5A high school football: Bingham digs deep into playbook to get past Alta

With a powerful running game and stout defense, the Bingham Miners rarely need to leave their comfort zone.

But in their 5A state semifinal game against rival Alta on Friday afternoon, the Miners pulled out all the stops. They ran a fake punt, used their Wildcat quarterback to throw a touchdown pass and changed their defensive scheme.

Leaving their comfort zone paid off, as the Miners beat the Hawks 28-19 at Rice-Eccles Stadium to enter the championship zone. Bingham will play Davis in the 5A title game on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

"Sometimes you got to get out of your comfort zone," said Bingham coach Dave Peck. "You know you have to pull out some stuff. We didn't come here to keep it close. We came here to win a game and hopefully get to the state championship game next week. We were going to pull out everything we had to and we did."

Bingham, down 7-0, made its first un-Bingham-like move early in the second quarter. On a fourth-and-5 from their own 44, the Miners called a fake punt. Upback Bridger Peck took a direct snap and rumbled 33 yards.

Three plays later, another uncharacteristic call put the Miners on the scoreboard. Wildcat quarterback Stefan Cantwell sold like he was running after taking a snap, and tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ryker Hall.

"We got out of our comfort zone on both sides of the ball because you have to, to beat a great team like Alta," Peck said. "We thought with the fake punt we had something there. Fortunately the kids executed it very well and I thought it was a big play to start the game."

The Miners took charge from there. Bingham forced Alta quarterback Jordan Brown to fumble after a 6-yard run and Travis McRae recovered it. Bingham only made a field goal off of the turnover, but the damage was done.

"I think that (fumble recovery) really got the momentum on our side, got us rolling," said Bingham defensive back and part-time receiver Braden Anderson. "It got us really fired up. We love to get the ball on defense."

Outside of a defensive scheme that differed from Bingham's usual personality, the Miners got back to their bread-and-butter. They pounded the ball behind their offensive line of Jordan Hicks, Brad Laursen, Bradyn Heap, Tuni Kanuch and Brandon Taukeiaho. Harvey Langi rushed for 78 yards and broke a 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Cantwell added 60 yards on 10 carries.

On a 30-yard touchdown pass from Ty Hannay to Langi on a screen play in the second quarter, Heap had two pancake blocks.

"You got to give all the credit to the offensive line," Anderson said. "They did the job."