SALT LAKE CITY — The No. 3 Springville Red Devils escaped the 5A high school football quarterfinals with a 28-21 win over the No. 6 Box Elder Bees on Friday.
The Red Devils started hot, scoring 14 unanswered points in the first quarter. After 12 minutes of action, all signs pointed to a routine victory for the favored Springville squad.
But Box Elder had something to say about that. They outscored Springville in the second, the third, and opened the fourth quarter with eight points to tie the game at 21-21.
With less than five minutes left on the clock, Treyton Harris broke free for a 38-yard rushing score to give the Red Devils a late lead that they wouldn’t lose.
No. 3 Springville will face No. 7 Brighton in the 5A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, November 13 at 2:30 PM.
Quarterfinals Recap For 5A Utah High School Football Playoffs
No. 9 Bountiful Redhawks 3 @ No. 1 West Panthers 14
It was a low-scoring affair, but the West Panthers still took care of business against the Bountiful Redhawks.
West’s two touchdowns were nearly identical. After an efficient drive, quarterback Kamden Lopati found wide receiver Mani Tu’uao for six from within the 10-yard line.
As can be assumed from the final score, defense told the story in the quarterfinals. West kept Bountiful out of the end zone and scored enough on the other end to advance.
No. 1 West will face No. 4 Orem in the 5A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, November 13 at 11:00 AM.
No. 5 Woods Cross Wildcats 7 @ No. 4 Orem Tigers 35
The Orem Tigers controlled the tempo in the quarterfinals, blowing out the Woods Cross Wildcats at home to advance to Rice-Eccles.
It was a balanced, yet decisive, attack for the Tigers. They picked their spots and executed well. Quarterback Tayden Ka’awa had one passing touchdown, and running back Aisa Galea’i punched in two scores from 15 and 37 yards out.
No. 4 Orem will face No. 1 West in the 5A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, November 13 at 11:00 AM.
No. 7 Brighton Bengals 27 @ No. 2 Fremont Silverwolves 14
Led by defense and special teams, the Brighton Bengals upset the favored Fremont Silverwolves in the quarterfinals on the road on Friday.
The game opened with a 50-yard field goal from the Bengals. After another three points in the second, they led 6-0. Fremont spoiled a potential halftime lead with a late scoring drive to take their first lead of the game.
Brighton took that personally, coming out with guns blazing in the third quarter. They scored 14 unanswered points to put them in the driver’s seat. Each team scored seven in the fourth, and Brighton secured the playoff win.
No. 7 Brighton will face No. 3 Springville in the 5A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, November 13 at 2:30 PM.