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MILLVILLE — At some point, Sky View’s football team — the defending Class 4A state champions who averaged 43.6 points per game — was going to win a game with its defense, or at least a game-winning kick.
On Thursday night, the Bobcats got both.
Kasen Erickson booted a 28-yard field goal with just nine seconds on the clock to keep the Bobcats undefeated with a 17-14 win over cross-county rival Ridgeline.
“I was ready for it: perfect hold, perfect snap,” said Erickson, who knew the kick was good as soon as it left his foot. “My line did an amazing job, too.
“But our defense is amazing. I love those brothers; they work hard every day at practice, and they show it on the field.”
Erickson gets the credit, and rightfully so. The long-limbed junior with the nickname — kickname? — of “Kicks” made just his fourth field goal of the season after season to close out the closest win of the season for the Bobcats (6-0, 2-0 Region 11), the top-rated team in 4A in the Utah High School Activities Association's first RPI ratings.
“That kid kicks all day every day,” Sky View coach Christopher Howell said. “There’s not another kicker in the state that I’d rather have in that situation, and he executed. He did a great job.”
If Erickson gets the credit, Sky View’s defense earns a strong assist, though.
The Bobcats scored first through Utah State commit Isaac Larsen’s 61-yard blocked kick return for a touchdown with just over three minutes left in the first quarter. That was all the scoring both sides saw in a defensive stalemate until Sky View doubled its lead through Walter Collins’ 5-yard score to open the second half.
But the Riverhawks (5-1, 1-1) didn’t go away.
Ridgeline showcased a strong defense of its own, limiting the previous offensive juggernaut to just the two touchdowns thanks in large part to a pair of interceptions by BYU commit Jovesa Damuni and Branson Jones.
But after being shutout through the first half, the Riverhawks found their offense. First through Kaden Cox’s 13-yard strike to Evan Webb in the third to pull within 14-8. Ridgeline evened the score through Cox’s 1-yard quarterback sneak with 2:57 on the clock.
But when the Riverhawks went broke for the game-winning drive with 1:17 left and 88 yards in front of them, the Bobcats saved their best defensive play for last when Cole Watterson recovered a fumble 52 yards from goal to set up Erickson’s eventual gamewinner.
Moments earlier, the Bobcats had a fumbled punt recovery waved off by an errant whistle. Just over a minute afterwards, it didn’t matter.
“We didn’t have some calls go our way, andn I think our kids were a little bit frustrated,” Howell said. “But what I loved about it was that they came out and made their own play outside of what else was going on. Then we were able to set up a couple of offensive plays to set up Kasen’s field goal.”
Those were the players on Erickson's mind as he watched his kick fall through the uprights, keeping an undefeated season alive and keeping the Bobcats in the drivers’ seat for another 4A title.
“It was awesome, just being out there with my brothers and hitting that for them,” Erickson said.
The two sides came together in a brief postgame scuffle, something Howell said he’ll address with his team. He added that every game teaches something to a player, and Thursday night showcased a lesson of how to win with class.
The Bobcats coach was apologetic toward the Riverhawks on a televised game, and said his team needs to learn how to win — despite an 18-game winning streak and a rivalry that has erupted in Ridgeline’s short three year tenure.
“I want to win with class, I want to lose with class,” Howell said. “I don’t feel like we didn’t do it the right way tonight. I apologized to Ridgeline for the way we behaved, and we will get better from it.”
Sky View hosts Mountain Crest next Friday, when Ridgeline hosts Logan in another region matchup.
