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SALT LAKE CITY — The last five years of results could have predicted the winner of the Brighton-Highland matchup, but they couldn't have predicted all that was in store through the final whistle of the game.
The first half was plagued with penalties, a missed PAT, multiple interceptions and fumbles, a targeting call, and a safety that eventually led to a 29-6 Brighton victory that came in dramatic fashion.
On both team's opening drives of the night, neither team went much of anywhere. Brighton quarterback Jack Johnson fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Highland, but Highland couldn't capitalize. And then Highland quarterback Manasa Pela almost had a pass intercepted on his first play under center.
Brighton didn't get its groove going until Johnson completed a 55-yard touchdown pass up the middle to Case Beames to take an early 7-0 lead for the Bengals.
The second quarter was more action-packed. It started when the Rams overcame some bad field position with a holding penalty and Pela escaping on a run for a first down that was followed by a 20-yard reception and a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Jimoh in the back of the end zone.
Rams kicker Keenan Williams missed the PAT, though, and the Bengals maintained a 1-point lead.
The Bengals answered back on the next drive when Johnson kept the ball for a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
The Bengals were called for a targeting call on the ensuing kickoff, and then a pass interference penalty by Brighton and a holding penalty on Highland offset a wild set of plays on a drive that ultimately just ended in a punt.
The penalties kept coming, though. The Bengals were called for holding on the team's next possession, and it was followed by a Rams pass interference. Johnson then threw an interception with only 14 seconds left in a choppy first half of play.
Brighton kick returner Easton Smith set the tone in the second half when he took the ball out of his own end zone and got down to the Rams' 25-yard line. But the Bengals offense eventually got greedy and attempted a fourth down that was ultimately stopped short of the marker and resulted in a turnover on downs.
The Bengals lost another fumble in the third quarter that Highland couldn't capitalize on before Brighton eventually finished with a field goal to take a 20-6 lead. Johnson later connected on a 25-yard toss to Donovan Wismer for a touchdown and to pad the score.
The Rams whiffed on the kick return and the ball ended up on their own 5-yard line. A holding call on the next play earned the Bengals a safety for the final score of the night.
The Bengals improve to 3-1 on the season, while the Rams fall to 2-2.
