Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SPRINGVILLE — In an intense Friday night showdown, Crimson Cliffs delivered a stunning performance that halted Springville's win streak.
The Mustangs, hungry for their first win after a challenging start to the season, came out victorious with a 34-27 win, becoming the Friday Night Rival champions.
The game began with high energy on both sides, as Springville's home advantage was quickly evident with students filling the bleachers of their brand-new field. But it was Crimson Cliffs who struck first. At the end of the ninth minute, quarterback Ryder Sherratt connected with Owen Peterson for a perfect pass down the middle, putting the Mustangs up 7-0.
Springville quickly responded when quarterback Easton Leavitt threw his first pass of the night — a 60-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jack Pickering to set off the Red Devils' sideline.
But Crimson Cliffs' offense, led by Sherratt, proved to be too much for Springville's defense.
Late in the first quarter, the Red Devils suffered a setback with injuries to two key players, Stafford Small and Kasanova Valeti. Taking advantage of the situation, Sherratt handed off the ball to McCord Christiansen, who dove into the end zone to take a 14-7 lead.
Not even five minutes later, the Sherratt-Christiansen duo struck again, ending the first quarter with a 21-7 lead for the Mustangs.
Springville fought back with determination, though. Just before halftime, Pickering made a crucial interception, setting the Red Devils up at the Crimson Cliffs 33-yard line. With 39 seconds left in the half, Leavitt threw a 26-yard pass that ultimately ended in Pickering's hands and the end zone, closing the gap to 21-14 as the teams headed to the locker room.
The second half began with Springville wasting no time in their attempt to catch up. Leavitt handed the ball off to Max Harris, who powered into the end zone; however, a blocked PAT kept the Red Devils down by 1.
Crimson Cliffs maintained the momentum, with Sherratt finding Maddux Alofipo wide open in the end zone late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 8 points.
The Mustangs offense continued to dominate in the fourth quarter, and was highlighted by a 70-yard run by Kasen Black. The long run led to another touchdown, this time by Sherratt, who ran it in himself.
"I was just confused, because I usually don't see a hole that big," Black said of his run. "But we scored, and that's all that matters when it comes down to it."
Despite a final push from the Red Devils, with Leavitt finding Ried Deede for a late touchdown, the Mustangs' defense held strong.
"We were locked in," Black said. "We had a lot of film sessions coming into this game."
Crimson Cliffs head coach Wayne Alofipo praised his team's performance, especially for their resolve after a tough start to the season.
"I am super proud. We have 19 new starters and 22 new backup players," Alofipo said. "I am proud of the step they took tonight. I am super proud that they were able to come out on top. We played physical, tough teams — Bingham, Morgan, Springville. We play these types of teams to continue to get better."
With the victory, Crimson Cliffs earned their first win of the season but also took down Springville's undefeated record. Springville will look to rebound next week as they take on Cyprus, while Crimson Cliffs will aim to build on the momentum as they face Cedar City.
