The primary half may hardly have been extra completely different than the second in Springville’s 45-17 blowout victory over Skyline Friday.
Each Springville and Skyline entered the matchup brimming with confidence after profitable huge within the first week of the 2022 season, with the Pink Devils defeating Dixie and the Eagles topping Juan Diego.
Friday night time was fairly completely different from Week 1 for the Eagles. The sport was extra paying homage to a yr in the past, when Springville and Skyline met in Salt Lake Metropolis on a chilly, wet Thursday night time and the Pink Devils took care of enterprise, defeating the Eagles by 28 factors.
Friday was not as chilly or moist, but it surely was simply as one-sided as the colleges’ 2021 assembly, ending in the identical outcome.
However that was not how issues began.
An early Springville turnover put a brief discipline in entrance of the Skyline offense, resulting in an Eagles’ landing and the Pink Devils’ first deficit of the younger season.
Springville would flip the ball over two extra occasions earlier than the top of the half, permitting Skyline to tie the sport at 17 on a Zane Cooper 29-yard discipline purpose because the second quarter got here to an finish.
That was when first-year Springville head coach Dave Valeti rallied his troops.
“We got here out somewhat flat,” Valeti stated. “It took a tough first half for us to settle in and play, however I’m actually pleased with the boys. We challenged them at halftime, and so they got here out and received it completed.”
Valeti’s nephew Tevita Valeti responded to his uncle’s problem within the second half, proving to be unstoppable. After breaking free for one landing by the primary two quarters, the junior operating again quadrupled his landing whole with two extra on the bottom and one by the air after the half.
When requested what the Pink Devils’ head coach needed to say within the locker room, the youthful Valeti stated, “He stated ‘Get up! … Begin hammin’!,’ and that’s precisely what we did. I really like our coaches.”
Tevita Valeti appeared to get stronger as the sport wore on, breaking by tackles and choosing up additional yards on practically each rush.
“He’s a distinct type of again,” the coach stated of his nephew. “You are able to do all the pieces proper and have your man (prepared) to sort out him. (However) it’s a troublesome activity, particularly over 4 quarters. We really feel like he matches our offense effectively and he runs it effectively.”
Behind Valeti’s operating, Springville wore Skyline down, outscoring the Eagles 28-0 within the second half because the Pink Devils’ protection was simply as spectacular as its offense.
Springville’s coach was pleased with his protection.
“As a defensive man, I used to be somewhat pissed off at half as a result of we blew a number of coverages early,” coach Valeti stated. “We received after it within the second half.”
The Pink Devils turned what was initially an in depth recreation right into a route as a problem from their coach proved to be the distinction.
Each Springville and Skyline play on the highway subsequent week. The Pink Devils journey to Bountiful to face the Redhawks whereas the Eagles head to Idaho for a recreation towards Put up Falls.