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FARMINGTON — The Friday night lights flickered on at Farmington High, signaling the start of the high school football season with an electric atmosphere as Roy took on Farmington.
With fans packed into the stands and the sun setting over the field, the stage was set for a thrilling showdown. But the Royals wasted no time making their presence felt on the road; and despite a spirited effort from Farmington, Roy came out on top with a 38-14 victory.
The game began with a bang. Not even two minutes in, Roy's defense made an immediate impact when Jaxon Scoffield blocked a punt. Senior tight end and outside linebacker Ryker Cordero recovered the loose ball and bolted into the end zone for the first touchdown of the night, giving the Royals a quick 7-0 lead.
Just three minutes later, Roy's Kahekili Eleneke, a senior wide receiver and defensive back, made his first of many standout plays. Eleneke intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, securing his first of two pick sixes for the game.
"Coming into this first game, our whole team was just hype! We were excited," Eleneke said.
Farmington, determined not to let the game slip away early, responded by completing a key sack to recover the ball on Roy's ensuing possession; however, Roy's aggressive defense quickly regained control.
With just over two minutes left in the first quarter, senior wide receiver Robert Young broke free on a 60-yard touchdown run, perfectly executed off a pass from quarterback Dru Gardner to give Roy a 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Throughout the game, Roy seniors — including Eleneke, Josh Webb, and Logan Cella — proved to be an intimidating force. Their combined efforts made it difficult for Farmington's defense to contain.
Eleneke, in particular, was a standout player, adding to his already impressive night with a 70-yard touchdown run just two minutes into the second quarter.
"We have a lot of returning players," Eleneke said, emphasizing the experience they have that played a crucial role in Roy's dominant performance.
Farmington's offense struggled to find its rhythm against Roy's relentless defense. The Royals' pressure led to numerous incomplete passes, interceptions, and turnovers, stifling the Phoenix's efforts to gain any meaningful ground. Despite these challenges, Farmington remained resilient and refused to back down.
After halftime, the Phoenix found a spark of momentum. The Farmington defense forced Roy into a fourth down, leading to a punt. Senior wide receiver Webb seized the opportunity, returning the kick 80 yards into the end zone for Farmington's first points of the night.
The electrifying play brought the home crowd to its feet and brought new life into the Phoenix.
But every time Farmington gained ground, Roy answered with even bigger plays. Late in the third quarter, Colby Frokjer caught his first varsity touchdown, leaping over a Farmington defender to secure the pass in the end zone.
"That was my first varsity touchdown. I was just excited," Frokjer said. "When they called the play and they said they were throwing the fade to me, I knew I was coming down with it."
The touchdown extended Roy's lead to 35-7 and effectively sealed the outcome.
Farmington's quarterback Will Peterson made a determined push in the fourth quarter, running in a touchdown in hopes of sparking a comeback; however, the clock was not in their favor. Despite their efforts, the Phoenix couldn't close the gap.
Roy added a late field goal to cap off the night with a 38-14 victory.
"Thanks to my D-line; they really brought the pressure in," Eleneke said, acknowledging the teamwork that led to his multiple interceptions, two pick sixes, and impressive rushing total.
"We didn't really know what was going to happen going into the game," Frokjer added. "We knew if we just came out and executed what we knew how to do, that we were going to take care of business. And that's what we did."
The Royals look ahead to next week's home game against Fremont, eager to build on their strong start. The Phoenix will look to regroup and find a way to bounce back from a tough opening-night loss in a Week 2 game against Bountiful.
