High school football: T-Birds' depth will pay dividends in 4A title matchup

PROVO — No second-string group in the state has seen as much action this season as the backups on the Timpview Thunderbirds.

With three- and four-touchdown leads common by halftime, the T-Birds turned most of their games this season over to the second squad even before the fourth quarter had begun. That playing time is likely going to pay dividends for Timpview this week as several starters are hobbling and all-state defensive end Bronson Kaufusi will not play after tearing a posterior cruciate ligament in his knee in last week's semifinal win over Mountain Crest.

"We're wounded," Timpview coach Louis Wong said. "I don't ever remember being banged up this bad before. But we are not going to use that 'we're injured' as an excuse. We're here and we're still going to be ready to battle."

At Monday's practice, four starters, besides the absent Kaufusi, were out of uniform watching from the sidelines. All are suffering from the same type of injury, twisted or sprained ankles. Defensive linemen Nick Mitchell and Ethan Welborne, offensive lineman Xavier Su'afilo and safety Craig Bills are all walking gingerly right now and not wearing pads. None are expected to be 100 percent by Friday, but all are expected to suit up.

"We're just piecing people together, and I'm just finding the toughest guys who can play and who will be physical, because against Cottonwood it's going to be all about being physical," Wong said. "But we're probably not going to be as dimensional on defense as we have been. We're just going to have to line people up and bring it."

Still, the T-Birds will be missing a significant part of their defense without the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Kaufusi in uniform. Originally it was thought that the junior, who verbally committed to BYU as a sophomore, would be out six months. Now, doctors are thinking he might be healthy enough to resume activity with six weeks of rehab work. It's unsure, at this point, whether he'll be able to play for Timpview's basketball team this season.

Kaufusi is one of the better, if not the best, defensive linemen and pass rushers in the state. Wong will likely move linebacker Ofa Latu into that spot and then use a reserve to fill Latu's spot. Latu is six inches shorter than Kaufusi and 60 pounds lighter.

"He's quick, he's explosive and he's fast. He'll put a rush on the quarterback, which is what we'll need this week. He's tough as nails," Wong said.