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CEDAR CITY — Richfield and Manti went back and forth in the final match of the 3A season before Richfield ultimately came away with a 27-21 victory Saturday night.
Defense took control right out of the gate. With big fourth-down stops in the red zone by both teams, the scoreboard showed two zeroes at the end of the first quarter.
Richfield came out hot once the second quarter got going. Less than a minute in, Reggie Hafen threw a touchdown pass to Cort Moon, putting the Wildcats on top. The tides turned in favor of the Templars soon after, though, as quarterback Maison Starkweather found Preston Thompson to knot it up at 7-7.
Right as Richfield started its next drive, they lost the ball on fumble and gave the possession right back to Manti, which capitalized on the opportunity when Tanner Olson caught a touchdown pass on the very next play.
The third quarter was a repeat of the first, but the Wildcats came out hungry in the fourth quarter. With nine minutes left in the game, Hafen tied the score on a rushing touchdown of his own.
Manti fought to retake the lead, and Starkweather connected with Stone Mortensen to give the Templars a one-score advantage. Minutes later, the score was tied once more as Hafen threw to Kai Thomas to keep the Wildcats in the game.
After a defensive stop, Richfield got the ball back with the clock winding down, and it was do or die for the Wildcats. Hafen stepped up, again, and threw a long pass to Gage Yardley for the game-winning touchdown.
"It was crazy," Yardley said about his game winner. "We run the play, and I catch it and no one was there. My teammates came through with a big block and then it was off to the races."
The win granted Richfield an undefeated season after falling in the 3A quarterfinals last year. Manti, though not undefeated, had their best season in 10 years and capped it off with a second-place trophy.
