The Hive Sports

by James Tate

Behind a monster performance from senior running back Dyson Parker, the Weber Warriors steamrolled the Layton Lancers 48–20 in a pivotal Region 1 showdown Friday night. Parker erupted for 168 rushing yards and four touchdowns, slicing through the Lancers’ defense with scoring runs of 14, 10, 4, and a back-breaking 55-yarder that ignited the homecoming crowd.

Layton didn’t fold. The Lancers showed grit with a strong third-quarter push, leaning on the hard-nosed running of seniors Gavin Hurst and JP Garlick to claw back into contention. Sophomore quarterback Carter Payne remained poised under pressure, and the Warriors weathered the surge, responding with timely stops and explosive counterpunches.

The win lifts Weber to 2–0 in region play and marks their fourth victory in five games. With matchups against Syracuse and Davis on the horizon, the Warriors are heating up at just the right time. Over the past two contests, they’ve averaged 41.5 points and 460 total yards, showcasing the offense’s firepower.

Payne continued his ascent Friday, tossing two touchdown passes to senior wideouts Bracken Day and Brock Dean. The offense operated with rhythm and confidence, capitalizing on big plays and maintaining control of the tempo for the majority of the game.

Defensively, Weber made key plays to preserve momentum. Interceptions by Day and junior Carson Hill snuffed out Layton’s drives and helped seal the win.

Brock Dean

Parker shines in first half as Warriors jump ahead early

The Warriors wasted no time seizing momentum, thanks to a pair of early touchdowns from Parker.

Following a defensive stop and a Warrior punt, Day made a pivotal play on Layton’s first offensive possession, intercepting a pass and returning it to the Lancers’ 21-yard line. Parker capitalized on the turnover, slicing through the defense for a 14-yard touchdown run with 8:27 remaining in the first quarter to give Weber a 7–0 lead.

The Warriors’ defense continued to stifle Layton, forcing another punt on the next possession. Payne then connected with senior wideout Brock Dean on a deep pass to move Weber into scoring position. A fourth-down pass interference penalty against the Lancers kept the drive alive, and Parker made them pay again—this time with a 10-yard touchdown run at the 2:37 mark, extending the lead to 14–0.

The Lancers showed signs of life on their next offensive possession as Hurst used his speed to break outside and pick up a chunk of yardage against the Warriors’ defense. But Weber quickly regrouped, tightening up coverage and forcing another Layton punt early in the second quarter.

The Warriors wasted no time capitalizing. Payne kept the chains moving with a clutch completion to junior tight end Reese Cantwell, setting up another red zone opportunity. Parker, already with two scores to his name, powered through the defense for a 4-yard touchdown run with 7:39 remaining in the half—his third of the night—extending Weber’s lead to 20–0.

Looking to keep the game within reach, Layton senior quarterback Koen Doane fired a pass over the middle, but Weber’s defense had other plans. Hill read the play perfectly, stepping in front of the throw for an interception at the Lancers’ 44-yard line.

The Warriors wasted no time turning the turnover into points. On the very next play, Weber dialed up a reverse pass trick play. Payne took the pitch and launched a strike to Dean, who had slipped behind the defense and was wide open downfield. Dean hauled in the pass and cruised into the end zone, extending the lead to 27–0 with 6:40 remaining in the second quarter.

The Lancers responded with their most effective drive of the half, leaning on Hurst to spark the offense. Hurst broke off a pair of impressive runs to move the chains, and Doane found junior receiver Jace Porter for a key completion that pushed Layton into scoring position. With just 20 seconds left on the clock, Hurst capped the drive with a touchdown run, cutting into Weber’s lead and making it 27–7 heading into halftime.

Lancers surge back in third quarter

The Lancers came out of halftime with renewed energy, orchestrating an 80-yard scoring drive. Hurst punched in his second touchdown of the night on an 11-yard burst, narrowing the Warriors’ lead to 27-14 with 7:31 remaining in the third quarter.

Momentum swung further in the Lancers’ favor on the very next play. The defense forced a fumble deep in Warriors territory, and the offense wasted no time capitalizing. Doane connected with Garlick on a clutch fourth-down, 23-yard strike to the 1-yard line, setting up Doane’s own 1-yard touchdown run. With 4:00 left in the quarter, the Lancers had clawed back to 27-20.

With the Lancers surging and momentum shifting, the Warriors turned to their playmaker, and Parker delivered. On the very next possession, he broke free for a dazzling 55-yard touchdown run, silencing the Lancers’ rally and stretching the lead to 34-20 with 2:57 left in the third quarter.

“That fourth touchdown was a big one; it gave us a two-score lead,” Parker said. “I got the ball and just tried to stay patient until something opened up, and this time it was the outside. Games like this are fun because you really see the teamwork. The O-line laid down tracks and opened creases; the receivers were blocking, it’s amazing to see what kind of team we are when everyone’s working together.”

The explosive play was made possible by textbook blocking from the Warriors’ veteran offensive line. Seniors Boltyn Sacre, Ethan Whisler, Jayce Young, Maxton Elliott, and junior Bryce Meyer opened up the lane, paving the way for Parker’s highlight-reel moment and capping off a drive that put the Warriors back in control.

“At the beginning of the game, we played how we knew we could, flying around making plays and having fun, but in the third quarter, we let them gain points on us,” Sacre said. “We came in with the mindset that Layton had already given up and that we could kinda slow down in a sense. But after we had let up a few, we as a team changed our mindset and got the job done.”

The Lancers opened the fourth quarter with poise, marching downfield and threatening to close the gap. But with the ball at the Warriors’ 1-yard line and momentum hanging in the balance, senior Ty Hellmann anchored a resilient defensive stand. The Warriors stuffed the Lancers on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs with 8:32 remaining and preserving their two-score lead.

Capitalizing on the defensive stop, the Warriors’ offense responded with a methodical drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Payne to Day, extending the lead to 41-20 with 6:24 left. Sophomore wideout Creed Devries was instrumental throughout the possession, showcasing his hands, excellent route running, and breakaway speed to keep the chains moving and the Lancers on their heels.

Dyson Parker

Warriors finish strong, Parker on verge of milestone

Weber sealed the victory emphatically as senior receiver Josh Hamblin took a direct snap and blazed 53 yards to the end zone, pushing the final score to 48-20 with 4:48 remaining. The Warriors’ defense held firm the rest of the way, with Parker adding a late quarterback sack to punctuate a dominant performance.

Parker’s night was more than just explosive—it was historic. With his performance, he is on the verge of eclipsing the 3,000-yard career rushing mark and 1,000-yard career receiving mark, cementing his place among Weber’s all-time greats. His exceptional play has not only set him on the path to these milestones but has also significantly boosted the Warriors’ team as they prepare for their next challenge: a home showdown against the Syracuse Titans on October 3, 2025.

“Moving further and further in region, we are building our mindset of playing 100% for a full 48 minutes, and as we’ve already been battle tested, we fear nothing as we move into more challenging games,” Sacre said.

Despite the loss, Layton showed grit and determination. Hurst and Garlick continued to shine as offensive threats. Hurst finished the night with 134 rushing yards, and Garlick had 57. The Lancers’ defense was led by Carter Hughes and Luke Byers, both racking up seven tackles on the night. They’ll look to bounce back in a non-region clash against the West Field Longhorns on October 3, 2025.

photos courtesy of James Tate