High school football: Soaring Eagle bullies Bears

GARLAND — It was supposed to be a battle between two of Region 11's top teams when Bear River hosted Juan Diego at Bear Field.

But as everyone knows, what's supposed to be doesn't always happen.

Juan Diego scored early and scored often against Bear River on Friday night, using a relentless offensive attack to down the Bears 34-7.

"Coach (John Colosimo) told us we had to come back and rise like a phoenix (after last week's 28-3 loss to Highland, Idaho)," said Soaring Eagle tailback Tana Vea, who finished the night with 87 yards rushing and two touchdowns. "We knew we had to come out and play hard, and we did."

Colosimo was pleased with the effort. As lopsided as that score looks, it could have actually been much worse. The Soaring Eagle defense held a potent Bear River offense in check all night, never allowing them to even threaten the end zone until the Bears managed a late fourth quarter touchdown."We've been good defensively all year," he said. "I was a little bit worried about their size ... but our kids rose to the challenge to stuff the things they were running and take them out of what they like to do."

On offense, Juan Diego was able to move the ball at will on Bear River's defense. Starting the game with great field position at the Bears' 45-yard line, the Soaring Eagle staked itself to an early 7-0 lead with a Vea 4-yard touchdown run. After holding the Bears to a three-and-out on their ensuing possession, Juan Diego marched 60 yards in just under six minutes, with Lars Gunnerson capping the drive with a 1-yard run.

Bear River's James Taylor fumbled on the Bears' next possession, which was recovered by Juan Diego deep in Bear territory. Six plays later, Juan Diego quarterback Cody Stevenson would keep the ball on a 1-yard sneak up the middle to put Juan Diego up 20-0.

"It was a good first half for us, you can't ask for anything more," Colosimo said. "I think we scored just about every possession."

That onslaught would continue, as Taylor threw an interception to Juan Diego's Bruce Nix on the Bears next possession. Juan Diego scored yet another touchdown just minutes later, this time on a 9-yard pass from Stevenson to Gunnerson, putting the score at 27-0. They would then take a 34-0 lead after quickly getting the ball back and marching down the field, with Vea finding the end zone from two yards out for his second touchdown of the night.