High school football: Big second half lifts Miners over Colts

The Bingham Miners needed a spark after a lackluster first half against Cottonwood that saw them make costly penalties, miss tackles and misfire on offense.

Braden Anderson provided it.

With a three-point lead coming out of the break, Anderson took the second half's opening kickoff and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. The play sparked the Miners on offense and defense, and they cruised to a 45-29 win over the Colts on Friday night.

"It's great when you have a Braden Anderson that's a great playmaker," said Bingham coach Dave Peck. "I just think he's one of the best athletes in the state. To run back the opening kickoff in the second half was huge. That set the tone."

The Miners needed a jolt after they were outplayed by the Colts in the first half. Cottonwood's short passing game and running game had Bingham off balance. The Miners led 17-14 at halftime, but one of their touchdowns was set up by a turnover and scored after a 2-yard drive.

"I don't know what we were doing," said Anderson, who also recovered a fumble and an onside kick and saved a touchdown by catching Cottonwood running back Nadan Hosea from behind in the second half. "That wasn't Bingham football. They were talking a bunch and we started talking back and we shouldn't have done that. That wasn't our best game in the first half."

Thanks to Anderson, Bingham did bring its best game for much of the second half.

After Anderson scored on the kickoff return, the Miners' defense got a stop. Bingham's offense put together an 80-yard scoring drive, which culminated with an 18-yard touchdown run by Harvey Langi.

The Miners blew the game open when quarterback Ty Hannay connected with Ryland Tausinga on a 49-yard touchdown, and when Anderson recovered a fumble and returned it 61 yards to Cottonwood's 2-yard line to set up a rushing touchdown by Hannay.

Peck said Anderson's kickoff return and his players taking responsibility for their efforts were the difference in the second half.

"The kids took it upon themselves to play a little more intense, and to play smarter," Peck said. "I d like to take credit for making some great adjustments or a great halftime speech that motivated the kids. It wasn't that. It was our kids just kind of settling in and making some plays."