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Davis Journal

Farmington, Bountiful move to quarterfinals in state football action

Nov 04, 2021 12:18PM ● By Josh McFadden

Bountiful’s Drew Bowles (24) high-steps over a Park City defender on his way to gaining yardage. The fleet-feet helped the Redhawks step over the Miners 38-20 in 5A state tournament action. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

A pair of Davis County high school football teams are still alive in the postseason. Both Farmington and Bountiful won second-round games last week after having first-round byes. Now the squads move closer to the ultimate prize of winning a state championship. 

Farmington

Farmington’s first year as a Class 6A team has gone well, and the Phoenix are now just two games away from vying for a state title. 

Last Friday, the Phoenix won a defensive battle over West, prevailing at home 10-7. It was Farmington’s seventh win in a row and the team’s eighth of the season. The Phoenix didn’t reach the end zone until 3:33 left in the game. That’s when Mitch Nielsen hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass to erase a 7-3 deficit. Halfway through the second quarter, Gavin Jensen connected on an 18-yard field goal when Farmington couldn’t quite punch the ball into the end zone from the 1-yard line on third down. 

The Farmington defense was strong all night. West’s only score of the game came with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter. The Panthers’ previous season low in points was 19. West entered the contest with an 8-1 record having won Region 2 with a perfect 6-0 mark. 

Now at 8-3, the Phoenix have a big challenge in front of them. On Friday, the team will play at third-seeded Skyridge, whose only loss on the season was to nationally ranked Corner Canyon. 

Bountiful

The Redhawks rode a 24-3 run in the second and third quarters to blitz Park City last Friday 38-20 in the second round. Playing in front of a home crowd, Bountiful led 7-3 after one quarter as Owen Geilman hit Teagan Dougher for a 49-yard touchdown pass. From there, the Redhawks continued to put on the pressure. 

Ben Smith nailed a 44-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and Drew Bowles made it 17-3 after a 1-yard TD run. Park City inched closer after kicking a field goal to end the half. But the Redhawks scored three straight touchdowns to effectively put the game away. 

In the third quarter, Corbin Cottle scored on a 16-yard run. Bowles added a defensive touchdown when he took an interception 49 yards back the other way. He then tallied his third touchdown of the day when he scampered for a 49-yard run with 3:30 left in the game. 

The Redhawks were up 38-6 by the time Park City tacked on two late touchdowns. 

Cottle had 24 carries for 126 yards, and Cottle added 66 yards on just six carries. Geilman had 148 yards passing, with Dougher accounting for 102 of those receiving yards. Dougher also led the team in tackles with 12; he also had an interception. 

Next up for Bountiful is a home game with Orem this Friday at 6 p.m. The winner will take on the winner of Timpanogos and top-seeded Springville on Nov. 11 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.