High school football: Resurgent Hunter upsets No. 8 Cottonwood

WEST VALLEY CITY — When Hunter lost to West four weeks ago, it knew every subsequent game would be crucial in region play.

Now, the Wolverines are in first place in 5A Region 2, thanks to a 24-14 upset victory over No. 8 Cottonwood in Friday night football action.

Hunter (5-3, 4-1) made key plays on all sides of the ball to grind out the win on its home turf.

"We've been taking it one game at a time. Ever since the West game it's been a region championship," said subdued Hunter head coach Dustin Pearce.

Senior La'au Tanuvasa was a workhorse on Senior Night for the Wolverines, carrying the ball 30 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

"It was all my line and my fullbacks," Tanuvasa said. "If they don't move, I don't move."

Hunter's first big break came on the opening kickoff. Jacob Bradshaw squibbed the kick to keep the ball away from Cottonwood's dangerous returners, Kyle Aberton and Spencer Larsen. The ball ended up in the hands of the Colts' Kap Pauni, but a vicious hit jarred it loose and Hunter's Trevor Walker recovered on Cottonwood's 39.

Hunter cashed in with a 37-yard field goal by Jake Jex to take the early lead, eating more than five minutes off the clock and keeping Cottonwood's hurry-up offense off the field.

Two series later, the Colts certainly hurried up to grab the lead from Hunter. Nadan Hosea scampered 39 yards to the end zone as Cottonwood went up 7-3 on a drive that took only 54 seconds.

The Colts got it back in the second quarter after a three-and-out by Hunter, and they took it down to the 10 to set up first-and-goal. But Cottonwood coughed it up on the next play and Hunter recovered.

The Wolverines went three-and-out again, but this time Cottonwood (5-3, 3-1) drew a penalty for roughing punter Fausia Tanuvasa, giving Hunter new life.

The Wolverines wouldn't waste the opportunity this time. Four plays later, Tanuvasa took a handoff and broke free for a 57-yard touchdown to give Hunter a 10-7 lead.

Cottonwood mounted another drive and faced third-and-2 at the Hunter 26. But the Wolverines' Tevita Bloomfield and Murphy Lauolefiso — who played outstanding defense — stuffed Hosea for a 2-yard loss, and Crosby Jensen's pass fell incomplete — giving Hunter the ball back.

The Wolverines took it to the Cottonwood 36, and on first down, Hunter QB Brett Lunceford ran a play-action and found Fausia Tanuvasa for a touchdown strike just before halftime as Hunter padded the lead.

Hunter then got a huge special-teams play on the second-half kickoff. Landon Hancuff took the kick back 65 yards to the Cottonwood 31. Again, with a short field, Hunter managed to run about five minutes off the clock, and La'au Tanuvasa took it in from the 1 to give Hunter a commanding 24-7 lead.

Cottonwood added a late score when Jensen hit Larsen for a 26-yard touchdown, but Hunter forced two more turnovers on downs in the second half to preserve the win.

e-mail: rtrishman@desnews.com