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SALT LAKE CITY — The Thunderbirds are flying high Friday after riding a 16-0 first half to a 23-15 win over Bountiful in the 5A state championship game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The team was led by sophomore quarterback Helaman Casuga, who had 231 passing yards and two touchdowns, and was assisted by several red zone stops from the defense, including two on fourth down and a goal-line interception with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter.
For Bountiful, the game was made up of unfinished drives and wasted opportunities with a pair of interceptions on Casuga in the third quarter. The Redhawks brought it within one score with 2:54 remaining and got the necessary stop on the following Timpview drive, but fell just short of a final fourth-down conversion when the officials brought out the chains with 48 seconds to go.
Timpview's win was made that much sweeter after losing last year's title game in triple overtime, something that still sits with players and coaches to this day.
"After that loss, I had the determination to come back here and revisit this beautiful place and get my ring," Casuga said. "I think that's been a goal as a team. We've waited a whole year for this."
Casuga still has two years remaining in high school, but head coach Donny Atuaia said the departing seniors were the real driving force behind bouncing back and improving on last year's disappointment.
"We have great seniors," Atuaia said. "For them to say, 'Let's go to work,' a week after we lost that triple overtime, that says something about them."
Timpview head coach Donny Atuaia talks about this Timpview team and season. pic.twitter.com/gMPGYJQF1C
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) November 18, 2023
Siaki Fekitoa led the way for Bountiful in the loss with 149 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Redhawks quarterback Emerson Geilman put up 128 passing yards and a touchdown pass to go along with 61 yards on the ground on 13 keepers.
The victory marked Timpview's 14th football championship in school history.
