Lone Peak defense is great in the final seconds, stopping Timpview | News, Sports, Jobs

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

How did Lone Peak’s defense pull off a last-second stop in their 31-24 win over Timpview on Friday?

Knights coach Bart Brockbank wasn’t quite sure how to answer the question.

He just knew he liked it.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Our defense is so tough. I can’t explain it any other way than they have leadership. They put the guys in the right place and know the plays.”

Trailing by seven points late in the game, Timpview forced a punt and took control near the halfway line with 1:35 left and no timeouts remaining. Quarterback Carson Rasmussen carefully worked his way along the sidelines to get his team into the red zone, eventually reaching the Lone Peak 2-yard line with 34 seconds left. A third-down pass was deflected by Wesley Valgardson, and on fourth down, Jr. Tahi got into the backfield, forcing Rasmussen to throw the ball out of the back of the end zone.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

“We knew they were trying to go deep the whole time, so we tried to stay on top of them,” said senior safety Jayden Mayberry, who had two interceptions. “If we could do that, we knew our D-line would get to the quarterback. We just know our defense is really good.”

The score was tied 10-10 at halftime, which included a fake field goal touchdown run by Lone Peak kicker Breckin Carr. Brockbank credited assistant coaches Ryan Denney and Matthew Grimmer for the decision. The ball was snapped right to Carr, who raced around the end and outran the surprised Timpview defense with a 38-yard touchdown run.

“We worked it out over the weekend based on some things we saw and practiced all week,” Brockbank said. “We got exactly the look we wanted and that never happens. Sometimes you practice all week for something like that and it never happens.”

The teams traded points early in the second half, but Timpview led 17-16 after Lone Peak botched an extra point. The Knights regained the lead late in the third quarter, converting on a fourth down attempt when quarterback Kepa Niumeitolu found Mayberry unmarked on a 32-yard touchdown play. Isaac Staley and Mayberry combined for the two-point conversion to put the Knights ahead, 24-17.

Mayberry, who led the state with 12 interceptions last season, intercepted Rasmussen early in the fourth quarter and ran to the Timpview 5-yard line, where Sean Tahi rushed over and the visitors took a 31-17 lead with 11:11 to play.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

“Jayden just knows how to read the quarterback and where to be,” Brockbank said. “He just ends up in the right spot and you’re like, ‘How did that even happen?’ We just stopped yelling at him because he’s so good at it.”

Rasmussen led the T-Birds back by throwing the ball to his favorite target, Jaren Pula, who made a spectacular one-handed catch to set up first and goal. On a short pass, Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosia was knocked backwards by a Lone Peak defender but stayed on his feet and fought his way through three tacklers into the end zone, helping to cut the Knights’ lead to 31-24 with 3:25 left.

Lone Peak got a first down on its next possession, but Timpview eventually forced a punt, allowing the final drive.

“Our defense probably made 20 offside calls,” Brockbank said. “That’s why I lost my voice. But Mayberry and Valgardson and all those guys just made plays all night. We asked a lot of them. Landon (Goff) was on an island all night (against Timpview’s receivers) and Valgardson was too. Jayden, he reads the defense and puts everyone in the right spot. We got beat deep a couple times, but that happens against athletes like them. We just wanted to put pressure on Rasmussen. We wanted him to make great throws. And tonight we got a win on the last play.”

Lone Peak (2-0), which eliminated Bingham last week, faces another big challenge with first-ranked Corner Canyon, which beat the nation’s fourth-ranked team, IMG Academy of Florida, on Thursday.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

“We want to play the best teams in the preseason because that’s what we’re going to see in the postseason,” Brockbank said. “So that’s how we planned it.”

Timpview (1:1) faces city rival Provo next week.

Lonely Peak 3 7 14 7 — 31

Timpview 0 10 7 7 — 24

LP-Carr 35 FG

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

TV-Galea’i 4-run (Thornock kick)

LP-Carr 38 Run (Carr-Kick)

TV Thornock 33 FG

LP-Staley 2 runs (kick failed)

TV-Galea’i 2 run (Thornock kick)

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

LP-Mayberry 32 Pass from Niumeitolu (Staley Pass to J. Mayberry)

LP-Tahi 2 Run (Carr Kick)

TV-Anahu-Ambrosia 2 passes from Rasmussen (Thornock kick)