David Cordero •
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• Published: October 30. 2010 4:55AM
HURRICANE - With the benefit of hindsight, Hurricane coach Chris Homer can look at last week's defeat to Cedar as a blessing in disguise. It was a chance for the previously undefeated Tigers to see where they needed the most work, an opportunity to check their egos at the door and refocus for the postseason journey ahead.
All throughout this week, however, Homer could see no benefit to the Cedar loss.
It scared him to death knowing a strong Morgan team was coming to town for the first round of the 3A playoffs.
All those worries were washed away with a stellar second half and a surprising outcome along the Wasatch front.
Hurricane scored 21 points and shut out the Trojans in the second half, storming to a 35-10 victory Friday night. The Tigers (10-1) didn't figure they'd get to play another home game this season, but an upset in Park City - Emery outlasted the Miners 26-23 - means Hurricane gets one more game on its soon-to-be replaced field.
"I assumed our 28 seniors would win this game because they weren't ready for it to be done," Homer said. "But at the same time it's nerve-wracking as a coach. It was a hard week for me."
It doesn't get any easier.
The Tigers will host the Spartans Friday at 5 p.m. in a quarterfinal contest, with the winner advancing to the 3A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
"None of the seniors wanted this to be our last game," said linebacker Josh Bulloch.
Neither did Morgan's upperclassmen - and the Trojans were opportunistic in the second quarter en route to grabbing a short-lived lead.
Of Adam Long's three first-half interceptions, none were as costly as his second pick. His screen pass was read perfectly and snatched by defensive lineman Joshua Miles, who rumbled 60 yards for a score to make it 10-7 with 1:45 to go in the half.
"The throwback screen was my call," Homer lamented. "It was stupid. They get credit for being in the right place at the right time. We had a chance to control that game and we just didn't do it."
In a minute they would.
OK, make that 34 seconds.
That's how long it took for Long to march his team 88 yards on three plays. Robert Reeve scampered 14 runs up the middle, Long connected with Barker on a 42-yard catch and run - Barker making a nifty spin move on the defender - and Smith ran down a 32-yard toss from Long (4-of-7, 92 yards) to put the Tigers ahead 14-10.
Although there would be three - three! - more turnovers in the final 71 seconds of the half - the score remained unchanged at the intermission.
And it would make all the difference in the world.
"I think it gave us a ton of momentum," said Smith, who had 108 yards rushing and 32 yards receiving on 11 touches. "I think that was the key to the game."
The Tigers' talent took over in the second half.
Jarom Healey, who rushed 17 times for 148 yards, including 81 yards in the first half, dashed in from 10 yards out to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive in the third quarter.
Bulloch then forced and recovered a fumble by Morgan quarterback Morgan Skinner on the Trojans' 3 on the ensuing possession. Reeve danced in from 2 yards out on a fourth-and-goal to stretch the lead to 28-10.
The Tigers put it out of reach midway through the fourth quarter after a terrific tackle by safety Taylor Parker kept Morgan's Lawson Toomer from making a first down on fourth-and-3. Four plays after the turnover on downs, Smith unleashed his speed on the Trojans (8-3) with a 30-yard dash down the right side to paydirt.
"It's impressive when we turns the corner on the edge - he moves," said Homer of Smith, a combo receiver/running back. "I thought Jarom really carried us in the first half and Tra kind of pounded them in the second half.
"I think in the fourth quarter we finally wore them down."
Morgan managed just 172 yards on 45 plays. Robbie Nelson rushed for 55 yards on three touches while running back Tad Sargent was limited to 33 yards on 13 attempts.
Hurricane's defensive effort was what Homer had gotten used to seeing this year - and in stark contrast to last week's debacle in Iron County.
"After Cedar absolutely pummeled us last week, my confidence was shaken," Homer said. "We had a good scheme (tonight). Credit goes to coach (David) Cullimore on the D-line. If you don't win that battle, you don't win the game.
"I thought our three-man front - Eric Canfield, Obike Nkwocha and Mike Reynolds - controlled the line of scrimmage right off the bat."
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