High school football: Red Devils start slow, finish strong

SPRINGVILLE — Ten days between games can often be a bad thing for a high school football team.

It was looking like a very bad thing for the Springville Red Devils on Thursday night for the first few minutes of their final Region 8 contest against Salem Hills.

The Skyhawks scored three plays into the game and then added another touchdown with four minutes remaining in the first quarter to jump out to a 14-0 lead. From that point on, however, it was all Springville as the Red Devils scored 42 unanswered points to run away with a 42-14 victory.

"It was certainly a wake-up call," Red Devils coach Scott Mitchell said.

The win gives Springville (8-1, 5-0) the Region 8 championship and a first-round home game when the state playoffs begin next week. The Red Devils would also host a second-round game if they advance. Mitchell says the title shows that his assistants, his players and the community have bought into the formula he's tried to implement since taking Springville's head job last season.

"We've got a great bunch of kids, a great bunch of coaches, and they've all kind of drunk the Kool-aid so to speak," Mitchell said.

But the celebrating in Springville won't last past this weekend, he said.

"We're not satisfied with just being a region champion. We feel like we've got a good shot to go on and we're certainly in a good seeding for the tournament," Mitchell said.

For the Skyhawks, who would have claimed a share of the league title with a win, they'll have to settle for a No. 3 seed and a first-round road game. But Salem Hills reaches the playoffs in only its second year of existence.

When Jason Anderson returned the opening kickoff all the way down to Springville's 10, the Skyhawks were in business early. Three plays later, Kolapa Wolfgramm pounded it in from three yards to give Salem Hills a 7-0 lead.

The Skyhawks almost scored again minutes later when a high snap to Springville's punter gave Salem Hills possession at the 15, but a pass into the end zone on a fourth-and-4 was knocked away by Red Devils corner Taylor Baker.