Utah high school football: Syracuse punches ticket to 5A championship game with 21-16 victory over Bingham

SALT LAKE CITY — Syracuse earned a spot in the 5A state football championship game for the first time in school history with a thrilling 21-16 victory over Bingham Thursday afternoon at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Bingham jumped out to a quick lead on a touchdown pass from quarterback Jantzen Bowles to Hayden Weichers at the 5:40 mark in the first quarter. Syracuse answered in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Kole Tracy, who was filling in for injured starter Brock Anderson, threw a 3-yard TD pass to Koa Mo'o with 4:05 left in the second quarter. Both teams had trouble hanging onto the ball, with Bingham fumbling four times, all of which Syracuse recovered.

Bingham had two interceptions, while Syracuse had one.

In the third quarter, Syracuse scored twice — a 2-yard run by Tracy and a pass play from Tracy to Diante Mitchell. Bingham answered in the third quarter to make the score 21-14.

The Miners had a chance to tie the game when Tracy fumbled in the end zone as he was being sacked, but senior Hayden Berry fell on the ball and the Titans only surrendered a safety.

Bingham threatened to score again, but turned the ball over on downs with 48 seconds left in the game. Syracuse ran the clock out and began celebrating the school's first-ever berth into the 5A championship game.

The Titans earned the victory despite losing their starting senior quarterback in the quarterfinal game against Alta.

The Titans will take on the winner of the Lone Peak-Jordan semifinal next Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Rice-Eccles.

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