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SALT LAKE CITY — The Redhawks are back in the championship.
Bountiful used a 14-0 first half to silence Brighton's 24-8 to cruise into the state final for the second year in a row and will look to win it all for the first time since 2003.
Quarterback Emerson Geilman pulled a heavy load for Bountiful, rushing for nearly 150 yards and totaling over 260 yards for the day.
Bountiful, who gave up 35 yards to Maple Mountain last week, held Brighton to a late touchdown with two minutes left to hold their fourth opponent this year to one score or less.
"It feels good; this is a special team," head coach Jason Freckleton said after the win. "Our guys wanted it, they put all the work in the offseason, and did great job of not getting ahead of themselves."
The Bengals, who entered the game with their fourth-string quarterback due to injuries to Ryce Palepoi, Alex Degroot, and Case Beames throughout the season.
In stepped sophomore Preston Ferran who went 6-of-14 for 133 yards against Olympus in the quarterfinal. Through the first half, Ferran was 3-of-15 for 92 yards.
The Redhawks used a 97-yard drive in the second quarter to show they could virtually control the rest of the game, forcing broken tackle after broken tackle on the drive.
Geilman had four rushes on the drive, three of which showcased three broken tackles or more. Geilman had seen enough and decided to take one in for a 22-yard run to put the Redhawks up 14-0 with two minutes left in the first half.
Through the first half, Geilman had nine rushes for 93 yards.
"He doesn't force the ball. They take away every route and he takes off running and he is dangerous. He puts in so much time and film study to perfect his craft. He is a great kid and I am really proud of him," Freckleton said on Geilman.
The Bengals got down to the red zone for the second time, but missed the 35-yard field goal as time expired. The Bengals had scored on the drive, but a holding call negated the touchdown.
Though Brighton could have had another opportunity on the previous drive, Sam Storrs hauled in a one-handed catch on third-and-long and put the Bengals on the 15-yard line, but it was called incomplete. The replay showed Storrs had clearly completed the catch, but no review in high school football forced the Bengals to go for it on fourth down and were unsuccessful.
Brighton pulled off a fake punt early in the third quarter, and converted again on fourth down three plays later; however, the offense continued to struggle and turned the ball over on downs on their third fourth down attempt of the drive, giving the ball back to Bountiful with 4:30 left in the third quarter.
Bountiful put the cherry on top with a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown by Brock Mcswain, again highlighted by missed tackles by the Bengals.
.@RedhawksBhs takes a commanding lead on this Brock Mcswaine punt return TD. #GameNightLive#GNLonKSL@Burtbrospic.twitter.com/DWTOIsZCsv
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 15, 2024
On Bountiful's ensuing posession, Geilman let loose for a 44-yard rush, evaded a sack on the next play and turned it into a 12-yard gain.
An interception with 5:42 left all but ended it for Bountiful, cruising to a 24-8 victory.
