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PROVO — Opening up at a neutral site because construction on the school remains ongoing, No. 6-ranked Timpview didn't want to open the 2022 football season the same way it has for three straight years: with a loss to Lone Peak.
With a mighty run game powered by Micah Beckstead and the all-around athleticism of Pokaiaua Haunga, the Thunderbirds shedded the demons of the past — and may have signaled their arrival as 5A contenders with a 31-10 win over defending 6A champion and third-ranked Lone Peak in the KSL.com Game of the Week at Provo High.
"We've been preparing for this game ever since we got back into football," said Haunga, a BYU commit who had a sack, an interception and a touchdown catch — a "Haunga hat trick" in the first half. "It was good to get this game after losing to them, like, five times in a row.
"I think our defense shocked them. We have a new defense this year, and it was very fun. Everyone has that connection, we're a lot closer, and we're a lot disciplined."
Beckstead ran for 226 yards and two touchdowns — and nearly added another on an 85-yard sprint behind his mammoth offensive line in the fourth quarter —to pace a Timpview ground game that seemed to do everything right under offensive coordinator Andy Stokes.
On defense, the Thunderbirds (1-0) were just as good, holding the Knights (0-1) scoreless until Ian Sanches' 52-yard field goal with 2:28 left in the third quarter and Mahkyi Smith's 1-yard TD plunge with 31 seconds left in the game.
In between Huanga's 37-yard touchdown from Quezon Villa in the first quarter and that late Lone Peak score, it was all Timpview, though.
After Huanga gave the Thunderbirds a 7-0 lead, Beckstead doubled the advantage with his first of two second-quarter touchdowns from 32 yards out with 8:24 left in the half. The Timpview defense did the rest, taking a 21-0 lead at halftime and holding the Knights to just 81 yards and 3 points in the second half before Smith's late touchdown.
"Micah is the best running back in Utah," Huanga said declaratively. "I know when I can't get it done, for sure Micah will.
"Last year, we played Orem and he had four touchdowns. That guy just loves to run."
Beckstead had an easy enough time with a run game anchored by four-star offensive tackle Bingham Fano and managed by Stokes, too.
"That's what we rely on," Timpview first-year head coach Donny Atuaia said. "I am so grateful for coach Stokes, because that's his group; it's his linemen. Once again, we focus on their steps and what they do and not so much what they are doing.
"Micah is Micah, and he'll do his thing, but if we can get our front guys working together, it's going to do some damage this year."
Kerven Tua'one added an 8-yard touchdown in the second half for the Thunderbirds, who travel to Herriman next week before another road tilt at Crimson Cliffs in St. George.
The Knights opened the season as defending 6A champions, but returned just one starter on defense, four on offense and were breaking in a new quarterback in Kaden Hodson. Still, any team led by head coach Bart Brockbank, who is 45-20 and two state titles in five years in Highland, and led by wide receiver Crew McChesney should never be taken lightly.
Atuaia, then, prefers to think what a win like that means for his program. And right now, it means his program is 1-0.
"That's a good team, but tomorrow we're focusing on what we can do," Atuaia said. "We're going to enjoy tonight, and then move on to tomorrow.
"This is only Week 1. We've played this game long enough to know it's only one game. And I know Lone Peak is going to make adjustments; they're a very good team. Hopefully we can do the same."
