Estimated read time: 7-8 minutes
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:00 Fourth Quarter
Mountain Crest Mustangs 42, Bountiful Braves 35
This had everything you would want in a high school football game. Both teams played their hearts out. In the end, Kuresa and the Mustangs won the shootout. The BYU-bound quarterback had huge numbers; 34-55 for 444 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. After playing in three semifinal games Kuresa will play in his first state championship next Friday. Both teams combined for 904 yards of total offense. Mountain Crest had 566 while Bountiful racked up 338. For Bountiful, Teau Satuala had a big game on offense and defense, scoring twice while racking up 12 tackles and a sack on defense. Dillon Salazar also had a big game catching 5 passes for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns on offense, and racking up 13 tackles and 2 pass breakups on defense.
:00 Fourth Quarter
Mountain Crest Mustangs 42, Bountiful Braves 35
Cam Zollinger's desperation pass was picked off by Schofield Smith and Mountain Crest holds off Bountiful to advance to the 4A state championship game for the first time since 2005.
:52 Fourth Quarter
Mountain Crest Mustangs 42, Bountiful Braves 35
Heading down to the field to gather post game interviews. I will wrap this up when I am done.
1:07 Fourth Quarter
Mountain Crest Mustangs 42, Bountiful Braves 35
Mountain Crest has taken the lead on a screen pass from Alex Kuresa to Nate Rigby. Rigby took the short pass and raced through the Bountiful defense for a 39 yard touchdown. Can Bountiful answer with a minute left in the game?
1:31 Fourth Quarter
Bountiful Braves 35, Mountain Crest Mustangs 35
Mountain Crest is driving with time running out. 1st and 10 at the Braves 39 yard line.
4:58 Fourth Quarter
Bountiful Braves 35, Mountain Crest Mustangs 35
A great game just got even better. Spencer Schmidt returns the kickoff 70 yards then on the next play Teau Satuala catches a pass from Cam Zollinger and takes it 25 yards for the score.
4:58 Fourth Quarter
Mountain Crest Mustangs 35, Bountiful Braves 28
Alex Kuresa scores on a 3-yard touchdown run to give Mountain Crest the lead. It caps off a 7-play, 75 yard drive.
6:13 Fourth Quarter
Bountiful Braves 28, Mountain Crest Mustangs 28
On the Mustangs first play of the possession, Kuresa throws a bomb to Troy Pickett for a 48 yard gain. Mountain Crest has a 1st and 10 at the Braves 14 after an offsides penalty.
7:38 Fourth Quarter
Bountiful Braves 28, Mountain Crest Mustangs 28
Mountain Crest breaks up the third down pass and forces Bountiful to punt. Mustangs take over on their own 25-yard line.
7:58 Fourth Quarter
Bountiful Braves 28, Mountain Crest Mustangs 28
The 4th quarter has turned into a defensive struggle. Both teams have tightened up with time running out and the score tied. We could have a fantastic finish on the way. Bountiful has possession at their own 34 but face a 3rd and 11 after the timeout.
:47 Third Quarter
Bountiful Braves 28, Mountain Crest Mustangs 28
Mountain Crest is called for a personal foul on the kickoff giving Bountiful the ball at the 50. On the second play of the possession Bountiful quarterback Cam Zollinger connects again with Dillon Salazar for a 48-yard touchdown. We are all even again.
1:33 Third Quarter
Mountain Crest Mustangs 28, Bountiful Braves 21
After a pass interference call on Bountiful, Mountain Crest quarterback Alex Kuresa throws another great pass to Dax Fackrell for a 21-yard touchdown. Bountiful came up empty in the red zone on their last drive after burning a lot of clock. That may come back to haunt them later in the game.
3:29 Third Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 21
Another great play by Kuresa. He was in the grasp of a defender and was almost sacked but somehow got rid of the ball and completed a pass for a first down. Mustangs are at their own 41 yard line.
5:32 Third Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 21
Another 4th down decision for Bountiful. They for it on 4th and 2 at the Mustangs 14 yard line and they Mustangs stuff the run and take over on downs.
8:03 Third Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 21
Bountiful decides to go for it on 4th and 1 at the 50 yard line and Spencer Schmidt drags several Mustangs six yards for the first down.
11:55 Third Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 21
Bountiful will have the ball to start the 2nd half on their own 41 yard line. Mustangs go with the squib kick to avoid another kickoff return for a touchdown.
12:00 Third Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 21
Halftime Stats: Mountain Crest has outgained Bountiful 322 to 192 yet the score is tied. Alex Kuresa was 21-39 for 266 yards, 2 TD's and 1 INT. Those are great stats for an entire game let alone a half. Cam Zollinger has been effective and efficient completing 7 of 11 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. Dillon Salazar has 9 tackles on defense for the Braves and 3 catches for 85 yards and a 42 yard touchdown on offense.
:00 Second Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 21
Mountain Crest was driving before halftime but turn the ball over on downs. Bountiful takes a knee and both teams go to the locker room tied at 21. What a great half of football. Both teams matching each other blow for blow. This has the makings of fantastic finish. Stats coming soon.
3:11 Second Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 21
Mountain Crest has tied the game. Alex Kuresa threw a rocket to Troy Pickett who was wide open in the end zone. It was a 13 yard touchdown. What a game!
4:00 Second Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 14
Great play by the Braves' Dillon Salazar on defense to knock down what would have been a Kuresa touchdown pass. It forced Mountain Crest into a 4th and 15 but Kuresa threw a 24 yard pass to Troy Pickett to keep the drive alive.
4:07 Second Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 14
Kuresa with a spectacular run down to the Braves 26-yard line. It started with him trying to avoid the rush but he took off to the left got a couple blocks and cut it up field for a 31 yard gain.
8:11 Second Quarter
Bountiful Braves 21, Mountain Crest Mustangs 14
Wow! Bountiful takes back the lead. Luke Larsen returns the kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. This has been just as exciting as the first half of the Highland vs. Springville semifinal.
8:34 Second Quarter
Bountiful Braves 14, Mountain Crest Mustangs 14
Mountain Crest has evened the score. Alex Kuresa throws a strike to Taylor Root for a 19 yard touchdown. It was a ten-play, 51-yard drive.
12:00 Second Quarter
Bountiful Braves 14, Mountain Crest Mustangs 7
The story of the first quarter was the play of the Bountiful offense. They score touchdowns on their first two drives but Alex Kuresa and the Mountain Crest offense are making a charge. They start the 2nd quarter on their own 49-yard line.
:42 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 14, Mountain Crest Mustangs 7
Mountain Crest is on the board. Alex Kuresa caps off an 8 play 74 yard drive with a 6 yard touchdown run. The star of the drive was receiver Dax Fackrell. He four passes on the drive including a catch that may have been the best of the year. The ball was thrown over his head but he was able to snag it with one hand and pinned it against his helmet for the catch.
3:00 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 14, Mountain Crest Mustangs 0
Bountiful quarterback Cam Zollinger is 4-4 for 89 yards and a touchdown on Bountiful's first two drives.
3:55 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 14, Mountain Crest Mustangs 0
Bountiful strikes again. Cam Zollinger completes a pass to Dillon Salazar who outruns the Mustangs secondary for a 42 yard touchdown. We thought the story of the game would be Mountain Crest's high scoring offense vs. Bountiful's strong defense but it's the Braves offense that is stealing the show.
4:51 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 7, Mountain Crest Mustangs 0
After Alex Kuresa connects with Troy Pickett for a 42-yard gain, Kuresa's next pass is tipped by Teau Satuala and intercepted by Jordan Parkinson. Bountiful is in Mustangs territory at the 39 yard line.
6:56 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 7, Mountain Crest Mustangs 0
Bountiful strikes first. A 7-play, 75-yard drive is capped off by an 8 yard touchdown run by Teau Satuala. The Braves offense looked great on that drive.
8:00 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 0, Mountain Crest Mustangs 0
It's the Bountiful offense that is making big plays early in this game. Cam Zollinger connected with Dillon Salazar for a 27 yard gain. That was followed by a Spencer Schmidt 28-yard run.
11:14 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 0Al, Mountain Crest Mustangs 0
After failing to pick up a first down, the Mustangs call a fake with Alex Kuresa back to punt. He gains 15 yards and a first down.
12:00 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 0, Mountain Crest Mustangs 0
Mountain Crest will start on their own 20-yard line.
12:00 First Quarter
Bountiful Braves 0, Mountain Crest Mustangs 0
We are about to get underway at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Bountful has won the toss and they deferred to the 2nd half. Alex Kuresa and the Mountain Crest offense will get the ball first.
