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OGDEN — Ogden's football team is 5-0 for the first time since 2009 after dismantling Union 42-7 in the teams' 3A North region opener Friday night.
Cy Arnold rushed for three touchdowns, and quarterback Vinnie Apodaca threw two touchdown passes, both to sophomore Synic Harvey, and ran for a short touchdown himself.
The game was played in the Union half of the field until early in the second quarter, and even then, the Cougars were in Ogden territory for all of four plays before an interception.
It was about as complete of a game for Ogden (5-0, 1-0 3A North) as one could ask for.
"It's fun. You know what? This year I've just kind of decided to relax, and with the games, the kids, we're just really focusing on ourselves and having fun, and being in the moment and not really worrying about the result, just focusing on the process and being there for each other," Ogden head coach Erik Thompson said. "I guess when you do that, some good things can happen."
Arnold was stopped at the goal line on the Tigers' first drive, but Apodaca followed with a quarterback sneak for a 7-0 lead. Truman VanOrden intercepted Union quarterback Dylan Murphy-Watahomigie on a fake punt attempt on the Cougars' first drive.
Union's (1-5, 0-1 3A North) defense forced a missed field goal, then had to punt on its next offensive series, and Ogden's Ryan Kirkland blocked the punt to set the Tigers up at the Union 6-yard line. Arnold ran to the right side on the first play for a touchdown.
After another Arnold touchdown run, Apodaca connected with Harvey on a 62-yard bomb for a 28-0 lead.
"I had baited (the defender) on a corner route a little bit; and once he bit, I went to a post and then got him," Harvey said.
With a defender nearby, Harvey hauled in a 25-yard touchdown just before halftime to send the Tigers into the locker room up 34-0.
Union started leaning on the quarterback run, and Murphy-Watahomigie scored on a 45-yard keeper on fourth down to start the second half. Arnold bagged his third rushing touchdown of the night, then Apodaca threw a nice fade to Blake Weston for the 2-point conversion that started the running clock.
Weston also had an interception on a banner night for the defense, which forced two turnovers, three fourth-down stops, one punt and two other "stops" by virtue of the second and fourth quarter clocks running out.
Defensive lineman Eduardo Contreras was in on plenty of sacks and tackles for loss, and if he wasn't, he was a big reason why Murphy-Watahomigie was scrambling most of the night.
Starting 5-0 is one big thing; possibly starting 6-0 would be another, bigger thing. The last time Ogden started 6-0 was 1966.
Up next for the Tigers' way is a trip to Grantsville for their first road game since the season opener (they've had four straight at home). Grantsville is one of the top teams in the 3A North region and a team Ogden hasn't beaten since 2008.
Union, after five straight road games and five straight losses, returns home next week to host Juan Diego, aiming to break a five-game losing run.
