The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The Bountiful Redhawks (13-1) finished the regular season as Co-Region 5 champions with the Roy Royals (12-2), and a rematch of these teams was set in the state championship game. The Redhawks would prevail with a 42-35 win and capture the 2024 UHSAA 5A State football championship. Junior running back Siaki Fekitoa carried the load with 255 rushing yards and four touchdowns to lead the Redhawks to victory.

A defense that did not allow the Royals’ potent offense to get big plays keyed the Redhawks in capturing the title after falling just short in 2023 against the Timpview Thunderbirds. The defense was led by Dawson Allsop’s 11 tackles and excellent coverage in the secondary by Britton Tidwell, Winston Robinson, Brock McSwain, and Aisake Willis.

“Our game plan coming into this week was to really lock down number five,” Robinson said. “We are really confident in our defensive ability to contain the run and the pass, and I think we did a really good job. Roy has many talented kids who played really well so hats off to them. The championship game last year left a sour taste in our mouth and made us extra hungry this season and especially this game. I’m so proud of our team’s ability to not back down after going down at the half. We knew what needed to be done and got it done.”

Offensively, the Redhawks offensive line of seniors Paxton Gibson, Brian Bushman, Bryan Socci, Will Nixon, Ethan Higginson, and junior Isaiah Amisone opened running lanes for Fekitoa all game.

The Royals used a balanced offensive attack with 234 rushing and 210 passing yards in the game and an unlikely kickoff return for a touchdown on an onsides kick attempt to make the game a classic. Penalties hampered the Royals’ rhythm in the second half, as they were penalized 14 times to eight for the Redhawks in the game.

Royals Dru Gardner hands off to Logan Cella

First half

Fekitoa would score the first touchdown of the game with a three-yard run to cap an 11-play 80-yard drive with 3:39 in the first quarter. Senior kicker Landon Zayas added the extra point, and the Redhawks led 7-0. The Redhawks set the tone early to set up the touchdown, with a great defensive stand that forced a missed field goal and senior quarterback Emerson Geilman leading the touchdown drive.

The Royals would respond with the game’s next score; senior running back Logan Cella powered his way into the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Cella’s touchdown capped off a Royals six-play 71-yard drive that tied the score 7-7 after Colby Frokjer added the extra point. The Royals would use their talented offense with senior quarterback Dru Gardner finding junior receiver Zay Morris on pass plays and Robert Young taking direct snaps to move the ball before Cella’s touchdown run.

Robert Young

The Redhawks were on point throughout the game and found the end zone on their next possession, with Geilman using his speed to outrun the Royals’ defense for a 24-yard touchdown and put the Redhawks back in the lead 14-7, with 5:56 on the clock. Geilman’s touchdown would be the Redhawk’s last score of the half, as the Royals scored 14 unanswered points to close out the first half.

Cella scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run, and Young was wide open on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Gardner that put the Royals ahead for the first time, 21-14, going into halftime. Before Young’s touchdown, Royals’ lineman Cade Draper blocked the Redhawk’s field goal attempt, which set up the score and gave them momentum and the lead.

Second half

The Redhawks were confident in their ability to make a comeback in the second half because outside of the blocked field goal, the offense moved the ball, and their defense held the Royals without explosive plays.

“I was so just so confident in the team I knew that we were able to bounce back cause we’ve been able to bounce back through diversity all season,” McSwain said.

The Redhawks would regain the lead by scoring the next two touchdowns of the game, Fekitoa on an 11-yard run at 5:19 of the third quarter, and receiver Connor Clark hauled in a 17-yard pass from Geilman on the first play of the fourth quarter. Clark’s touchdown made the score 28-21 in favor of the Redhawks with 11:54 on the clock.

The ensuing kickoff seemed to change the game’s momentum back to the Royals after the Redhawks attempted an onside kick, but Royals upman Ryker Cordero caught the ball and raced into the end zone untouched. One of the game’s most unusual plays, but also the most dynamic, with Cordero ready to make a game-changing play and tie the score 28-28 with 11:47 left in the game.

The Redhawk’s next possession would show they were ready to retake control with an 8-play 80-yard drive that ended with Fekitoa scoring his third touchdown on an 8-yard run. Fekitoa proved to be getting stronger throughout the game, showing he is a top running back in the state and performing at his best in the biggest games.

Britton Tidwell (l) and Brock McSwain (r)

In last year’s state championship game again, the Timpview Thunderbirds Fekitoa rushed for 148 yards and one touchdown. This year, he ran for an astounding 255 yards and four touchdowns.

“It felt amazing, but I got to give credit to my o line for opening up holes for me to get those yards and touchdowns,” Fekitoa said. “We just remembered how far we came as a team and just kept doing what we’ve always been doing.”

The Royals would show their resilience as they would tie the score 35-35 on Gardner’s remarkable 9-yard touchdown run that saw him reverse field and use his speed to run into the end zone, just inside the pylon. With 4:37 left in the game and a tie game, the two evenly matched teams were ready for a fantastic finish.

The Redhawk’s final drive was set up with an excellent kickoff return by McSwain, bringing the ball to their 45-yard line. A fourth down conversion by Geilman was vital in keeping the drive moving, and the offensive line wearing down the Royals’ defense was critical. Fekitoa would cap off the drive and the state championship for the Redhawks with a 1-yard touchdown run with :19 left in the game.

“Our offense has always been so balanced all year where we really can score and move the ball in so many ways, which I think is super hard to defend,” Geilman said. “Our offensive line played amazing, and our conditioning really came in big for us at the end when we started marching down the field at will just running the ball.”

Emerson Geilman

Outstanding performers

Redhawks

Defensively, the Redhawks were flying to the ball and limiting the Royals from getting big yards, and linebackers Conner Mertz, Rex Walker, Josh Liljenquist, Zeke Murdock, Parker Moore, and Hoko Tu’akoi played outstanding in the game.

“It means the world to go out this way,” Geilman said. “We’ve worked so hard for years and have all pushed each other so hard; this has always been the goal. Our school hasn’t done it in over 20 years, so we’re so honored to be able to build on our school tradition and go out with our brothers with a win.”

Congratulations to the Head Coach Jason Freckleton and the entire Redhawk football team and community on an outstanding season and being the 5A state champions.

Royals

Cella rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns on offense and made ten tackles from his linebacker position on defense. Senior Hunter Webb led the Royals with 12 tackles, followed by Jaxton Scoffield’s 11 for the Royals defense.

Gardner passed for 210 yards and a touchdown, and Young was the game’s leading receiver with five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Congratulations to the Head Coach Chris Solomona and the Roy Royals football team on an outstanding season and representing the school and Region 5 admirably with a memorable matchup that will forever be one of the great championship games.

Final words from the state champions Bountiful Redhawks

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s been a part of this magical run,” Geilman said. “I really am so honored and blessed to be able to play with this team and family and be a part of something so special. Something I will never forget.”

“Words can’t describe how grateful I am for this team, coaches, students, and all other supporters of us they all believed the whole year even after our one loss,” McSwain said. “This team isn’t a team it’s a family and I’ll have these friendships with these boys for my whole life.”

photo courtesy of IG: tyler.p_photography

Siaki Fekitoa