The Hive Sports

by James Tate

In a battle of top teams in Region 5, the Bountiful Redhawks (8-1) go on the road and defeat the Roy Royals (8-1) 42-35 in an all-time classic game. The Redhawks, determined to avenge last season’s loss to the Royals, used the last minute of the first half to change the game’s momentum. The Redhawks would have a goal-line stand in the last second to seal the victory and move into a tie for the Region 5 title with one game left on the schedule. The Royals entered the game as the favorite and had an undefeated season on the line, but the Redhawks were ready for the challenge.

This game saw both teams battle through fatigue and injuries for four quarters and never back down. Redhawks senior quarterback Emerson Geilman led the offense throughout the game into the end zone with accurate passing and using his speed to run through the Royals’ defense. Royals star player Robert Young accounted for five touchdowns on the night and kept the game in suspense until the final play.

Britton Tidwell

First quarter

The Royals would come out on fire early, scoring the game’s first touchdown on a halfback pass by Young to receiver Zay Morris. The play was the opening play for the Royals after a short punt by the Redhawks. The punt gave the Royals excellent field position on the Redhawks’ 35-yard line. The next play saw the Royals perfect execution of the pass play to take a 7-0 early lead.

The Redhawks, showing their resilience, responded with a 65-yard play drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Geilman to Britton Tidwell. Geilman completed two first-down passes to receiver Conner Clark and Siaki Fekitoa powered out tough yards on the ground to set up the touchdown. With 5:07 in the first quarter, the Redhawks tied the game at seven, refusing to let the Royals’ early lead dampen their spirits.

After a miscue on the kickoff, the Royals started their next possession at their two-yard line. The Royals offense would put together a 12-play, 98-yard drive that ended with quarterback Dru Gardner finding Young in the flat for a 29-yard touchdown. The Royals would hold a 14-7 lead over the Redhawks to end the first quarter.

Robert Young

Second quarter

Bountiful would open the scoring in the second quarter with Geilman finding Tidwell on a 48-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the Royals defense. The touchdown came with 7:12 on the clock and tied the score at 14-14. A key play in the drive was Fekitoa gaining 16 yards and an outside run to midfield.

The Redhawk’s momentum was short-lived, as Young took the kickoff back for a spectacular 98-yard touchdown. With 6:57 on the clock, Young put the Royals ahead 21-14. After a three-and-out and Redhawks punt, Royals punt returner Rhett Slater returned the punt 15 yards to the Redhawks’ 43-yard line.

Young would add another score on a 21-yard touchdown run on the Royals’ next drive. The Royals’ conversion on fourth down highlighted the five-play scoring drive. The play was a 15-yard run by Morris and with 3:38 left in the third quarter, the Royals held a 28-14 lead.

The game would turn in the Redhawk’s favor as the next touchdown would be a one-yard leap over the goal line and the Royals’ defense by Geilman to make the score 28-21 with .49 left before halftime. The drive had many penalties against both teams. Still, the big plays were a 19-yard pass completion to Junior Tippy and Geilman sprinting down the sidelines for a 17-yard run, evading several defenders.

The Redhawks defense forced a punt on the Royals’ next possession, putting the ball back on their 30-yard line with .14 left before halftime. After Fekitoa’s 19-yard run up the middle of the Royals’ defense, the Redhawks were set up at the 47-yard line with .01 on the clock.

Geilman connected on a pass to Tidwell over the middle of the field. Tidwell pitched the ball back to Fekitoa, who ran left and used a rugby toss to Zeke Murdock. Murdock scored an improbable touchdown after catching the toss from Fekitoa to end the half and tie the game 28-28. Murdock would get credit for the 47-yard touchdown play.

“That play before halftime was something we’ve been practicing for years,” Geilman said. “It’s been something we’ve had my entire time in high school. It was the perfect opportunity to run it, and it worked perfectly; Britt made a great catch, and Siaki made a great pitch.”

Redhawks Justice Taufa (l) and Caleb Norris (r) pressure Royals quarterback Dru Gardner

Third quarter

With the momentum of scoring in the last second of the first half, the Redhawks recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff to the Royals. This crucial turnover at the start of the second half set the tone for the Redhawks’ comeback from being down 14 points in the first half.

The Redhawks could not capitalize on the excellent field position. On fourth down at the Royals’ 17-yard line, linebacker Hunter Webb knocked down a pass attempt by Geilman.

After both teams scored 56 points in the first half, the first touchdown came from the Royals on a 34-yard touchdown run by Young. The tough running of Logan Cella set up the ten-play 83-yard scoring drive through the Redhawk’s defense. The score stood at 35-28 in favor of the Royals with 1:52 on the clock in the third quarter.

Fourth quarter

The Redhawks would respond with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Geilman to Fekitoa. The touchdown was an 80-yard drive that saw Fekitoa break off a 38-yard run to set up the score. With 10:47 left in the fourth quarter, the score was tied 35-35.

The following kickoff saw the Redhawks recover a fumbled short and high kickoff again to keep the momentum. This time, the Redhawks would make the turnover count as Geilman sprinted up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown run, giving the Redhawks their first lead of the game, 42-35, with 9:13 left.

With 4:47 in the fourth quarter and the Royals driving, Tidwell intercepted a pass over the middle and returned the ball to the 10-yard line. The Royals’ defense would hold and get the ball back with 2:07 on the clock at their 45-yard line for a final drive. The Royals drove down to the 3-yard line, but the Redhawk’s defense made a remarkable goal-line stand and held them out of the end zone. A game-saving tackle by linebacker Dawson Allsop on Gardner ended the game with the Redhawks winning 42-35.

Redhawks Dawson Allsop prepares to tackle Royals Dru Garnder

Outstanding performances

Redhawks

Geilman played an outstanding game, gaining 240 yards and scoring six touchdowns, two rushing and four passing. Tidwell made big plays on offense and kept the Royals from having long touchdown passes on defense from his free safety position.

“What kept us going was how much we trust each other,” Tidwell said. The whole game we would be saying how much we trust each other and have each other’s backs.”

The play of the offensive line of Brian Bushman, Will Nixon, Bryan Socci, Paxton Gibson, Ethan Higginson, and Isaiah Amisone was remarkable in leading the way with the Redhawks scoring 42 points against a tough Royals defense.

Kicker Landon Zayas played a crucial part in giving the Redhawks momentum with his high and short kickoffs, which led to Royal miscues. Zayas also made all six of his extra-point attempts.

“So proud of my offensive linemen for just going to war all night and working their tails off,” Geilman said. “Our receivers also played so well, I’m so grateful for all of them and my entire team and how hard they work each day. That being said, we are hungry for more and not satisfied.”

Royals

Young kept his outstanding season going by contributing five touchdowns, two rushing, one passing, receiving, and a kickoff return for the Royals. Defensively, lineman Jaxton Scoffield led the Royals with ten tackles, and Cella was in on eight stops.

To end the season as co-region champions, the Redhawks must defeat the Woods Cross Wildcats (6-3) next week at home, and the Royals must win at the Northridge Knights (6-3).

photos courtesy of Lesli Groves (IG: havenrockphotgraphy)