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SALT LAKE CITY — The Bingham Miners will return to the 5A championship game in hopes of defending its title.
Bingham got a convincing win over Riverton with a 35-3 victory Thursday afternoon, and will return to the 5A championship game in back-to-back years and for the sixth time in 10 years.
“It never gets old. This is our goal, it’s our expectation,” Bingham head coach Dave Peck said.
The Miners took control of the game early, scoring 28 points in the first half and never allowed Riverton into the game.
“I was real happy with how the defense played,” Peck said. “You’re going to give up some big plays to Riverton at times because they’re good at what they do. If you’d asked me at the beginning of the game if I’d be happy just giving up 3 points, trust me I’d be pleased.”
Bingham’s starting quarterback Kyle Gearig left the game in the second quarter after sustaining a dislocated elbow injury. The team’s medical staff will evaluate Gearig to see if anything is broken or damaged, Peck said. He finished the game completing one pass for 8 yards and scoring an 11-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
“I can’t imagine that he’d be back in a week,” Peck said. “He’s no doubt a big part of our team and what we do offensively. We’re never going to make excuses, the next guy just has to be ready.”
It never gets old. This is our goal, it's our expectation.
–Dave Peck, Bingham head coach
Backup quarterback Ben Boelter entered the game and threw two consecutive touchdown passes — a 29-yard pass to Michael Green and a short pass to Cameron Smith that went for 52 yards — to give the Miners a comfortable lead. Smith later ran it in for a 6-yard rushing touchdown to give the Miners a 28-3 lead at the half.
Boelter would throw one more touchdown in the second half, completing a 9-yard pass to Green in the end zone. Boelter finished the game going 10-of-12 for 218 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
“I was a little nervous,” Boelter said, speaking about his opportunity to enter the game. “I was hoping he’d (Gearig) get back up at first. I came in and was just excited to play.”
After throwing his first touchdown pass, Boelter said “It definitely boosted my confidence and I didn’t feel nervous anymore.”
“Ben Boelter did a great job of coming in,” Peck said. “He made some huge plays. He threw the ball well, managed things well and did a great job.”
Bingham will wait to see the winner of American Fork and Brighton. The winner will face Bingham in the 5A championship game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Nov. 21 at 2:30 p.m.
