Lehi to travel to Farmington Friday
The Lehi Pioneers defeated the Woods Cross Wildcats, 21-14, on the road Friday, November 1 in the second round of the State 5A Football Playoffs. With the win, the Pioneers advance next week to the quarterfinals. In the new state playoff system using seeding determined by RPI statistics, Lehi entered the game as the 5A classification number 11 seed and Woods Cross was the number six seed.
After a scoreless first quarter, Lehi got on the scoreboard early in the second when Creyton Cooper hit tight end Charles Jacob for a 61-yard touchdown pass. Pioneer defensive lineman Conner Crutchfield returned the ball to the offense just two plays later after recovering a Wildcat fumble. Carsen Manookin scored a three-yard rushing touchdown, quickly giving Lehi a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter, and it appeared that the Pioneers were in complete control of the game. However, Woods Cross scored 14 unanswered points to tie things up late in the third quarter. The Pioneers regained the lead for good when Creyton Cooper threw a ten-yard touchdown pass to McKay Wall early in the fourth quarter.
Lehi defensive back Kadiyon Sweat, a freshman, intercepted a Wildcat pass to guarantee the, 21-14, victory for the Pioneers. Sweat intercepted two passes within the final six minutes of the game. His second interception occurred after Lehi fumbled the ball with three minutes remaining – giving Woods Cross excellent field position at the Lehi 31-yard line. Jacob Vasquez led the defense with 20 total tackles (eight solo). Christian Wren had ten tackles (four solo) as did Tyler Ehat (two solo).
Lehi will travel to Farmington to take on the Phoenix on Friday, November 8 at 4 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. Farmington is the 5A number three seed, they defeated the number 14 seed Bonneville Lakers, 30-0, last Friday.
