John Renshaw
| SALT LAKE CITY - The playoff journey continues for Hurricane football.
The Tigers inched closer to capturing their first state title since 1948 after a thrilling
38-35 win over Spanish Fork during Thursday's 3A semifinal match-up at Rice-
Eccles Stadium.
The contest kept spectators on their toes from start to finish as both teams continued
to make big plays time and time again. In the end, though, Hurricane overcame an
early deficit, won the war in the trenches and powered their way to victory.
"Our kids played their guts out tonight," said Tigers coach Chris Homer, who
improved his semifinal record to 4-1. Spanish Fork's a very good offensive team
that has many weapons, including quarterback Hayden Nielsen. They did
exactly what we thought they would do. I felt like our kids never quit and executed
better in the second half."
Hurricane entered halftime trailing 21-17, but after a fiery halftime talk, the Tigers
regrouped and raised their intensity level in the second half.
The Dons (9-4 overall) felt that impact from the start of the third quarter, going
three and out. Hurricane's Weston Yardley took the ensuing punt, shook off numerous
defenders, and returned it back to the 28 yard line, netting the Dons just a four-yard
punt. From there, it took six plays for the tigers to reach paydirt as Brian Scott's 1-
yard run at the 7:49 mark capped the drive.
Spanish Fork's woes continued on its next possession.
On first-and-10 from their 21, the Dons unleashed Nielsen's (239 yards on 15-of-
27 passing, four touchdowns and two interceptions) strong arm again.
Unfortunately for them, Yardley had seen this play before, and cut off intended
receiver Luigy Paulino (98 yards on five catches and three touchdowns) for the
interception at the Hurricane 49. Building off the momentum, the Tigers (12-0
overall) drove eight-plays in just over three minutes, finishing with Scott again, this time
from 11 yards out and dragging three Dons defenders in the process. The score
finally gave Hurricane breathing room at 31-21 late in the third quarter.
Scott finished with a monstrous 206 yards on 36 carries and three touchdowns.
"I can't believe how much heart he's (Scott) got on the football field," said Tigers
quarterback Taylor Parker, who threw for 102 yards on 5-of-8 passing. "Our
offensive line and running backs did an incredible job in the second half."
Hurricane out-rushed Spanish Fork, 334-184, and dominated time of possession,
32:10 to 15:50. The Tigers also received major contributions from Adam Thompson
(69 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown) and Yardley (42 yards on 12
carries and one touchdown).
Spanish Fork was led by running back Christian Taele, who finished with 98 yards
on 14 carries and a touchdown. Yet the standout endured leg cramps in the second
half and gained zero yards on three carries during that span.
"We knew that Spanish Fork is a good team offensively and we had to play great
defense to slow them down," said Colton Marshall, who finished with four tackles,
one assist, and three receptions for 45 yards. "Everyone has a job on defense and
if we do our job, we knew we would do well."
Hurricane's defense certainly played better in the second half. Although not shutting
the Dons - who were averaging 33.8 points per game - down completely, the Tigers
did just enough to contain them. Jared Edwards led all Tigers with 13 tackles
while Andy Perkins, Kellen Seely, Sean Hafen, Kevin Mortenson, Marshall and Y
ardley all contributed four tackles each. For Spanish Fork, standout linebacker Colin
Argyle finished with 12 tackles, but no sacks.
Spanish Fork cut the deficit to 31-28 following a Nielsen-to-Paulino 29-yard
touchdown pass with 10:44 left in the game. However, Hurricane put together a
most impressive drive at a most critical time.
Like a slow death, the Tigers ran straight through the heart of the Dons' defense on
the ensuing possession. In 11 plays, which tallied 80 yards, Scott capped off another
Hurricane drive after his five-yard tumbling dive into the end zone upped the score to
38-28. That process left just 5:05 for Spanish Fork to convert two scoring drives.
The Dons did get one touchdown, but a failed onside kick late helped sway victor
to the Tigers, who will play either Cedar or Desert Hills in next Friday's 3A
championship tilt at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It will mark a fourth consecutive state
championship appearance for Hurricane.
Said Homer: "Spanish Fork hasn't faced a wing-T offense this season, so it was tough
to tell how they would defend us. With that said, we knew they have a stout defense
with some very good players, but like always, we will try to see what a defense is
trying to take away from us and go elsewhere. We will always try to exploit
what we perceive as the other teams' weakness."
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