4A high school football playoffs: Timpview pummels error-prone Sky View

PROVO — The Timpview Thunderbirds, winners of 34 straight football games, have proven impossible to beat for almost three seasons now.

Certainly, no team is going to get the best of the top-ranked T-Birds and two-time defending state champions without putting together a near flawless game. Unfortunately for the Sky View Bobcats, who were pounded 42-13 by the T-Birds in Friday's 4A quarterfinals, their play was far from perfect.

"We knew we had to do every thing just right to have a chance to win, and we didn't," Sky View coach Craig Anhder said. "We made early mistakes and it got us in trouble."

Falling behind 28-0 less than 12 minutes into the game probably qualifies as "trouble." Two interceptions and a total of minus-25 yards in the first quarter alone obviously did not add up to the kind of start Anhder had drawn up.

Timpview's ferocious defense had a lot to do with that slow start, however. From the opening possession, the T-Birds had Bobcat quarterback Kyler Carlsen and running back J. D. Falslev scrambling for their lives. Carlsen was under pressure on every play, was sacked six times and finished the game throwing four interceptions.

"We were confident they couldn't run against us, so we rushed only three guys and dropped back eight. That's why we tipped so many balls and had those four picks," Timpview coach Louis Wong said. "The way our offense started forced them to pass, and that's exactly what we wanted."

Of course, defense can't win games alone. And Timpview's offensive efficiency contributed significantly to Sky View's woes. Even though the T-Birds failed to score on their opening they did put Sky View in a field-position hole that lasted the entire first quarter. As a result, Levi Te'o put the T-Birds up 7-0 on a 1-yard dive eight minutes into the game.

Two minutes later, Bryson McKensie took a screen pass and powered 30 yards for another score. On Timpview's next possession, a 44-yard screen-pass run by Teo had the T-Birds threatening again, and quarterback Casey Rumsey finished off the threat with a 6-yard keeper.

On Sky View's ensuing possession, the Bobcats finally put together a drive. Aided by a Timpview personal foul and several short completions from Carlsen to Falslev, Brayden Compton and Tanner Hunt, the Bobcats advanced to Timpview's 4-yard line. But on a fourth-and-goal, T-Bird safety Craig Bills stepped in front of a Carlsen pass and returned the interception 102 yards for a touchdown, putting Timpview ahead 28-0.

"That just killed us," Anhder said. The Bobcats showed some sign of a rally when Carlsen scrambled 20 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. But only one play and seven seconds later, following an unsuccessful onsides kick by Sky View, the T-Birds firmly pulled the plug on the rally when Rumsey hit Jacob Hatch on a post route for a 36-yard touchdown pass, putting Timpview back ahead by 28.

"We're the defending state champs, and the way we prepare, focus and practice with such high energy, teams are going to find us very difficult to beat," Wong said.

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E-mail: jimr@desnews.com