High school football: Beaver holds off Duchesne to earn another chance at a state title

Box score

OREM — State football championships are a tradition at Beaver High School, and that may be the reason why so many boys in the student body try for the team.

The Beavers won the 2A title in 2015 and 2016, but fell short more recently. Saturday afternoon, Beaver earned a chance to play for another trophy with a 14-7 win over Duchesne at Orem High School.

“It was a great feeling of relief. It (this game) is what we needed. Duchesne came out and, in a lot of ways, outplayed us. We have a lot of things to get better at.” — Beaver coach Jon Marshall

E.J. Allred scored on a 2-yard run with 10:56 left in the fourth quarter as the Beavers held off the Eagles, who have an impressive tradition of their own. The game was tied much of the day as both teams suffered through offensive disappointment, especially turnovers.

Despite their similar enrollment, Beaver had much more depth and came into the game averaging 48.9 points per game. However, the outcome wasn’t decided until Treyson Hunter intercepted a Duchesne pass in the end zone in the final minute, improving the Beavers’ record to 12-0 and sending them into the 3A title game next Saturday at 5 p.m. against Milford at Dixie State University’s field in St. George.

“It was a great feeling of relief,” said Beaver coach Jon Marshall afterward. “It (this game) is what we needed. Duchesne came out and, in a lot of ways, outplayed us. We have a lot of things to get better at.

“Our defense has been good all year,” he added. “Our problem was the offense. We got beat at the line of scrimmage.”

• Watch replay: Beaver 14, Duchesne 7

Beaver still managed to take a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter on a short run by Kaleb Barney, but the Eagles tied the score just before halftime on a 4-yard run from Gavin Davis. Both team’s defenses frustrated each other for the rest of the game and took advantage of each of their turnover problems.

Beaver had four turnovers, and Duchesne five, including the final one when Duchesne quarterback Kason Grant lofted a pass to Jordan Clayburn in double coverage that was snagged by Hunter, who celebrated all the way back to the Beaver bench, knowing his play had clinched the win.

“They couldn’t run the ball, so I just didn’t want to get beat deep,” Hunter said. “Somebody had to step up and make a big play. This (playing for the championship) is what we have worked for all year.”

Duchesne finished the season 10-2 under coach Jerry Cowan. The Eagles came in with an impressive offense of their own, averaging 40 points per game. The defense, however, was as solid as advertised and gave up just 216 yards.

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