High school football: A look back at the 2008 season

Timpview 10, Pleasant Grove 6

(Friday, Aug. 22)

Thanks to several ferocious red-zone stands, the Timpview Thunderbirds began the 2008 season by extending their winning streak to 24 games. Timpview stopped the Vikings four times inside the 10-yard line. In fact, the game ended with Pleasant Grove on Timpview's 4-yard line. The Vikings played without placekicker Josue Meza, who was injured in a motorcycle accident earlier in the week.

Timpview's defensive front, led by Bronson Kaufusi, had five sacks and forced many other hurries.

"Defensively we played hard. We made things happen. We put on good pressure, and even though we didn't get to him all the time, trust me, that quarterback felt us," Timpview coach Louis Wong said.

— Jim Rayburn

Juan Diego 21, Hurricane 18

(Friday, Nov. 21)

At Rice-Eccles Stadium, by now Jaron Bentrude's winning field goal that handed Juan Diego its first 3A football title is the stuff of legend around the state. What stood out to me most on that day is not what he did in those final seconds, but what he did when few people were paying attention.

While the rest of his team remained in the locker room at halftime, Bentrude came out to the turf with a teammate whoacted as his holder on field goals and extra points. He set up about 25 yards out from the south end zone and started practicing field goals.

He sent one through the uprights, then another. Bentrude then set up five yards back and let another attempt go. This one was wobblier than the others, but still made it through.

Perhaps Bentrude sensed the pivotal role he would play at game's end. Ultimately, what he did was turn a nightmare game that saw him miss three extra points into the best ending he could imagine.

— John Coon

Mountain Crest 41, Sky View 38

(Friday, Oct. 15)

At Sky View High School, every once in a while fans are fortunate enough to attend a fantastic high school football game, and this was definitely one of the best of the year. Sky View dominated the first half, led by Kyler Carlsen and J.D. Falslev, but after a tongue-lashing at halftime, Mountain Crest came out and started imposing its will on the game, rallying to tie it late on several scoring drives of 14 plays or more.