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SOUTH JORDAN — It didn't take long to tell that Friday wouldn't be Bingham's night.
On their first play of scrimmage against Timpview, the Miners coughed up a fumble, which Thunderbird Ephraim Muavesi promptly scooped up and brought to the end zone for an early tone-setter in what finished as a 49-30 shootout victory for Timpview.
"That was the moment for us," Timpview head coach Donny Atuaia said. "It's a matter of preparation, and we're just proud of our kids for being where we want them to be."
The Miners had no answer for Timpview running back Micah Beckstead, who ran wild all night between the tackles for two scores behind the Thunderbirds' bruising offensive line.
"Those five guys are working really well right now," Atuaia said of the offensive line. "Anyone can be dangerous when you work together like that."
Helaman Casuga and Quezon Villa shared quarterbacking duties for the Thunderbirds to orchestrate a six-touchdown performance that included a 54-yard read-option dash for Villa in the fourth quarter to put the final dagger in Bingham. Receivers Jaxon Allred and Tei Nacua both caught touchdowns, and Isaiah Vaea ran for a score, as well.
Bingham did just enough to keep things interesting for three quarters, even pulling within a point of Timpview in the second frame, but the Thunderbirds continued to counter with a stronger blow and ultimately scored on six of their seven total drives.
Havea Fotu, Carson Sudbury and Maddax Peck all found the end zone for Bingham, but quarterback Dallen Martinez failed to find a consistent groove against a bend-don't-break Thunderbird defensive unit that forced three field goals, two punts and the opening fumble return touchdown.
Despite the offensive explosion, Timpview's 19-point margin of victory was its smallest of the season thus far, which Atuaia viewed as one of the night's most important takeaway.
"I love that we had opportunities to fall and to overcome that," Atuaia said. "That's what a team does. For us to have some success after adversity, it's great to see."
No. 5 Timpview (4-0) heads home next week to face off against another local power in undefeated Skyridge.
"We'd like to start fresh next week," Beckstead said. "We don't want to let 4-0 get to us."
