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DRAPER — Justin Miller did everything he could for returning Class 2A runner-up Summit Academy in last week's season opener at Emery, throwing for 322 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception in a 57-44 loss in Castle Dale.
In Thursday night's home opener in Draper, Miller made up for it.
Miller completed 20-of-31 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns to help the Bears pick up their first win of the season, 35-21 over defending Class 1A state champion, Rich.
The Bears (1-1) opened the scoring on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Darrin Gethers with 8:55 left in the first quarter, then added a touchdown with 9:18 to go in the second on Tyson Dais' 31-yard off-tackle run for a score to go up 14-0.
Koy Brown pulled the Rebels (0-1) within a score at 14-8 after a two-yard touchdown plunge with just 3:32 left in the half. But Miller found Hunter Mangum on a 2-yard slant pass in the final minute to go up 21-8 at halftime.
The Rebels found early momentum in the second half, scoring on Mitch Jarman's 4-yard run set up by a trick play to pull within 21-15 on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Gethers added his second touchdown of the night, a 3-yard run up the middle with 7:42 left in the third, and Miller hit Kyland Taylor on a wide-open, 83-yard pass over the middle to ice the game at 35-14 with 4:16 left in the third.
Kyler Clark scored on a 2-yard run up the middle to pull Rich within two scores, 35-21 with 5:22 remaining. But the Rebels' ensuing on-kick attempt was unsuccessful, and the Bears ran out the clock to get the win.
Contributing: Rod Zundel
