High school football: Sloppy-but-successful Alta wins despite penalty-fest
SANDY — If it is possible to be deadly efficient and yet incredibly sloppy at the same time, seventh-ranked Alta found a way Friday night in its 23-7 win over No. 4 Lone Peak.
Alta quarterback Jordan Brown was the efficient part as he completed over 75 percent of his passes, going 15-of-19 for 248 yards and three touchdowns before leaving late in the third quarter with a dinged-up shoulder. However, the sloppy came as the Hawks committed a staggering 17 penalties for 162 yards.
"I have never seen anything like that," said Alta coach Les Hamilton. "We had some holds, some offsides, some false starts, some late hits. We really need to be more disciplined. I will take that on me, that is something we are going to have to correct."
Alta rebounded nicely after losing its first region game last week since October of 2005. It started the game about as well as could be hoped. The defense forced a fumble on Lone Peak's first offensive play from scrimmage, and three plays later, Brown hooked up with wide receiver Zach Liston from 31 yards for an early seven-point lead.
The Brown to Liston hookup was a combination that will probably give the Knights nightmares for the next week. The duo connected six times for 111 yards and two scores.
"Jordie and I have a great chemistry," Liston said. "We have a pretty good feel for what the other is thinking, and I love running my route just knowing that he is going to put the ball in the right place for me to make a play."
Lone Peak consistently had no answer for Liston, but that may be a problem many teams encounter.
"I think he is probably the top playmaker in the state," said Hamilton. "We have other guys that can step up, so you can't focus too much on Zach, but he just makes plays for us. He can run, he can catch, he does it all for us."
The defense held the Knights' attack in check. In the first half, the Lone Peak possession chart was dismal. It had three punts — a fourth attempted punt resulted in an Alta safety from a bad snap — and two fumbles.
Alta, meanwhile, moved the ball. Liston and Brown scored on a 37-yard pass play, and the Hawks took a 23-0 lead before the half when they used a nine-play, 99-yard drive to score with 1:17 remaining on a Tyron Morris five-yard touchdown catch.
Recent comments
o poor jordy any way go cuzzz!
sierra monroe | Oct. 8, 2009 at 1:18 p.m.
Riverton could make this their super bowl and as banged up as Alta...
plyxply | Sept. 29, 2009 at 9:09 a.m.
It worked, oooohhhhh yeah!!!!
Well. | Sept. 28, 2009 at 5:58 p.m.
- NFL: Week 12 recap 12:50 a.m.
- '12 Days' bill would top $87K 12:35 a.m.
- Study finds autism therapy works 12:35 a.m.
- Boy shot following traffic stop 12:35 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:24 a.m.
- Herbert builds his team of rivals 12:21 a.m.
- Corroon a step closer to governor 12:21 a.m.
- Monday on TV 12:18 a.m.
- Editorial: East, West and religion 12:17 a.m.
- A deficit commission? 12:17 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
869 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
473 - Max Hall issues apology
145 - BYU is champion of the state
137 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
68 - Utes fall to Seattle U. at home
65
We learned a bit more about the basketball team after this weekend.
There are 14 BYU players from Salt Lake Valley. And there are four Utah...
I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...
None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...
Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...
Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...
How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...
90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...
This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.
Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...
Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...
Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...



