The Hive Sports

by James Tate

The Brighton Bengals are headed back to Rice-Eccles Stadium.

In a gritty quarterfinal showdown, Brighton (7–5) leaned on its defensive tenacity and punishing ground game to defeat Fremont (9–3) 27–14 on the road, advancing to the UHSAA 6A state semifinals for the second consecutive year. Trailing 7–6 at halftime, the Bengals flipped the script in the second half, forcing three turnovers and turning each into momentum-shifting plays.

Grady Bell (l) Lihai Tauteoli (m) Sebastian Ramirez (r)

Early kicks and defensive pressure

Brighton struck first thanks to the steady leg of senior kicker Kaden Hansen, who drilled field goals from 50 and 30 yards out in the second quarter to give the Bengals an early 6–0 lead. Fremont answered before the break, as quarterback Manase Tuatagaloa connected with Salesi Moa on a 15-yard touchdown pass to put the Silverwolves ahead 7–6 at halftime.

Despite trailing, Brighton’s defense had begun to tighten. Special teams and defensive pressure worked in tandem to pin Fremont deep throughout the second half, forcing the Silverwolves to start multiple drives inside their own 20-yard line.

Second-half surge

Brighton’s breakthrough came midway through the third quarter. Sophomore running back Judah Naweli broke free for a 20-yard touchdown run, giving the Bengals a 13–7 lead and igniting the visiting sideline. Naweli carried the offensive load behind a disciplined offensive line anchored by seniors Marshall Huber, Barrett Herrscher, and Loklan Cruz, along with juniors Zion Hunkin and Shiloh Collins.

“The thing that worked out for the run game last night was just that we were physically more dominant than them,” Herrscher said. “Our team has been in the weight room since February this year, and it definitely showed last night.”

Moments later, Brighton’s defense struck again. A swarming Bengals front forced a fumble near the Fremont 14-yard line, and senior defensive lineman Jaxon Nettleton scooped it up and rumbled into the end zone to extend the lead to 20–7.

Senior safety William Little sealed the win in the fourth quarter with two interceptions, halting any Silverwolves comeback attempt and showcasing the Bengals’ opportunistic secondary.

Sam Tauvao

Underdog mentality

Brighton’s final touchdown came in fitting fashion — gritty, unexpected, and fueled by belief. Sophomore defensive lineman Sam Tauvao, lined up in a jumbo package, took a handoff on fourth down and barreled through the line for a score that sealed the 27–14 victory.

“When I got the ball, I was only expecting to get the first down,” Tauvao said. “Major credit to the o-line and my lead blocker, Sebastian Ramirez. When I scored, all I was thinking was what kind of celebration to do, and ended up doing the suiii.”

The moment was more than just a touchdown — it was a statement from a team that started the season 1–4 and was shut down by Davis in Week 1.

“Coming into the season after we got shut down by Davis, everyone doubted us,” Tauvao said. “Usually, teams grow off strength and motivation, but Brighton, we grow off doubt. We have always been the underdog, and all it did for us was motivate us to show the state who we truly are.”

Slade Parker

Defensive backbone

Brighton’s defense was relentless from start to finish, anchored by a front line that refused to let Fremont settle into rhythm. Senior linebacker Grady Bell credited the unit’s consistency and cohesion.

“I would say that our execution stayed the same during the whole game,” Bell said. “We knew we could dominate them, and we did just that. Our defensive line brings the pressure every single game, every single play, and that makes the secondary and linebackers’ job so much easier.”

Bell, along with Lihai Tauteoli, Tauvao, and Ramirez, helped bottle up Fremont’s run game and collapse the pocket. Defensive backs Dax Matheson, AJ Anigbo, Trey Harper, and Jackson Thomson played excellent coverage on Fremont’s explosive receivers, allowing Little to capitalize on errant throws.

Fremont showed flashes of brilliance, including a 77-yard touchdown pass from Calvin Cooper to Taggart Burton that kept the Silverwolves within striking distance in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, Fremont’s defense delivered a gritty performance. Junior linebacker Landon Palmer led the charge with a staggering 20 tackles, while fellow junior Jak Masters added 12 stops. Moa, Mathis Bell, and Slade Parker anchored a resilient unit, with Triston Mann, Kyle Herrin, Aisa Tuatagaloa, and Ryker Shepherd contributing key plays to stall Brighton drives and force multiple third-down stops.

Looking ahead

In the end, Brighton’s ability to capitalize on turnovers and dominate the trenches proved too much for Fremont.

The Bengals will face the Springville Red Devils next week at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with a shot at the 6A title game on the line.

photos courtesy of James Tate