- Mountain Ridge defeated Herriman 24-8 amid lightning delays and strong defense.
- Senior Jaxon Brown led Mountain Ridge's defense holding Herriman's offense scoreless.
- Mountain Ridge's win gives them first place in the region with a 6-2 record.
HERRIMAN — In a rivalry game defined by lightning strikes, delays, and defensive grit, Mountain Ridge rose to the occasion and defeated Herriman 24-8 in a game that lasted nearly six hours.
The Sentinels weathered nearly three hours of lightning delays and smothered Herriman's high-powered offense to earn the victory on Friday night, knocking the Mustangs from the unbeaten ranks and seizing sole possession of first place in the region.
"Every single year, this game is going to be big," Mountain Ridge head coach Nick Robins said. "No matter what their record is, no matter what our record is, I think it's good to see our kids come out and compete. No matter what the situation is, we're going to compete and battle. So proud of our guys."
Senior defensive lineman Jaxon Brown helped his defense keep Herriman in check as he led a strong defensive front and recorded his sixth sack of the season in the process. Behind Brown, the Sentinels shut down a team that came in averaging 40.7 points per game.
"I thought Herriman was going to come in here and try to run us over," Robins said. "We set the tone by matching that physicality. I'm just proud of our defense, the way they battled."
The Mountain Ridge offense struck first, capping off their first drive of the game with a touchdown from Tytan DeJong. Sentinel quarterback Jaxon Hunt found DeJong on a short pass and after a couple broken tackles and a juke, DeJong was able to will his way into the endzone for a 51-yard score.
On the ensuing drive, Tyler Messer was picked off on his first pass of the game by Austin Freeman. This interception would help set up another scoring drive for Mountain Ridge.
DeJong made an acrobatic one-handed grab on the sideline to convert a fourth down to extend the Sentinels' drive. That highlight catch would set up Zach Ofisa's one-yard rushing touchdown on fourth and goal to increase Mountain Ridge's lead to 14-0.
After another Mustang drive stalled out, their defense would get them on the board after MacRae Parker read the eyes of the quarterback and picked off Hunt's pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. Tyren Brimhall ran in the two point conversion to cut the lead 14-8.
The Sentinels had a long drive that chewed up most of the second quarter clock but it came up empty after they missed a field goal.
Mountain Ridge was able to maintain momentum to begin the second half after they stopped Herriman on a fourth down to get the ball back on their own 41-yard line.
Another DeJong toe-tap on the sideline would lead to a Sentinel touchdown as Hunt would run a quarterback sneak to increase their lead.
Shortly after the score is when the lightning delay would begin.
Both teams came back out after nearly two hours with 2:07 still left in the third quarter only to be sent back to their locker rooms for another 30 minute delay.
When the game finally resumed it was as if there was never a delay. The Mustang offense was still incapable of finishing a drive with points as they came up just short on a fourth and 18.
Cannon Brinton gave Herriman life after he snagged Hunt's second interception of the game. But just as it went all night, the Mustangs came up empty once again as they failed to convert another fourth down. Mountain Ridge then added a field goal after to pad their lead at 24-8
Before the ensuing kickoff there was one more 30 minute delay with 2:57 left in the game. The Sentinels held strong on defense as they had done all game long and sealed the 24-8 victory.
With the win Mountain Ridge improves to 6-2 while Herriman falls to 7-1 with their first loss of the season. Both teams will be back in action next Friday
