The Hive Sports

by James Tate

In a must-win Region 1 clash, the Farmington Phoenix (4-5) delivered a gritty, all-phase performance to upset the Syracuse Titans (6-3) on their home turf, 27-21. Coming off a soggy loss to Davis, the Phoenix responded with urgency, poise, and explosive plays to rise up the RPI playoff rankings.

Senior quarterback Will Peterson led the charge, accounting for two touchdowns, one through the air and a momentum-shifting 50-yard sprint in the second half that gave Farmington breathing room. The offensive line of Brandon Olson, Liam Nilson, Emmett Bowcut, Easton Hunt, Maxwell Racker, Isaac Hogge, and tight end Isaac York opened up running lanes for Will Peterson all game. His command of the offense and timely decision-making kept the Titans’ defense guessing all night.

Will Peterson

Special teams proved pivotal. Senior kicker Jaxon Beynon drilled field goals from 50 and 44 yards, flipping momentum and forcing the Titans to play from deep in their own territory. His kickoffs consistently reached the end zone, neutralizing the Titans’ return game and setting the tone for the Phoenix defensive unit.

The Phoenix defense swarmed to the ball and contained the Titans’ dynamic backfield duo of Ledger Wight and Ryker Van Komen. Though Wight broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run in the second half, the Phoenix front, led by Gavin Burton, Alex Peterson, Grant Preston, Hunt, and Kash Taylor, held firm in key moments, including a fourth-quarter stand that sealed the win.

“Going into that game, our main focus was to stop the run because on film, they ran the ball all over teams,” Preston said. “But our middle linebacker and defensive tackles did really well shutting them down on the run and making them uncomfortable the whole game.”

Brandon Olson

First half: both teams commit many penalties, but Farmington takes a 17-6 lead

The opening half was riddled with penalties on both sides, but Farmington emerged with a 17-6 lead thanks to opportunistic play and timely execution.

The Titans’ first possession unraveled quickly when a punt ricocheted off the punter’s foot, gifting Farmington prime field position at the Titans’ 17-yard line. The Phoenix threatened early, but a holding penalty pushed them back, and Titans freshman safety Kao Prom made a momentum-saving interception in the end zone to keep the game scoreless.

Farmington regrouped and struck first. A methodical drive, aided by a Syracuse penalty and a pass from Will Peterson to senior running back Drew Love, set up senior wide receiver Chase Hamblin for a jet sweep touchdown with just 17 seconds left in the first quarter. Farmington took an early lead, 7-0, on Hamblin’s 3-yard run.

Early in the second quarter, Farmington’s defense continued to dictate tempo, forcing another Titans punt and handing the ball back to their offense. Will Peterson wasted no time, connecting on back-to-back deep shots, first to junior Ty Runyan, then to senior Tanner Nielsen, to push the Phoenix inside the red zone.

Jaxon Beynon

Will Peterson would find junior receiver Kava Fiefia on a 9-yard pass play for the score, capping a momentum-charged drive and silencing the home crowd. With 7:25 left before halftime, Farmington held a commanding 14-0 lead over a stunned Syracuse sideline.

Syracuse finally broke through late in the second quarter, as senior kicker Skyler Orton drilled a 37-yard field goal with 1:46 remaining to trim Farmington’s lead to 14-3. But the Phoenix weren’t finished. Behind tough runs from Will Peterson, Farmington surged back downfield, and Beynon answered with a 44-yard field goal of his own, stretching the lead to 17-3 with just 38 seconds left on the clock.

That proved to be just enough time for the Titans to respond. Wight connected with senior wideout Tanner Merrill on a deep strike down the left sideline, setting up Orton’s second field goal, a booming 55-yarder, to close the half with Syracuse trailing 17-6.

Titans’ offensive line

Second half: Titans rally, but Will Peterson responds

The second half opened with Syracuse taking a defensive stand, forcing Farmington into a quick punt and giving the Titans a chance to shift momentum. Wight capitalized, leading a composed drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Cohen Godderidge. With 5:41 left in the third quarter, the Titans had clawed back to within four, trailing 17-13.

But the quarterbacks took center stage from there, and it was Will Peterson who stole the spotlight. On Farmington’s next possession, Peterson broke loose on a designed run, slicing through the defense for a 50-yard touchdown that gave the Phoenix momentum. With 1:21 remaining in the third, Farmington pushed its lead back to 24-13.

“I saw them in man and knew no one was accounting for me, so I took off and housed it,” Will Peterson said.

Ledger Wight

The quarterback duel continued late in the third quarter, this time with Wight answering back. After a late hit penalty against Farmington extended the drive, Wight broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown run, slicing through defenders and pulling the Titans back into the fight. A successful 2-point conversion made it a one-score game, with the Titans trailing just 24-21.

Both defenses would step up in the fourth quarter and keep the offenses out of the end zone. Beynon’s second field goal of the game, this one a 50-yarder, put the Phoenix up 27-21 with 9:23 to go in the game.

A key play in the game came with 7:35 on the clock, when Wight rolled to his right and had his pass intercepted by Fiefia on the sidelines near midfield. The Phoenix would not score on their next possession, but took valuable time off the clock, then relied on their defense to shut down the Titans’ offense. Three straight incompletions and a stop on fourth down would seal the game for the Phoenix and a 27-21 victory. Excellent coverage by Phoenix defensive backs Nielsen, Fiefia, Preston, and Hamblin turned away any deep threats from the Titans to close the game.

Looking ahead: Phoenix eye playoff push, Titans await bracket

Farmington will wrap up its regular season with a road trip to face the Layton Lancers on October 15, 2025. With playoff implications looming, the Phoenix are focused on finishing strong.

“We want to get a win streak going into playoffs and plan to go in and defeat Layton and keep building the momentum into playoffs,” Will Peterson said.

For Syracuse, the regular season comes to a close. The Titans will enjoy a bye next week as they await final playoff seeding and prepare for the postseason grind.

photos courtesy of James Tate