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STANSBURY PARK — Homecoming festivities started early for the Stansbury Stallions Friday night as they hosted their fellow 3AA North Region members the Ben Lomond Scots. The Stallions handled the Scots from the opening kickoff, beating them 42-16, and handing Ben Lomond its 39th loss in its last 42 games, and its 15th consecutive loss dating back to the 2009 season.
Stansbury's Hudson Conrad played only one half Friday but had four touches for 152 yards of total offense, with two touchdowns. He also took a 38-yard punt back for a score.
"It wasn't just me," Conrad said. "It was all my blockers. Our stock blocking was fantastic tonight. Alex Mackay, Tyler Jensen, Austen Kincaid, they were all blocking for me tonight."
Conrad put the Stallions up 7-0 with just 10:13 left in the first quarter when he returned the punt for a score, but the Stansbury offense stalled on its next few attempts, fumbling on back-to-back drives.
Quarterback Gage Manzione, filling in for the injured Chase Christiansen, found his tight end Austen Kincaid down the left sideline for a 61-yard score to put the Stallions up 14-0 early in the second quarter, and Conrad scored on Stansbury's next two drives to make it 28-0.
The speedster was able to find the end zone on a 25-yard run and an 85-yard dart down the sideline.
His speed is amazing. We've watched it all year. He's a threat every time he's got the ball in his hands, and we're going to do a lot of things to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.
–Chase Christiansen
"We could have gave it to him all night long," said Stansbury coach Chase Christiansen. "His speed is amazing. We've watched it all year. He's a threat every time he's got the ball in his hands, and we're going to do a lot of things to get the ball in his hands as much as possible."
Victor Galindo was able to get the Scots on the board with a 24-yard field goal just before the half, and the Stallions led 28-3 at the break.
Alex Mackay scored twice on Stansbury's first two drives of the half to make it 42-3, and the varsity didn't see the field for the rest of the night.
Jon Gross found the end zone for Ben Lomond on a quarterback sneak in the third quarter, and he found Julian Gomez for a 38-yard score towards the end of regulation to make it 42-16.
Stansbury had three key players — Chase Christiansen, Nick Mackay, and Zayne Anderson — out with injuries tonight, and Coach Clint Christiansen addressed that when key players are out, there are going to be some growing pains.
"Timing is so important in our offense," Christiansen said. "They've been behind Chase for so long, that they're still getting used to Gage. Gage has done a great job, but it just takes some time."
Stansbury will face a high powered Bear River offense led by quarterback Jardee Nessen. Nessen had eight total touchdowns in a 62-48 win over Tooele last week, and Nessen accounted for eight total touchdowns.
"We're going to have to get a pass rush and have great coverage," Christiansen said. "We'll have Zayne Anderson next week, and that will help us a lot in that department."
Stansbury moves to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in 3AA North Region play, and will head to Bear River to take on the Bears next week. Ben Lomond drops to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in 3AA North Region play. They will host Ogden next week.
CJ Pronk is a Deseret Digital Media intern and a Stansbury High School graduate. After serving an LDS Mission to the Dominican Republic, CJ will attend Southern Utah University. Follow CJ on Twitter @BigCeeJ3113.
