Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Odd and off are two adjectives to describe the week three matchup of Desert Hills and West.
First off, there was a massive dust storm that blew in before the game, bringing with it the familiar aroma of the Great Salt Lake.
Then there were the multiple penalties committed by both teams and a massive on-field brawl in the fourth quarter.
Regardless of how the script played out, it ended in a familiar way for Desert Hills as the Thunder stomped to their third consecutive win, 26-3, over West at Gean Plaga Stadium in downtown Salt Lake City.
“We looked great offensively right off the bat,” Desert Hills coach Carl Franke said. “After that, the kids got complacent and got a little bit relaxed. We fought a little adversity, and quarterback play needs to get better.”
Desert Hills started the game hot as the Thunder used a steady diet of Bridger Cowdin and Jordan Hokanson to march down the field on their first possession. Cowdin scored on an 11-yard sweep to give Desert Hills a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game.
West was continually undone throughout the night by a variety of penalties, including one that called back an 89-yard run by West’s Isi Pupua, which would have put the Panthers in the red zone. After the penalty, Pupua helped West drive back down the field until he fumbled at the Desert Hills 5-yard line — a missed opportunity on a night that was full of them on West’s end.
We looked great offensively right off the bat. After that, the kids got complacent and got a little bit relaxed. We fought a little adversity, and quarterback play needs to get better.
–Carl Franke
Both teams traded possessions for most of the second quarter, but a few key plays decided the course of the half. First, a 51-yard Panther field goal attempt was blocked by Desert Hills’ Jacob Gabriel, allowing Desert Hills one more quality possession. The second key play was a 44-yard Nick Warmsley pass to Braden Reber that set the Thunder up deep in Panther territory. Cowdin scored on an 11-yard run on the next play to extend the Desert Hills lead to 13-0.
West had one more scoring opportunity in the first half, but a 65-yard Panther kickoff return for a touchdown was called back on a clipping penalty to end the half.
Things started fortuitously for West in the third quarter as the Panthers’ Soakai Mounga recovered a Desert Hills fumble. West turned the fumble into points, scoring on an Alex Cody 30-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 13-3.
The Thunder answered in the fourth quarter, scoring on a 47-yard touchdown run by Jordan Hokanson to extend the lead to 20-3. Then, instantaneously, Tucker Cowdin recovered a fumble by West’s RJ Roberts to give Desert Hills another possession.
After a personal foul on West, the Thunder scored on a four-yard run by Bridger Cowdin to take a 26-3 lead.
A fight broke out with 2:03 left in the game, leading to a West ejection. During the incident, Desert Hills’ entire bench cleared to join the scrum — an incident that required coaches and administrators to restore order.
The ejection left West coach Keith Lopati confused. He said players should have been ejected from both teams.
“To be honest, it’s something that happens to us quite a bit because of our reputation,” Lopati said. “My guy was blocking him, he started blocking back, and then my kid tries to back off, and he gets ejected and the other kid doesn’t. It takes two to tango, but my kid gets ejected and their kid doesn’t get ejected?
“We had their whole team from the other side come on to our side, but nobody was ejected. I don’t understand how that was right.”
The ill feelings after the game left Franke questioning whether his team will continue playing West in the near future.
“I will talk about that with my people,” Franke said. “It’s just one of those things where kids will be kids, and they do stupid things.”
Notable offensive performances included Bridger Cowdin’s 98 yards and two touchdowns. Thunder quarterback Nick Warmsley was 4 for 15 for 72 yards.
After the game, Franke confirmed offensive lineman Brock Doman will most likely be out for the season after a knee injury in the fourth quarter.
The Thunder open Region 9 play with Cedar, while West opens region play against Cyprus.
"We need to pick up the pieces," Lopati said. "There was a lot of good things that we did tonight but there are also a lot of little things we need to shore up."
