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LEHI — It’s been a tough year for Timpview’s football team.
In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic and the myriad changes to every high schooler’s schedule faced by them and the rest of the state, the Thunderbirds opened the year the way they often do: with three games against top 6A competition, back-to-back-to-back.
They lost every one of them — and sometimes badly.
To add insult to injury, the Thunderbirds' annual rivalry game with Provo was also canceled due to an abundance of positive tests for the virus.
On top of all that, the Thunderbirds learned this week they would be without their head coach, Andy Stokes, who was placed on two-week quarantine after his wife Tia — an inspirational local cancer fighter and social media star — was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Friday night’s game was dedicated to coach Stokes, to Tia, and to Timpview football sending a message on local television.
Take note: the self-described "Bird Gang" is back.
Logan Fano had four sacks, Ammon Key pulled down two interceptions, and Timpview pulled away for a 28-14 win at Lehi that put the Thunderbirds back in the drivers' seat in Region 7 play.
"This last week was hard, being without our head guy," said Fano, who learned early Monday that Stoke had been put on quarantine after he didn’t report to school for classes. "It was hard, but I feel like our defense really stepped up with Tia in mind, and we played inspired tonight. I’m really proud of my whole D-line tonight."
After three weeks that could be described as uninspired — a 24-0 loss to No. 3 Lone Peak, followed by a 31-21 loss to No. 5 American Fork and a 31-21 loss to No. 13 Bingham — Timpview is doing what it did last year: finding its footing at the right time, and hoping for a similar outcome like last year’s run to the 5A state title game.
"Same thing happened last year: we started slow, but we came together and made it to the championship," Key said. "I feel like we’ll find our way. We’ve got it."
Key’s first pick ended the Pioneers' first drive, and Timpview (3-3, 2-0 Region 7) ended the drive with Liu Aumave’s 13-yard strike to Daniel Kahio to give the Thunderbirds a 7-0 lead just 2 ½ minutes into the game.
Timpview was off from there.
"I feel like the boys came together," Key said. "They all put in work and time to set the tone for everyone. It really helped push it along."
Micah Beckstead added two more touchdowns, and by the time Misi Tuha added a 1-yard plunge with 1:27 left in the third, the Thunderbirds were up 28-0.
But it wasn’t just the offense. Timpview put on a defensive clinic against the Pioneers (4-3, 1-1 Region 7), pressuring Lehi quarterback Creyton Cooper and exploded through the offensive line all night with upwards of six tackles for loss and even more quarterback hurries.
Cooper was scarcely comfortable, and it showed, even after his 15-yard strike to Carson Gonzalez that capped a 14-0 fourth quarter for Lehi. Between Fano, Cael Richardson, Siale Esera and the rest of the Thunderbirds' front seven, Lehi's signal caller was simply kept off balance for three quarters of the game — or more.
By the time the Pioneers found the end zone, it was too late. When Key pulled down his second interception of the night on the game-ending Hail Mary while up two scores, he didn’t even think to run it back.
He took a knee on the turf, went to the sideline to retrieve the Thunderbirds' turnover chain for the second time, and then joined his teammates in a postgame word of prayer.
This one was for the Stokes family.
"We were expecting a lot of it, me and Raider (Damuni) and the DBs," Key said. "We just had to be ready for it."
But the Thunderbirds aren’t done. A 2-0 start to region play is nice, but Timpview knows it still has everything to play for next Friday against Orem and in the season finale against Alta.
"We started off really slow, but I felt like we were in those games," said Fano, who is being recruited by BYU and Utah, among others. "At the end of the day, we were playing against top 6A teams. And coach Stokes reminded us after every game that we’re in it to play in November, not in August. That’s the step that it took for us to get better, and now we’re on to region play."
Takeshi Faupula also scored a touchdown for Lehi, which hosts Alta next Friday before ending the season at 5A heavyweight Orem.
Scoring summary
First quarter
Timpview — 9:38: Daniel Kahio, 14-yard pass from Liu Aumavae (Taylor kick)
Timpview — 3:03: Micah Beckstead, 2-yard run (Taylor kick)
Third quarter
Timpview — 6:57: Micah Beckstead, 3-yard run (Taylor kick)
Timpview — 1:27: Misi Tuha, 1-yard run (Taylor kick)
Fourth quarter
Lehi — 10:05: Takeshi Faupula, 7-yard run (Weber kick)
Lehi — 3:18: Carson Gonzalez, 15-yard pass from Creyton Cooper (Weber kick)
Final — Timpview 28, Lehi 14
