High school football: Westlake rallies past Wasatch

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Even though the win came against a 3A nonregion opponent, Westlake coach Jason Walker knew that his team's come-from-behind 35-32 victory over previously unbeaten Wasatch was an important one.

"Psychologically, this is really big for us," Walker said of the first-year Thunder program after picking up its third win of the season Thursday night. "Especially after losing two straight region games to Orem and Timpview."

Early on, Westlake (3-6) looked like it would be able to score at will when it took the opening kickoff and moved the ball down the field with ease during a short, six-play drive that took less than two minutes. The payoff was a 22-yard touchdown pass from sophomore John Ursua to freshman Brock Hillsted.

Not to be outdone on its first possession, Wasatch scored even quicker — in 14 seconds — when Alex Probst broke to the left sideline and went 90 yards for a touchdown kickoff return.

The kicking game proved to be crucial for both teams. Westlake's Trey Dougher was 3-for-3 on extra point attempts and 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, while Wasatch failed on three extra point attempts during the game.

So while the Wasps built a 26-17 lead late in the third quarter, Westlake crept close enough to make those valuable points Wasatch left off the board matter that much more.

With just under two minutes left in the third, Nate Jensen took a kickoff 91 yards all the way to the end zone. And after a 1-yard run by Wasatch quarterback Payton Davis, the Wasps were stunned again — this time on a Brandon Aldstadt 95-yard kickoff return — on a Thunder touchdown. Suddenly, after a Ursua two-point conversion, the game was tied at 32 apiece.

"I thought (Ursua) played a very good game tonight," Walker said. "He performed and executed well, and did a good job in making the right decisions."

Ursua ended with a 13-of-23 passing night, with 130 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 114 yards on 10 carries.

With Wasatch on a potential winning drive, Westlake's Zach Dean came up with a big fumble recovery. On the ensuing possession, the Thunder offense got Dougher close enough for a 32-yard game-winning field goal with just under five minutes remaining.

It was tense for the Westlake defense as the Wasps drove deep into Thunder territory on their final gasp. But on fourth-and-10 on the Westlake 17-yard line with under two minutes left, the attempted pass fell incomplete.

After the game, Walker spoke about the effect he hopes the win will have on his team.

"Even though it's nonregion, I think it will be critical in building some momentum finishing our region schedule," he said. "We've been in some close games when we haven't made plays. But tonight, we made some big plays when we needed to."