High school football: Braves' defense, Schmidt topple Titans

Bountiful High football coach Larry Wall said his team considered Thursday night's matchup with Olympus to be a playoff game.

Region 6 ramifications and a tough Titans squad were large enough concerns for him to put his team on red alert a week early.

It showed. Behind a salty defense and patient offense, the Braves won convincingly 27-6. Bountiful allowed just 99 yards of total offense, with Olympus' only points coming on an 84-yard kick return by Jace Peterson in the fourth quarter.

Spencer Schmidt rushed for a touchdown as part of a Bountiful running attack that gained 156 yards on the ground. The junior running back also caught one of two touchdown passes thrown by quarterback Tyler Talbot, with the other going to Tyler Poppe.

"I was really proud of the way our kids played, because we approached this game as if it were a playoff game," Wall said after the game. "It was encouraging. Our attitude was great tonight. We played with heart and intensity."

The Titans' offense had been explosive for much of the season, but they rarely found room to roam Thursday night. Quarterback Spencer Harris was often met in the backfield by any combination of Thomas Hamilton, T.J. Maka, Helam Heimuli and Ryan Jensen. Linebackers Ben Lemon and Manny Griffith were quick to tackle any Titans who happened to get past the defensive line.

The sum total was a frustrating night for Olympus and a banner performance by the Braves.

"Olympus is a potent offense, they throw the ball really well, so it was a great overall effort by our defense," Wall said.

After a stalemate in the first quarter, Bountiful hit paydirt with a 31-yard screen pass to Schmidt, who sprinted untouched into the end zone. After the game's only turnover, an Olympus fumble on their own 32, the Braves closed the first half with a one-yard dive by Lemon for a 14-0 lead.

The Titans didn't cross midfield until the third quarter, when they accomplished the task twice. Both times they were unable to convert fourth-down conversions and the drives stalled.