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ST. GEORGE — The visiting Stansbury Stallions completed a late-game comeback to defeat Snow Canyon 13-9 in the first game of the season on Friday.
The low-scoring affair was a defensive showcase from the beginning.
Neither team scored in the opening frame, and both struggled to make up any ground. The Stallions didn't even record a first down until six minutes into the game, and it came courtesy of a defensive pass interference.
Snow Canyon began the second quarter with the ball and worked their way into the red zone, only to be stifled at the 2-yard line. On their next drive, the Warriors found themselves approaching the end zone once again, and eventually came away with a 39-yard field goal by Ammon Allred.
After breaking the scoring drought, the Warriors were hungry for more. With under two minutes left in the quarter, Snow Canyon quarterback Joseph Smith connected with Cael Johnson for the team's first touchdown of the season, but a missed extra point put the score at 9-0 when the first half came to a close.
Stansbury's Carter Petersen literally hit the ground running upon returning from the locker room. He opened the half with a big gain for the Stallions, ending the drive with a rushing touchdown and finally putting his team on the scoreboard.
In the fourth quarter, Snow Canyon gave themselves an opportunity to grow the lead, but again only made it as far as the 2-yard line. A couple penalties pushed the Warriors back, and a big fourth-down sack put the ball in Stansbury's hands.
The turnover placed the Stallions at their own 20 yard line with a 9-6 deficit and eight minutes left to play. Stansbury ran the clock down until just a minute and a half left in the game, and then quarterback Coleman Dearden bulldozed his way to the end zone to put Stansbury on top.
"Passing touchdowns are fun, but rushing touchdowns I like a lot more," Dearden said. "You're just following the boys you love, the (offensive) line."
The Snow Canyon offense returned to the field with time against them. Smith took to the air to get his team downfield, but a pass straight into the arms of Stansbury's Luke Rich was the nail in the Warriors' coffin.
"I was in my backpedal, and I turned around and the ball was coming right towards me," Rich said. "I was a little nervous, but I caught it, secured it, then went and celebrated with my team."
In his debut with the Stallions, head coach Lee Leslie notched his 200th career win. The accomplishment was not lost on the players, either.
"Coming on with a new coach, getting his first win and his 200th in his career, is huge," Rich said. "This momentum is gonna keep rolling, and we've got bigger things ahead of us."
"Coach Leslie created a great brotherhood at Stansbury this past summer," Dearden added. "We've honestly just learned to trust each other."
Snow Canyon will host Manti, last year's 3A runner up, next week, while Stansbury will travel to Green Canyon as they look to continue the winning streak.
