The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The Box Elder Bees (9-2) continued their dominant postseason run with a decisive 35-13 victory over the West Field Longhorns (7-5), ending the Longhorns’ hopes of redemption after a regular-season loss. From the opening kickoff, the Bees controlled the tempo and never looked back.

Leading the charge was Region 5’s top rusher Judd Howells, who powered through the Longhorns’ defense for three touchdowns, showcasing his signature blend of speed and toughness. But it wasn’t just the ground game that overwhelmed West Field.

Junior quarterback Kadyn Reyes delivered a poised and efficient performance, orchestrating the offense with precision and helping the Bees build a commanding 35-0 lead by the end of the third quarter. Reyes’ steady hand kept the chains moving and the Longhorns on their heels.

Senior Logan Cefalo added a spark on both sides of the ball, most notably with a bruising 26-yard touchdown run that saw him drag multiple defenders into the end zone, a play that electrified the home crowd and underscored Box Elder’s physical dominance.

Logan Cefalo

Turning point in the game

The game’s momentum swung sharply in the first quarter. After Howells opened the scoring with his first touchdown, the Longhorns fumbled on the very next play from scrimmage. Box Elder recovered and set up first-and-goal from the 10-yard line. Just seconds later, Howells punched in his second touchdown in under a minute, giving the Bees a 14-0 lead with 3:07 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Bees’ offensive line of seniors Chance Richards, Colton Snell, Kaden Kimber, and juniors Grady Judd, Ricki Jones, and Caleb Cefalo dominated the game. It was key in the Bees’ five rushing touchdowns.

“Our mindset is just to be physical and control the line every play, Richards said. “We work together, communicate, and try to set the tone from the start and let them know we’re coming at them every play. We wanted to keep the momentum and show we weren’t letting up coming out of the second half.”

Offensive execution

Box Elder’s offense clicked from the opening drive, thanks in large part to the dominance of its offensive line. Howells found the end zone three times, but was quick to shift the spotlight to the linemen paving the way:

“I credit the o-line for everything,” Howells said. “The only reason we move the ball like we do is because of them.”

Their physicality in the trenches allowed the Bees to control the clock, wear down the Longhorns’ front, and build a 35-0 lead through three quarters.

The defense kept the pressure on. On the Longhorns’ next possession, junior Jaxon Jeppesen broke through for a sack on quarterback Easton Eilertson, forcing a punt. Korbin Jeppesen then delivered a standout punt return, setting up Cefalo’s dramatic touchdown run that extended the lead to 21-0 with 7:49 left in the second quarter.

Jace Gomez

Defensive standouts

On defense, Cefalo was just as impactful, flying around the field to make key tackles and disrupt West Field’s rhythm. He was joined by Jace Gomez, Luke Meyer, Talon Sumko, Landon Harding, and Tazon Neal, who anchored a stingy defensive unit that held the Longhorns scoreless until the fourth quarter.

Gomez credited the team’s preparation and focus on neutralizing West Field’s top weapon:

“Defensively, our team wasn’t at all worried about the run,” Gomez said. “#88 coming off of a four-touchdown week, we knew he was the playmaker for them. As a team, we knew they wanted to get the ball to #88, and if we were able to keep the ball out of his possession, we’d be able to shut them down.”

Gomez also reflected on the emotional significance of closing out his high school career with a win on home turf:

“Getting one last home win as a senior means a lot,” Gomez said. “It’s been an honor to play on that field and in front of the home crowd. I’m definitely going to miss playing at home because it is just a beautiful place to play football. Playing for this team has been amazing. We’ve been working all year to get to the point we are at now, and I couldn’t have asked for better guys to play with.”

The Bees received strong defensive contributions from Rhett Richards, William Bruner, and Braken Hester.

Malik Crozier

Senior receiver Malik Crozier, who sealed the win by recovering West Field’s late onside kick attempt, echoed the team’s confidence and unity:

“The plan for West Field was to go out and do what we do best,” Crozier said. “We knew their strengths and weaknesses, and we exposed the weaknesses they had and used them to our advantage. As for the last home game, it’s definitely best that we came out with a win. It makes all of us more confident and competitive as we dive more into the playoffs.”

Crozier also shared his pride in the team’s journey:

“What makes me most proud of this team is how far we have come, from freshman year all the way to this year. Everyone on that team has had the same goal: to go out and win games and give it our all. We go into every game with doubters, and we love to prove them wrong and play our football.”

Bright future for West Field

Despite the offensive struggles, the Longhorns found a silver lining in sophomore quarterback Easton Eilertson, who capped off his breakout season with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Those scores brought his season total to a region-leading 39 touchdown passes, offering a glimpse of a promising future for West Field football.

And the future looks bright. Alongside Eilertson, the Longhorns will return their leading rusher, Elijah Woods, and top receiver Gavin Ortegon, who eclipsed 1,200 receiving yards on the season. With that core trio returning, West Field has the pieces in place to make a serious run in 2026.

Easton Eilertson

photos courtesy of James Tate