High school football: T-Birds score twice on 3rd down plays to defeat T-Wolves

Box Score: Timpview 38, Timpanogos 13

OREM — Something had to give when undefeated Timpanogos came up against perennial winner Timpview Friday night in an important Region 8 matchup.

The T-Birds hadn't lost since narrowly dropping their season-opener against Alta while the T-Wolves had rattled off five straight wins to open the season.

On this night it was perennial winner Timpview who came out on top with a resounding 38-13 win over a disappointed Timpanogos team.

"Timpanogos is a very well-coached, very skilled team," said Timpview coach Cary Whittingham, who added that he's very proud of his players for coming up with the win.

Considering that Timpanogos' first three possessions were turnover (fumble), turnover (interception) and blocked punt, the final outcome could have been much worse than it was. Despite the weak start, the T-Wolves only trailed 10-7 after the first quarter.

Timpview struck early and quickly on its first possession when Jake Lloyd connected with Rhett VanLeeuwen on a third-and-4 play that ended up going 65 yards for the opening score and a 7-0 Timpview lead.

Then, after Timpview blocked Houston Brown's punt with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter, Tyler Solorzano kicked a 21-yard field goal to put Timpview out in front 10-0. Brown was injured on the play and although he tried kicking, he ended up sitting out the remainder of the game.

Timpanogos responded with a huge drive thanks largely to Jacob Hougaard who rushed for 53 yards on the drive, including a 45-yard run, and then caught a touchdown pass from Jackson Dunford to pull the T-Wolves within three at 10-7 as the first quarter ended.

The second quarter was where Lloyd and Dax Raymond practically put the game out of reach for Timpanogos. With just over three minutes remaining in the quarter, Lloyd connected with Raymond on third-and-24 at the 35-yard line for the touchdown that pushed the lead back up to 10 at 17-7.

On the T-Birds' next possession, Raymond caught another Lloyd pass on fourth-and-5 to extend the drive and then caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Lloyd with 33 seconds remaining in the half to push the lead to 24-7.

"Dax is that kind of a receiver for us," said Whittingham. "He can get us out of holes and he's done that for us all season."

The Timpview touchdown just before halftime was key as the T-Wolves were trying to limit the damage in the first half.

Then, in a crushing blow for Timpanogos, Timpview's Isaiah Holloway intercepted Dunford on the first play of the second half and ran it in for the touchdown to extend the lead to 31-7.

Dunford did connect with Trayce Esteban on a 10-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, but Timpview answered with another Lloyd touchdown pass, his fourth. This time he connected with Braydon Galland for 13 yards to push the lead up to 38-13.

"I believe we have a ton of potential. I don't think we've played a 100 percent game yet with all cylinders hitting. The battle is going to be to keep them going week in and week out as we start to get knicked up. We're a little banged up, but hopefully we can peak a little bit in about three weeks."