High school football: Bingham defense, running game shine as Miners lock up share of region title

SOUTH JORDAN — The Bingham Miners clinched at least a share of the Region 3 title — again. The Miners defeated Riverton 35-7 in its homecoming game Friday night.

Harvey Langi rushed for 122 yards and scored two touchdowns, including an electrifying 40-yard scamper late in the game that likely made most local TV newscasts.

"That was our goal; that was step one," said Bingham coach Dave Peck about Bingham's fifth straight region crown. "Our other goal is to make a run at the state championship."

The top-ranked Miners now must beat winless Taylorsville next week to finish the regular season 9-1, and 5-0 in Region 3 play. The team hasn't shown many weaknesses, and Langi and fellow back Richie Vakapuna provide a strong running attack.

But what likely wasn't shown was that this game was won with defense. The Miners held Riverton to 135 yards and a single score. The seven points was the Silverwolves lowest point total of the season.

The defense, in fact, made probably the biggest play of the game.

Leading 7-0 in the first quarter, Riverton quarterback Eric Thoreson completed his first pass to tight end Kaden Hansen. His next throw, however, was intercepted by Bingham's Kamron Koon, who jumped the route and ran 26 yards for a score.

In sports terms, it's called a "pick six," and Peck said it's the most explosive play in football.

"He played that perfect," Peck said. "That was a great play."

It also marked the fourth straight game Bingham had returned an interception for a score. Just as impressively, four different players (Coon, Manoa Pikula, Roman Valenzuela and Travis McRae) have done it.

The Miners bumped the score to 21-0 later in the opening quarter. After the drive was stopped, Bridger Peck completed a 21-yard pass to Jared Afalava on a fake punt, and that led to a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ty Hannay to Josh Smith.

Riverton's offense never threatened crossed midfield until late in the third quarter. Taking advantage of Bingham 's penalty problems (the Miners had four personal foul calls, including three in the third quarter), Thoreson completed a 31-yard screen pass to Jake Bowman that put the large visiting crowd on its feet.

That led to a 1-yard run by Dillon Draper, and Riverton fans felt like their team was back in the game, and they let everyone know it.The fired-up Silverwolves still couldn't move the football consistently, though, and Bingham put the game away with a 9-play drive that featured five runs by Langi. His first touchdown — a 2-yard run — gave Bingham a 28-7 lead.