From Deseret News archives:
High school football: Mountain Crest rolls into quarterfinals
Running back Alex Knowles led the offense for the Mustangs, rushing for 129 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Combine that with the defense of senior defensive end John Werner, who had four tackles for a negative 10 yards, and Mountain Crest exerted a dominant performance to move it to the next round of the state playoffs.
Mountain Crest coach Mark Wootton was proud of how his team came out and attacked Cyprus from the start of the game.
¯Every phase of the game, we were just very solid,¯ said Wootton. ¯I thought our defense came out and really set the tone¯I thought we settled down and got some pressure on the quarterback and really made it tough for him on the day.¯
Wootton and his fellow coaches wanted to be sure his defensive unit would be ready for the playoffs as they prepared this week.
¯Our D-line got called out this week,¯ said Werner. ¯We weren¯t playing up to expectations. We felt we had to come out and show them what we could do.¯
On the offensive side of the ball the Mustangs efficiently drove down field on their first possession and cashed in for a full seven points. In fact, Mountain Crest was able to score on their first six drives, not having to punt the ball until the second half.
After putting up a quick 14 points, Mustang kicker Taylor Johnson tapped the ball for an onsides kick. As the ball bounced over the 50 yard line Johnson dropped on the pigskin, recovering his own kick.
¯He¯s a soccer player, so he¯s got really good foot skills,¯ said Knowles of Johnson. ¯He plays that perfectly, and our front line took him out, and he was just there to lay on it. It was pretty sweet.¯
The Mustangs were able to score on the ensuing drive as Hayden Snow found himself in the end zone, catching an 11-yard pass from Alex Kuresa for Mount Crest¯s third score of the night.
The Pirates were able to avoid getting shutout in the third quarter on a 56-yard pass play from Chris Peel to Tyrel Hardman.
