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SPRINGVILLE - Dedicated to former teammate Brandon Curtis, the Springville Red Devils beat out division rivals Spanish Fork Dons 35-34 to clinch the region 8 title in a highly emotional and exciting game.
After a slow beginning in the first half, the Red Devils came out dominating the field, scoring on all three possessions of the third quarter, putting Springville up 28-21 going in to the fourth.
Springville scored their final touchdown with 7:09 left in the game, with junior Jaylon Miyasaki catching a 28-yard pass from quarterback Steven Bate to put the Red Devils up 35-28.
However, the Dons would not go down without a fight, marching down the field with 3:23 left in the game.
Spanish Fork's quarterback Hayden Nielsen made a great attempt to put the Dons in scoring position, breaking tackles for a 42-yard gain, which put Spanish Fork on Springville's four-yard line.
The play, however, was called back because Spanish Fork was off-sides. The Dons were penalized with unsportsmanlike conduct for arguing the call, putting them back at their own 39-yard line.
Despite the barrage of penalties, Spanish Fork moved the ball downfield, going for it on fourth-and-17, which set up senior Travis Still to score a nine-yard touchdown off of a pass from Nielsen with 1:16 left in the game. Spanish Fork went for two and the win, but failed in their attempt as Still was stopped at the five-yard line by a crowd of Springville players ready for him.
Spanish Fork had many early attempts to put some points on the board, but went for it on fourth down five times in the first half alone, three of which were easily in range for a close field goal. One field goal could have been the deciding factor for the Dons.
"Both teams fought hard and laid everything out on the field," said Head Coach Scott Mitchell of the Red Devils. "It was just a good back and forth game."
Although the Red Devils were able to pull off a great victory against Spanish Fork, Springville's offense could not get things going in the first half, fumbling late in the first quarter and struggling to move the ball.
"We certainly felt like they won the first half," said coach Mitchell.
The Red Devils stepped it up in the second half, with senior Marcus Case nearly untouchable on the run. Case had 16 carries for 171 yards and two touchdowns, almost all of which came in the second half. Case now has 1,029 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the year.
"At halftime, we just shut the doors and went in as teammates, no coaches," said Case. "We just said ‘it could be our last game here. It's our senior night and we're doing it for Brandon. So let's go out there and do it for Brandon.'"
Brandon Curtis was a member of the Springville football team that was tragically killed in a rollover car accident following football practice in July. The team has dedicated their season to him and his family. Brandon's mom was in attendance on Friday's game.
"He's one of the biggest motivations in my life," Case said.
Springville has two away games left on the season, facing Mountain Crest and Salem Hills. The Red Devils will open up the postseason at home against Region 6's third or fourth place team.
