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SALT LAKE CITY — Alta snapped its three-game losing streak in dominant fashion Friday night, defeating the Highland Rams 31-10 in their homecoming game.
After a tough stretch of losses, Alta came out strong, taking control of the game early and never looking back, spoiling Highland's celebrations with a complete team effort on both offense and defense.
The energy from the home crowd at Highland Stadium was clear, but it didn't rattle Alta's focus.
From the very first possession, the Hawks were determined to take charge. Alta kicker Jack McAllister opened the scoring with an impressive 51-yard field goal, putting the Hawks on the board 3-0 after an early drive that showcased their offensive efficiency.
Highland's troubles started almost immediately. On their first offensive possession, a low snap turned into a costly fumble that was recovered by Alta's Bennett Coester, which set the tone for a long night of miscues for the Rams.
With 15 seconds left in the first quarter, Alta's quarterback Tucker Brown found his target, Breck Warren, with a perfectly placed pass down the left sideline, resulting in a touchdown that extended the Hawks' lead to 10-0.
Defensively, the Hawks were relentless. Just two seconds into the second quarter, Nito Fonua, a standout on both sides of the ball, came up with a crucial interception, halting the Rams' offensive momentum.
"I was just doing my job," Fonua said.
Highland briefly found hope when they blocked an Alta punt, setting up Ben Bauman with a return to the 17-yard line. A quick field goal by the Rams finally put Highland on the board, making it 10-3 as both teams headed into the locker room at halftime.
The third quarter saw Highland make their way back into the game. At the 7:49 mark, Charlie McConkie broke free for a 23-yard catch-and-run into the end zone, tying the game at 10-10.
Alta's defense, anchored by Fonua and a swarm of relentless Hawks, continued to frustrate Highland's offense, though. With 2:31 left in the third, Fonua struck again, this time on offense, catching a touchdown pass that put Alta back in control 17-10.
"We are feeling so good," Fonua said. "We're going to come back and win some more. Keep it going."
The Hawks weren't done yet.
The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Alta, starting with Matt McKea, who bulldozed his way into the end zone early in the final quarter. McKea, who had been a standout player the week prior, continued to show why defenses have so much trouble containing him. His effort pushed the score to 24-10, and the Rams simply couldn't keep up with the pace Alta set.
Highland's offense crumbled again when another low snap led to a fumble, recovered by Bear Turner at the 1-yard line. This set up yet another Alta touchdown, as Brown handed the ball off to Brock Russell, who punched it in to seal the victory.
The win was exactly what the Hawks needed, snapping their three-game losing streak and giving them momentum as they head into the back half of the season.
"I'm feeling really good about our next game against Olympus," Fonua added. "It's a home game, and I feel really good about it."
For Highland, the night was one of missed opportunities and mounting frustration. False starts, fumbles, and interceptions stopped their efforts to mount a comeback. They'll have a bye next week to regroup before facing West on Oct. 4.
Meanwhile, Alta heads into their next game against Olympus with newfound confidence, hoping to build on their impressive win and keep their season on track.
