3A high school football: Wasatch's Davis tandem teams up to outslug Bear River

HEBER CITY — The Wasatch Wasps needed somebody to make a play.

After racing out to a 21-0 lead against Bear River in the quarterfinal round of the 3A football tournament, Wasatch had watched the Bears whittle away and whittle away and whittle away at that advantage.

Bear River eventually pulled within 10 points, 36-26, with 10:28 left in the game, and it was becoming increasingly apparent that things could get awfully scary for the Wasps.

Star receiver Mike Davis, however, made the plays necessary to make sure his team came out on top.

Davis scored a pair of electric touchdown receptions from quarterback Payton Davis in the fourth quarter, and the Wasps emerged with a 48-32 win over Bear River Friday afternoon.

Mike Davis finished with six catches for 234 yards and four TDs, and Payton Davis had 16 completions for 419 yards and six total TDs.

"Mikey Davis is a stud," said Wasatch coach Steve North. "Mike, he's been tough all year. He's been our go-to guy all year, and not too many people have shut him down. He's just something else, and Payton gets the ball to him.

"Those two kids hook up, and the other guys aren't too bad themselves."

Hooking up by Davis and Davis has helped propel the Wasps to the second-to-last round of the 3A tournament. Wasatch will meet defending champ Juan Diego at 11 a.m. Thursday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in the 3A semifinals.

Against Bear River, Wasatch looked like it might cruise after jumping out to an early 21-0 lead, aided by a pair of Bear River turnovers.

The Bears eventually settled down, however, and forced Wasatch to stay on its toes throughout the rest of the evening. And after Dax Sederholm hauled in a six-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter, it appeared Bear River could be capable of coming all the way back.

Mike Davis had other ideas.