High school football: Special teams plays spark Sky View past Kearns

SMITHFIELD — Special teams were the difference for the Sky View Bobcats as they defeated Kearns on a frigid Wednesday night in Cache Valley.

Blocked punts and big kick returns helped the Bobcats best the Cougars 33-22 in the inter-region outing.

"Special teams are the biggest underrated part of the game," said Sky View's Brad Lenkersdorfer. "The big special teams play takes the heart out of the opposite teams ... that just kills other teams. We have heart in that. And we think that if we can get big special teams plays, we can win the ballgame."

Sky View's Shaun Harris exploded for a 35-yard run before getting pulled down one yard short of the goal line. Harris finished off the drive by taking it in for the first score of the game.

On the ensuing drive, Kearns got the ball up near the middle of the field before opting to punt. The Bobcats' special teams defense rushed the Cougars' kicker and tackled him while he tried to recover a bad snap on the Kearns 37-yard line.

Even with favorable field position, Sky View was not able to make anything of the series, and actually ended up giving the ball back to Kearns on a fumble recovery. The two teams seemed stuck in a stalemate until the Cougars were ready to punt again. Sky View pressured the kicker again, and this time Jordan Nielsen was able to block the attempted punt.

Starting deep in Kearns territory helped Sky View get the second touchdown of the game. Kyler Carlson rifled a pass to Blake McKinley, who instantly spun off a tackle and then broke down the sideline for a 30-yard scoring play. Brock Warren was golden on his second point-after attempt on the night, and Sky View was up 14-0 in the first quarter.

Just after the start of the second quarter, the Cougars slashed the Bobcats' lead in half. Led by quarterback J.R. Finai, who ran in from a yard out, and Brock Whetman, whose PAT kick sailed through the uprights, Kearns had seven points barely a minute into the quarter.

The scoring play came following a 16-yard pass play where Finai found Marcus Teller, who carried the ball to the one.

A pair of big plays led the Bobcats to their third and final score of the opening half. Carlson connected with Chris Bennion on a 42-yard play, and then followed it up by lofting a 31-yard pass to McKinley for the touchdown. Warren's kick was good, making the score 21-7 at intermission.