- Wasps to play for the 3A state football title
|
By Rachel Robison
JHS Publicity Manager
This year's Wasp football team may best be described as diverse. They are a unique blend of young talent and great Senior leadership. They work hard, they prepare, and they are coached very well. All of this has found them one game away from winning it all.
This Friday, the 14th, the Wasps will play on Southern Utah University's field at 4:00. They will face Judge Memorial. Statistically speaking the Wasps and the Bulldogs are equal. Both teams are undefeated in their regions. Both teams have suffered only a single loss so far. The Bulldogs come into the championship riding a ten game win streak while the Wasps have defeated the last nine teams they have faced. Both teams do all the little things well that make great teams.
To get to the championship the Wasps beat the Union Cougars last Friday 21 to 14. It was a battle. The first big play came with Union ready to score on the Wasp 10 yard line. Senior Jake Hatfield recovered a fumble to stop the Cougars drive. Throughout the game Union was determined to run the ball taking an early 1st quarter lead making the score 7 to 0.
In the 2nd quarter the Wasp defense adjusted and made some key stops. Senior quarterback Nick Robins took advantage of the situation and put together a solid drive that led to a touchdown off of an 11 yard run by Diego Carmona tying the game at 7. On the day Robins went 20 of 31 and used 6 different receivers on his way to 175 yards and a TD.
On Union's next possession Sophomore Ashton Seely changed the game. Seely recovered a fumble deep in Union territory. On the next play Diego Carmona broke free for a big gain of 27 yards and three plays later the Wasps led the game with Robins scoring from a yard out. Union blocked Juab's point after attempt making the score 13 to 7 Juab.
Midway through the 3rd quarter Union took back the lead off a 22 yard touchdown pass making the game 14 to 13. Trailing Union by a point, Robins completed his next 5 pass attempts putting the Wasps on the 1 yard line. Brandon Smith scored on the next play off a hard run making the score 19 to 14, Wasps. Head Coach Mike Bowring made the decision to go for two and Robins found Greg Kidd open making the score 21 to 14.
Union wasn't finished. In the 4th the Cougars continued to move the ball taking it deep into Wasp territory three separate times. On each occasion the Wasps found a way to stop them. Ashton Seely made a key stop by sacking the Union quarterback and forcing a turnover on downs. On the day Seely had 14 solo tackles, 2 forced fumbles, recovered one fumble and made a sack. Juab had several great defensive performances including Talon Jennings' 12 solo tackles, and Tyce Ostler's 10. Diego Carmona, Kyler Nielsen, Jaxon Allred and Tyler Greenhalgh all had timely tackles that contributed to a great defensive performance.
With less than a minute to play Union was on the move again deep in Wasp territory. The Wasps defense needed one more stop. Trevan Linton and Brandon Smith found a way to get it done and trapped the Cougar quarterback for a sack that sealed the 21 to 14 victory.
"The Union game was unbelievable. We fought hard and played good enough to advance. We can't wait for the challenge ahead of us this week" said Robins.
Everyone come support the Wasps as they finish one of the most exciting seasons in Juab history. Go Juab!
Union game photos on page 10.
|
