High school football: Defense saves the day for Braves vs. Vikings

BOUNTIFUL — Bountiful's offense had plenty to be proud of Friday night, but in the final minutes of a 23-21 win over cross-town rival Viewmont, it all came down to defense.

"Obviously, I was nervous," said senior quarterback Tyler Talbot after Bountiful had to punt with 2:41 left in a game it led by just two points. "All they needed was a field goal to win it. But I had a feeling our 'D' could step it up."

And step it up they did as the Braves held Viewmont to just 11 yards on the Vikings' final drive. Four incomplete passes ended the Vikings' effort to score against a team that prides itself on defense.

"The fourth quarter came and we came together the way Bountiful football does," said lineman and captain, Thomas Hamilton. "We covered our assignments and that made all the difference."

The fact it was the defense that decided the game was fitting.

"It's classic," said tight end/defensive end Helam Heimuli, a senior captain. "Coach (Larry) Wall knows what to do."

The game was a nail-biter from start to finish, with Bountiful's defense ending a Viewmont drive with an interception by Dillon Salazar on the two-yard line.

Viewmont did find the end zone first when Dustin Grigg scored on a 45-yard run in the first quarter.

It wasn't until Talbot hit Ben Lemon for a nine-yard pass play at 1:49 of the second quarter that the Braves got on the scoreboard.

Then in the third quarter, the Braves seemed to take control with a 75-yard pass play from Talbot to Heimuli. That play and a subsequent 27-yard field goal by kicker Spencer Mohlman were the difference, according to Bountiful coach Larry Wall.

"What really helped us was getting the field goal," he said. "We've got a good kicker. In a lot of cases, that's as good as a TD because now it's a two-score game."

Viewmont got within striking distance with its third touchdown of the game, a two-yard run by quarterback Jeremy Lieber. But it was the 46-yard pass play on the previous play that could have shifted momentum to the Vikings.

When the Braves didn't manage to move off the 20-yard line, it looked a little bleak. Then Talbot kicked a 57-yard punt to give the Braves a little breathing room. The rest, they acknowledge, was up to the defense.

"Every game there are lessons to be learned," said Wall. "I thought we made the big plays tonight. The pick by Salazar and Connor's (Winters) one-handed pick, those are momentum breakers."

The Braves' leading rusher was T. J. Farr, who earned 136 yards on the ground.

Both players and coaches say they don't mind back-to-back rivalry games.

"I love them," said Talbot. "They are the funnest type of games."

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com