Alta avoids an 0-4 start

By Jennifter Gustavson

Special To The Tribune

The tension was tangible. A single play turned the tide of the game. The Hawks eked out a victory (14-13), just as they had in four of the past five years.

On most accounts, it was a typical match-up between the Alta and Jordan football teams.

For the Alta team, which needed a win to avoid its first 0-4 start since 1992, it was also a mighty relief. Through one uninspired quarter, it looked as though the Hawks were headed for a rare four-game losing streak. But Bryan Engstrom’s 85-yard third quarter kickoff return turned the tide.

“The big kickoff return set us off. Did just enough offensively down the stretch to keep the clock running,”Alta coach Les Hamilton said.

For Jordan, it was a massive disappointment and a missed opportunity to solidify its spot as the team to beat in Region 4. That said, it was another epic addition to a classic rivalry.

“Two great teams really battled hard tonight,” Hamilton said. “But the defense was the real winner. I’ve really got to hand it to the defense tonight.”

But for the Hawks, the three-quarter effort was barely enough.

Jordan answered Engstrom’s kickoff return with a 10-yard touchdown run by Hill in the fourth quarter.

Following a botched extra-point attempt, the Hawks maintained control and possession for the majority of the game’s remaining time.

“We missed a lot of opportunities that we could’ve taken advantage of. We just let them hang around,” Jordan coach Eric Kjar said. “They’re way too good of a team to let hang around.”

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