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Davis Journal

Woods Cross football advances in state tournament; second-round coming up

Oct 31, 2024 02:07PM ● By Josh McFadden

Adobe Stock.

In prep football, the state tournament began last Friday, but it was just a taste of what was to come. 

In Class 6A, only four teams had first-round games, with most schools having byes due to the size of the classification. Class 5A’s first-round slate was much larger, though some teams still wait until this Friday’s second round to begin their postseason runs. 

Woods Cross was in action last week, and the Wildcats scored a big first-round victory to keep its season alive. 

The Wildcats improved to 7-4 on the season with a 35-27 home victory over Cedar Valley. For Woods Cross, it was a tale of two halves.

A sluggish first half left the Wildcats behind to the 3-7 Aviators, 13-0 at the break. But it didn’t take long for Woods Cross to start its scoring spree. The Wildcats scored 21 points in the third quarter alone, starting with touchdown runs of 1 and 5 yards from Viliami Tapa’atoutai. After his second TD run and successful extra points, Woods Cross was up 14-13. Cedar Valley, however, had two more touchdowns of its own in the third and led 27-14 with 2:31 left in the quarter. Just 17 seconds later, Tapa’atoutai crossed the goal line for the third time of the day, this time from 18 yards out. 

By the time Jesse Simmons rumbled into the end zone on a 34-yard TD run, Woods Cross had tied up the game at 27-27 with 3:03 to play. A converted point after put the Wildcats ahead for the first time. They followed this score with a game-sealing 32-yard touchdown run from Tapa’atoutai in the final minute. 

As he has been all season, Tapa’atoutai was outstanding. 

The junior phenom carried the ball 35 times for 267 yards and four scores. It was the eighth time this season he passed the 100-yard rushing mark in a game and the second time he rushed for at least 267 yards. He had 271 yards at home against Viewmont on Sept. 20. 

Quarterback Jesse Simmons only threw seven passes, completing one, but he also had 11 carries for 67 yards. Ryker Marti added 55 yards on seven carries in Woods Cross’ run-oriented attack. Defensively, Okusitino Sa and Reece Hammon had seven tackles. Sa also had two sacks, and Hammond intercepted a pass. 

With the win, Woods Cross advanced to the second round where it faces a tough test at Olympus on Friday. 

Other second-round action

In other games this Friday, four local teams will play in the second round. In 6A, Davis, the No. 7 seed hosts 10th-seeded Mountain Ridge, while fifth-seeded Farmington entertains 12th-seeded American Fork. If Davis prevails, it will play the winner of No. 2 Skyridge and No. 15 Riverton on Nov. 8 in the quarterfinals. A Farmington victory would pit the Phoenix against the winner of No. 4 Lehi and No. 13 Layton in quarterfinals action on Nov. 8 as well. 

In Class 5A, second-seed Bountiful hosts 18th-seed Alta this Friday. If the Redhawks get by Alta, they would move to the quarterfinals on Nov. 8 to take on Northridge (seeded 10th) or Maple Mountain (seeded seventh). Bountiful defeated Northridge 42-14 on Sept. 20. Also, eight-seeded Viewmont will play at home against East, the ninth seed, this Friday. The winner of that game advances to the Nov. 8 quarterfinals to clash with the winner of top-seeded Roy and 17th-seeded Granger.  λ