SMALL SCHOOLS: Eagles learn quickly, pound Beatty
The Eagles absorbed a 36-8 loss to Beaver Dam (Ariz.) on Aug. 28, leading to a week of intense practice and extra playbook study.
At least they appear to be quick learners.
Spring Mountain scored 32 points in the second quarter and breezed to a 60-26 victory over visiting Beatty in a Class 1A Southern League opener Friday.
“Today was us getting paid on the hard work all week long,” Masden said.
The Eagles (1-1, 1-0) led 46-6 after three quarters and pulled most of their starters, after which Beatty scored three touchdowns in a span of 5:41.
Spring Mountain running back James Maestas compiled 169 yards and three TDs on 10 carries, scoring on runs of 50, 23 and 51 yards. He also caught a 35-yard pass and recovered a fumble while playing safety.
“It feels pretty good,” Maestas said. “Last week was the first game, kind of rough. So we just had to do a hard week’s practice.”
Markess Harris rang up two sacks to lead the Eagles’ defense, which held Beatty’s hurry-up offense to 112 yards. The Hornets (0-1) lost six fumbles, allowed a safety and had a punt blocked.
“That didn’t surprise me at all,” Masden said of the defense’s response to the hurry-up offense. “That’s kind of how we practice — right up on the ball, running plays bang-bang-bang. I was impressed with how they kept their composure.”
Spring Mountain quarterback Robbie Lindbloom was 5-of-8 for 53 yards, connecting with five receivers.
Masden, whose team plays its next three games at home, has set the Eagles’ goals high.
“We set our goals as a conference championship and a state championship,” he said. “To settle for anything less than that, you’re not doing these kids justice.
“We told them that’s what our goals are, and they stepped up and responded today.”
Anthony Turner led Beatty with 29 yards rushing, including a touchdown, and 28 passing.
The Meadows 74, Sunrise Mountain 13 — At The Meadows, freshman Chase Marrs scored four times to lead the Mustangs (1-0), who exploded for 38 points in the first quarter to drop the Miners to 0-2.
Marrs returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown and added TD runs of 35, 27 and 53 yards. He finished with 124 yards on five carries.
Garrett Gosse threw touchdown passes of 16 yards to Austin Brown and 55 yards to Max Newman.
David Liu ran for 3- and 1-yard touchdowns, and Newman returned a kickoff 85 yards for another score.
For Sunrise Mountain, Orlando Kincey scored on a 92-yard kickoff return in the first quarter and Tyree Mays scrambled 63 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Combs’ 88-yard TD came in the first quarter and his 3-yarder in the second.
Ross LaMarca passed for 110 yards, including second-quarter touchdowns of 23 yards to Jack LaMarca and 1 yard to Allen Haines.
Joseph Woodbury added a 3-yard TD run for the Eagles, who allowed 303 total yards, all on the ground.
Needles 37, River Valley (Ariz.) 30 — At Needles, Calif., Andrew Mathews’ 10-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Andrews with six minutes remaining lifted Needles (1-1) past River Valley.
The Mustangs trailed 30-29 before Andrews’ catch and a 2-point conversion gave Needles the lead.
After stopping River Valley on downs, with 2:30 to play, the Mustangs ran out the clock to clinch the win.
Cedar City (Utah) 27, Virgin Valley 0 — At Cedar City, Utah, Jackson Carter rushed for a touchdown and threw for another to help the Redmen (2-1) blank Virgin Valley (0-2).
Carter, who had 106 yards on six carries, scored on a 59-yard run in the first quarter. He followed with a 36-yard TD pass to Bradley Williams for a 13-0 lead.
Adam Rice, who supplied 116 yards on 23 carries, had a 2-yard touchdown run and McKay Ashdown supplied a 14-yard score.
Virgin Valley was held to 135 yards, including 50 on 35 carries. Humberto Urias was 4-for-11 passing for 85 yards.
Rite of Passage 21, Calvary Chapel 14 — At Tonopah, the Lions fell to the Rams when the game was called with just more than five minutes remaining because of lightning as Calvary Chapel (0-1) was driving.
Rite of Passage returned an interception and fumble recovery for scores.
Hurricane (Utah) 38, Moapa Valley 12 — At Overton, the Pirates fell behind 28-12 at the half and were unable to rally.
Matt Newton carried 18 times for 77 yards and two TDs and caught five passes for 115 yards to lead Moapa Valley (0-2).
Pahranagat Valley 72, Laughlin 20 — At Laughlin, the Panthers (2-0) routed the Cougars (1-1) in a downpour.
Duchesne (Utah) 49, West Wendover 0 — At West Wendover, the Wolverines (0-2) were shut out for the second straight week.
Carlin 34, Tonopah 28 — At Tonopah, Chris Salas scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter to lift Carlin over the Muckers.
Enterprise (Utah) 34, Lincoln County 14 — At Enterprise, Utah, the Lynx allowed 447 yards of offense in a season-opening loss.
Reinke, who had only six carries, scored on runs of 37, 60, 4 and 41 yards.
He threw touchdown passes of 15, 70 and 50 yards to Junior Baker in the first quarter. Reinke also hit Xavier Pena on a 3-yard touchdown pass in the second half.
Baker, who caught four passes for 201 yards, had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown and an 81-yard kickoff return for a score.
Indian Springs built a 52-0 lead in the second quarter before the Sidewinders finally got on the board.