Kearns football rallies for state playoff berth
After more than its share of close games, the ball finally bounced the way of Kearns High’s football team in its regular season finale.
The Cougars, who had lost two overtime games and three others each by six points or less, qualified for postseason with a 16-9 victory over Granger on Oct. 19. Kearns and Granger, along with Hunter and West, went into the final week tied for second place in Region 3 at 2-2. The loss eliminated Granger from postseason, while Kearns, Hunter and West each made the playoffs.
Earlier this season, Kearns lost in overtime to West 30-24 and nearly defeated region champion Viewmont before losing 14-13. The Cougars have scored 208 points and allowed 201 overall.
Meanwhile, Taylorsville finished 1-9 overall and 0-5 in region.
Kearns
The Cougars trailed Granger 9-0 in the fourth quarter before rallying to win. Justin Summers connected with Maurice Hadden on a scoring pass, and Kearns (4-6 overall) took the lead for good on an interception return for a touchdown.
Since starting 1-4, the Cougars went 3-2 over the final month of the season, defeating Granger, Taylorsville (43-7) and Hunter (16-8) and losing to West and Viewmont. Despite its late-season heroics, Kearns had still yet to put together a winning streak.
James Felila has rushed for 688 yards and nine touchdowns, while Summers has 278 rushing yards and four scores to lead the Cougars. Summers has also thrown for 660 yards and three touchdowns while alternating quarterbacking duties with Jordan Floyd (597 yards, three TDs). Marcus Teller has 16 receptions for 200 yards and Afuvai Leiato has 12 catches for 177 yards.
Floyd threw for 342 yards and a pair of scores to Leiato in a 35-21 loss to Riverton. Leiato had six receptions for 149 yards while Felila rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown. The Cougars trailed 28-0 after three quarters before coming within 28-14 in the fourth.
Kearns led Taylorsville 13-7 at halftime before erupting for 30 points in the second half. Summers ran for a touchdown and threw for a score to Felila, who added two rushing touchdowns. Jarvis Andrews added a scoring run and Brock Whetman booted a pair of field goals. Felila rushed for 193 yards.
Against West, the teams were tied 17-all after three quarters and 24-all at the end of regulation. Felila and Leiato each had touchdown runs and Hetu Mataele recovered a fumble for another score.
Felila rushed for a touchdown and Adrian Mejia returned a kickoff for another score in the Cougars’ victory over Hunter. Felila rushed for 120 yards and Whetman kicked a field goal for Kearns, which led 16-6 at halftime and preserved the lead in the second half.
Kearns led Viewmont 13-7 after one quarter, but trailed 14-13 at halftime. Summers ran for a touchdown and Maurice Toilolo returned an interception for another score.
Peter Malaga continues to lead the defensive effort with 87 tackles, while Leiato has 41 tackles and three interceptions and Mataele 33 tackles.
Taylorsville
The Warriors dropped seven consecutive games to end the season. Taylorsville lost to Delta (21-14), Kearns (43-7), Viewmont (28-7), Granger (34-0), Hunter (33-14) and West (47-13). The Warriors scored just 122 points this season and allowed 326.
Dylan Wilson led the way all season, pacing the team in rushing (1,077 yards, 11 touchdowns) and passing (604 yards, five touchdowns). Reno Fauolo and Curtis Hess each rushed for over 200 yards and Brigham Peisley had 13 receptions for 204 yards and four scores.
Wilson, who accounted for 205 yards of total offense, ran for a touchdown and connected with T.C. Zitting for another score in the loss to Delta. The game was tied 14-all in the fourth quarter.
Wilson had the Warriors’ lone touchdowns against Kearns and Viewmont, rushing for 106 yards against the Cougars and 84 yards against the Vikings. Fauolo added 97 rushing yards against Viewmont.
Taylorsville trailed 20-0 at halftime against Granger, as Wilson rushed for 106 yards.
Things started much closer against Hunter, tied 0-0 after one quarter, before the Wolverines opened a 20-7 halftime lead. Wilson had 205 total yards and two touchdowns, throwing one to Peisley.
Wilson scored both of Taylorsville’s touchdowns in the season-ending loss to West. The Warriors trailed 20-0 at halftime, 34-0 after three quarters and 41-0 in the fourth.
Peisley, Mark Lesuma and Dakota Kandor led the defense in tackles this season.
