Bountiful performs Skyline in Millcreek on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
At each little bit of 6-feet 4-inches, Bountiful’s Faletau Satuala confirmed up huge on the sector Friday night time towards Skyline in each stature and manufacturing.
The dominant two-way enjoying junior nabbed two interceptions at security and caught a landing cross at receiver to guide Bountiful to a 16-14 victory over Skyline.
After beginning Skyline quarterback Josh Calvert was injured on the primary drive of the Eagles’ night, Satuala picked off backup Justice Fons on fourth down.
Simply 13 performs later, Satuala was within the again nook of the tip zone on the receiving finish of an arcing rainbow throw from Owen Geilman to present Bountiful a 6-0 lead with 10:32 left within the second quarter.
“He brings a number of confidence and belief,” Bountiful coach Jason Freckleton mentioned of Satuala. “When you've got a man on the market that you recognize you'll be able to depend on who makes performs, everybody else can play slightly bit extra free and relaxed.”
The Redhawks protection grabbed a second diving interception courtesy of Ford Creswell and saved Skyline’s offense persistently off kilter. Geilman went to work once more late within the second quarter with some huge quarterback keeper good points to arrange a designed rollout and 2-yard landing toss to Kaden Mertz for a 13-0 lead heading into the break.
Skyline took the opening second half kickoff for an excellent return, however a tipped cross that ricocheted off an Eagles receiver discovered Satuala’s fingers once more for the Redhawks’ third and last turnover of the night time.
Satuala mentioned his body is an enormous benefit on the sector, however that it’s not the one motive he’s productive.
“It’s additionally a number of work I’m placing in simply to get sooner and stronger,” he mentioned. “Engaged on my hand-eye coordination to catch and the whole lot, nevertheless it positively helps so much.”
Skyline’s receivers lastly jolted the Eagles’ offense to life with a few huge run after catch good points to help Fons and open the door for a troublesome 6-yard scoring tote from Bo Tate to finish the shutout, 13-7, with 2:40 left within the third quarter.
Skyline recovered an onside kick instantly afterward, however couldn’t capitalize as each groups struggled to achieve traction offensively.
The Redhawks leaned closely on Kenobi Doctolero to run the clock down and maintain on to the lead within the second half.
“Clearly the road did an excellent job getting him some home windows, however he ran laborious and received up the sector north and south and did a terrific job,” Freckleton mentioned.
With beneath three minutes to go, Ben Smith, who had missed two discipline objectives and had an additional level try blocked earlier within the recreation, nailed a 49-yard discipline purpose for extra respiratory room and a 16-7 lead.
Skyline wasn’t but completed, although, and located itself in placing distance after an enormous catch from Miles Corridor coupled with a roughing the passer penalty.
Fons hit Luke Wright large open and tiptoeing the road behind the tip zone for a scoring drive in beneath a minute of recreation time to make it 16-14 with 1:02 left within the fourth quarter.
The Eagles had one other shot at an onside kick, however two consecutive penalties pushed them out of vary and Bountiful recovered the try simply to finish the sport in victory formation.
After a cut up end result 2-2 preseason, Freckleton mentioned his staff is forming an id and has gotten higher weekly heading into Area 5 competitors.
“We talked all week about ending and we'd have favored to complete another way, however on the finish, we completed and we received the sport. Guys made performs once they wanted to,” Freckleton mentioned.
“They’re an excellent group. They didn’t surrender. They fought to the tip, and I’ve received to present them props for that.”