5A high school football: Consistency key to Davis victory

The Davis Darts entered Friday night's semifinal matchup against Hunter with the same game plan they've had all season: A heavy dose of running back Tanner Hinds and a rigorous defense that refused to give up big plays.

The recipe worked to near perfection in a 41-17 win over the Wolverines, and the Darts are headed to the 5A championship game next week against the Bingham Miners. Hinds racked up 190 yards and two touchdowns, while the Davis defense kept the Darts comfortably in control of the game despite three first half turnovers.

"There's certain things we try to do every week, but the main thing we really want to do is be consistent," Davis Coach Ryan Bishop said. "If you play defense and run the ball well you'll have an opportunity to have success. We did those things well enough tonight to come out on top."

Hinds got the Darts off to a roaring start, utilizing solid downfield blocking from tight end Landon Horne on an off-tackle run to sprint 38 yards for a score. But the offense then stumbled, turning the ball over on its next two drives. The turnovers were made largely irrelevant by a defense that kept forcing Hunter into punting situations.

The Wolverines broke through on a lengthy drive led by strong runs from Ekuasi Tavo and Leve Bloomfield. Tavo punched the ball in from five yards out to tie the game 7-7 with nine seconds left in the first quarter.

It didn't last long. On Davis' next play from scrimmage, Hinds followed his blockers to the right sideline, cut up, spun out of a tackle by Mason Hafen and sprinted 67 yards for a touchdown and 14-7 lead with no time left in the quarter.

"The blocking was perfect, and I just had to make one guy miss," Hinds said. "(Linemen) Beau Bracken, Josh Kariya, Walker Vellinga, Landon Horne, Todd Stapley and Kendall Perkins did a nice job tonight."

Tavo and Hinds each fumbled possessions away to open the second quarter, and Hunter received a 36-yard field goal from Jake Jex after a six-minute drive. The Wolverines got the ball back just before the half, but Brayden Loertscher's pass was tipped and intercepted by Kyler Sprague.

Quarterback Gavin Fowler scored on a five-yard draw seconds later.

Hunter tried to get something going in its first drive coming out of the half, but Davis stuffed Tavo on a fake-punt run attempt after a bad snap on the Hunter 36. Fowler punched the ball in on a sneak seconds later, and the rout was on.

Fowler added touchdown passes to Bird and Horne for two more scores and a 41-10 lead early in the fourth. The junior finished nine of nine for 125 yards to go with 27 yards rushing.

Hunter added a touchdown from Tevita Bloomfield with 15 seconds left in the game. Tavo finished with 171 yards rushing.

The Darts face Bingham Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 2:30 p.m. as both teams are gunning for their second titles of the decade.