High school football: Juan Diego beaten in Idaho

POCATELLO — It was a long bus ride home for the Juan Diego football team on Thursday.

The Soaring Eagle arrived in town with high hopes, but left downtrodden. Not only that, but they were beaten up in a 28-3 nonregion loss to Highland, Idaho.

Rams' quarterback Tanner Nielson completed 20 of 29 passes for 197 and two touchdowns, and Highland took advantage of four Juan Diego turnovers to earn the win.

"I thought we would be more physical with them," said Juan Diego coach John Colosimo, whose team fell from the unbeaten ranks with the loss.

Colosimo said that not only did the Soaring Eagle lose the game, but they likely lost three starters to injury. The team's leading tackler, Dan Jimenez, as well as running back Lars Gunderson and linebacker Bryson Pitcher may be out for the season.

"This game might cost us big time," said Colosimo.

Certainly, Juan Diego didn't compete like Highland expected. The Soaring Eagle had just 158 yards total offense and committed several uncharacteristic illegal procedure penalties.

Rams coach Gino Mariani, whose team scheduled four Utah teams this season and finished 3-1, was surprised at the outcome.

"Our goal was to play physical," Mariani said. "You have to against a veer (offense) team. I knew their reputation, and thought this would be a good game for us."

It certainly worked out that way.

Even though Juan Diego arrived at Idaho State University's Holt Arena with good fan support, the fans had little reason to cheer.

A fumbled snap ruined Juan Diego's chance to gain a first down on their first possession, and Highland took advantage of good field position to take a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard pass from Nielson to Kai Campbell.

The Rams intercepted a pass to thwart Juan Diego's next possession, and made it 14-0 when Nielson scored on a quarterback sneak. The first half ended that way, without the Soaring Eagle even threatening.

Highland blew it open in the third quarter, taking advantage of a questionable fumble by Brock Garn, and another interception.

"We looked really bad," said Colosimo, shaking his head. Afterward, he had to think hard to come up anything good that came from the game.

Juan Diego's only bright spot came in the fourth quarter. Kicker Jaron Bentrude ended a nine-play drive with a booming 46-yard field goal that cleared the dome's uprights with room to spare.

That score came with 10:25 left in the game. The Soaring Eagle were facing a 4th-and-15, and Colosimo chose to try to avoid the shutout, and it worked.

Highland, which improved to 5-1 with the victory, owns victories over Highland (of Salt Lake City), Judge Memorial and Juan Diego, and lost only its opener, 34-28, to Timpview.

Mariani said his team has been helped dramatically by playing Utah schools. Next year, he said Highland's league will lose 1-2 teams, and he is hoping to add more Utah teams to his schedule.

"I'm not about (to schedule) Judge and Juan Diego, though," he said. "They (Juan Diego) didn't seem too excited to play us again."