The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The Roy Royals (3-0) have started the first quarter of their three games on fire, and it was no different against the Weber Warriors (2-1). Roy took a 12-0 first-quarter lead on the Warriors and held on for a 48-34 win. They also kept the coveted shield, which goes to the winning school in this rivalry. In their three games, all against Region 1 teams, Farmington Phoenix, Fremont Silverwolves, and Weber, the Royals have outscored them by a combined 48-0 in the first quarter.

Senior all-everything player Robert Young took on the challenge of showing everyone that the Royals are the real deal in class 5A. Young’s outstanding night included rushing for 176 yards and four touchdowns, catching four passes for 90 yards, and passing for another touchdown. One of the state’s premier players, Young has scored seven touchdowns in his last two games.

Dru Gardner

First half

The game started with the Royals taking an early lead, as quarterback Dru Gardner ran in a touchdown from the 12-yard line. A Gardner to Young screen pass set up the touchdown, and the Royals quickly scored, leading 6-0 with 10:46 in the first quarter. The Warriors, led by their starting freshman quarterback Carter Payne, started their first drive on the 20-yard line, which resulted in a punt on fourth down.

The Royals’ next possession ended in a missed field goal, but the Warriors did not take advantage of the momentum and punted the ball back to Roy. Young’s 12-yard run with .26 left in the first quarter would be the game’s next score. The extra point kick was no good, and the Royals held a 12-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Warriors responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass by Carter Payne to running back Dyson Parker. Parker set up the touchdown with a 50-yard run to start the drive, which covered 74 yards. With 9:54 on the clock, the score stood at 12-7 in the Royals favor. The Royals would answer on their next possession as Gardner would find receiver Zay Morris behind the defense on a 62-yard touchdown pass. A Warriors offsides penalty on third down gave the Royals a first down to key the touchdown play. With 8:37 in the second quarter, the Royals led 20-7 after a successful two-point conversion.

The Warriors would strike again when Carter Payne found Brock Dean on an 11-yard touchdown pass. This touchdown covered 11 yards with 4:12 in the second quarter. A roughing the passer penalty against the Royals extended the drive for the Warriors. The Royals lead stood at 20-14 heading into halftime.

Robert Young

Second half

The Warriors received the second-half kickoff, and Royals free safety, Colby Frokjer, intercepted Carter Payne’s pass on the first possession. Frokjer returned the interception deep into Warrior’s territory, setting up Young’s 19-yard touchdown run. The Royals took a commanding 28-14 lead with 10:08 in the third quarter.

Parker continued to be the featured back for the Warriors, and he answered the call by picking up tough yards against the Royals’ stingy defense. Parker scored the game’s next touchdown at the 4:39 third-quarter mark from the three-yard line. Parker’s touchdown made the score 28-21 in favor of the Royals.

Zay Morris would shine next for the Royals and haul in a perfect 15-yard touchdown pass from Young. The touchdown was at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and the score stood at 36-21, with the Royals in the lead. Parker would score on a 1-yard touchdown run on the Warrior’s next possession and make the score 36-27. The touchdown was set up by receiver Tyson Higgs getting behind the defense and hauling in a 79-yard pass from Carter Payne.

The Warriors scored the game’s next touchdown when Carter Payne threw a perfect pass to Ian Elmore from 12 yards out. The score now stood at 36-34 in favor of the Royals with 5:31 left in the game. In the play of the game, and seizing the moment, Young took the direct snap on the Royals’ next possession and raced 74 yards for a touchdown. The Royals extended their lead to 42-34 with 4:39 on the clock in the fourth quarter.

The final touchdown was Young’s 21-yard run, which capped off a fantastic game. With 2:58 left in the game, the Royals led 48-34. Frokjer would close out the game with his second interception.

Zay Morris

Outstanding performances

Royals

Young stood out with an impressive all-around impact on the game. He would take over and make big plays when the Royals needed them. Young had a part in 36 of the Royals 48 points in the game. Morris showed his ability to get open by running excellent routes and the speed to make the Warrior’s defense pay by leading the team with five catches, and a career high 97 yards, and two touchdowns. Morris, a junior, is proving to be an overall special player with his coverage skills and play at cornerback.

“Going into this game, I felt I was going to have my breakout game,” Morris said. “Being able to score two touchdowns felt really good. When I scored my first touchdown, I ran a post, and I’m the first read so I was expecting the ball. The corner played off, so I attacked him inside and broke. I knew there was middle field safety, but I just locked in on the ball and caught it, the rest was history. My second one, we were in jumbo, a bunch, and we had that wrinkle in, so the corner wanted to press, and I just won with speed, Rob threw a great ball, and then I scored.”

Gardner played an efficient game and kept the Royals on track, passing for 227 yards and two touchdowns and running for 28 yards and another score. Logan Cella churned out 75 tough yards on the ground and led the defense with seven total tackles.

Frokjer finished the game playing outstanding at free safety with two interceptions and five tackles. The Royals offensive line of Cade Draper, Alfi Hurtado, Kasch Casero, Wesley Barker, Beau Brown, Hank Mullen, and tight ends Hunter Webb and Ryan Foss helped the offense account for 545 total yards. Jaxton Scoffield showed his athletic talent from his linebacker position with five tackles, an impressive pass breakup, and his speed by running down Parker after a 50-yard run. The six foot three 220-pound senior linebacker, Scoffield is making his mark as one of the state’s most outstanding players on defense.

“Our team played lights out, 500 plus all-purpose yards on offense is crazy,” Morris said. “The offensive line did their thing as well. Weber’s offense had a good game plan, and is well coached, but when our defense needed a stop the most, we got one. That just shows how good our defense can be in the toughest of moments.”

Carter Payne

Warriors

Parker, a junior, showed he is one of the top running backs in the state with 29 carries, 171 rushing yards and three total touchdown performance. Tyler Payne led the Warriors defense in tackles, and Dean had the Warrior’s only interception of the game.

Carter Payne has played outstanding as a freshman, and the future is bright for the Warriors after off-season injuries to returning quarterbacks Crew Cacciacarne and Josh Hamblin.

The Warriors offensive line of Boltyn Sacre, Ridge Torman, Ben McMurrin, Colten White, Ethan Whisler, and tight end Tyler Payne led the blocking for Parker and for an offense that put up 34 points against a top defense.

photos by James Tate