The Hive Sports

by AJ Conlin, The Region 8 and 10 Insider

Rivalry week arrived for the community in Southern Utah County, which meant the Salem Hills Skyhawks would host the Payson Lions. The Skyhawks ended up winning 27-19, capping off a highly-anticipated week. The downfall for Payson was the turnover margin. QB Kade Edwards threw two touchdowns to three interceptions. The Lions also fumbled the football three times but luckily recovered all of them. The whole game was a defensive standoff, with the Skyhawks proving to be better on that front.

First Quarter

The first quarter was full of offensive struggle, and defensive malice. These first 12 minutes had several back-and- forth possessions, ending with the score being 0-0.

Second Quarter

The beginning of the second quarter felt like an extension of the first quarter. That was until Salem Hills QB Jedi Nelson connected with WR Kort Stewart for a 28-yard touchdown with just under three minutes left in the game. The Lions marched down the field and answered with a touchdown of their own: a 15-yard pass from Edwards to WR Porter Beckstead. The extra point attempt was no good though. With 34 seconds left in the game, the Lions kicked to the Skyhawks. Stewart fielded the ball at the 10 yard line, and with some blocking by his special teams, he returned the ball to the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. The second quarter ended with a score of 14-6.

Third Quarter

The third quarter started much the same, with more back and forth defensive action, until in the final minute, when Payson was able to score another touchdown. RB Payden Sorensen pushed his way into the end zone from the two-yard line. The quarter ended with the score at 14-12.

Fourth Quarter

It was the fourth quarter where the Skyhawks finally started to feel more breathing room. It started with a 16-yard touchdown run by Roper Kay with just 11 minutes left to go. With more back and forth, the defenses showed their strength, and the battle finally came to a peak when Ledger Holmes of Salem Hills picked off Edwards. He returned the ball 55-yards to the end zone for a touchdown with just under three minutes to go in the game. The Lions were determined to make a comeback, and were looking really good in that quest. With just barely under two minutes left in the game, Edwards sniped Wall in the end zone on a 20 yard pass. They weren’t able to recover the onside kick after the touchdown, and ultimately lost the game 27-19.

Key Players

Kort Stewart caught two passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. He also had returned a 90-yard kickoff for a touchdown. He is the key player for Salem Hills

DL Zayden Cook is the key player for the Lions. He racked up an unreal 12 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks throughout the night.

Featured image credit: Jonah Larsen