.

The Darts won the coin toss and elected to go on defense first — and there is no question why. It was a contest dominated by a very tough Davis defense. It didn't seem to matter how Northridge tried to move the ball, the Darts had a way to stop it.

To start the game, the Knights moved the ball nine yards on three plays, then punted. This was a sign of things to come, as the Davis defense only allowed one first down the entire first half. Going into the break, Northridge had 45 total yards, four punts, and lost one fumble.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Darts took some time to get going, but by the second quarter, they found a rhythm. That rhythm's name was Tanner Hinds. Hinds racked up 143 yards rushing in the first half, including a 63-yard touchdown run in which he shed several would-be tacklers before rumbling down the sideline to the end zone. He finished with 195 yards on the ground.

Thanks to an earlier field goal, Davis went into the locker room with a 10-0 lead.

Coming out of half, the Darts kept the momentum on their side. Northridge stopped Davis and forced a punt on the opening drive of the third period. But on the ensuing punt, the ball hit a Knights player, and Taylor Carling was able to jump on the loose ball to keep the drive alive, which led to another Davis touchdown and 17-0 lead.

Northridge, however, did not show up just to quit. The Knights were able to catch Davis with a halfback pass, and Alex Thompson threw a strike downfield to Blake Smithing for a 45-yard touchdown and the team's first points.

The Darts were quick to respond. Quarterback Gavin Fowler was under pressure and looking to scramble for a few yards on a rollout, which was tempting enough for the Knights' cornerback to bite and leave his coverage. Fowler saw this and hit wide-open Carson Garrett for another TD.

On the ensuing Northridge possession, Marshal Burton sealed the game for Davis by returning an interception 40 yards for the game's final score.

"We just brought it," Burton said after the game.

Indeed, the Darts were simply too tough on both sides of the ball for the Knights.