Eyring leads Alta against American Fork

Sandy • Alta running back Taylor Eyring didn’t start Friday night’s Region 4 battle with American Fork.

He just finished it.

After suffering a shoulder injury last week, Eyring didn’t play during the first half against the Cavemen.

But the second half?

Different story.

Eyring, a senior, rushed 14 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns as Alta claimed a 27-6 victory that kept the Hawks’ region championship hopes alive.

The Alta coaches “didn’t want me to get hurt again,” Eyring said.

“But I was able to play the second half and just did my best.

“I didn’t worry about anything. I just followed my blockers, and they did a heck of a job. So did American Fork. They played their hearts out. It was a really good game.”

The outcome turned on the opening possession of the second half.

Alta owned a 7-6 lead when American Fork safety Nathan Cummings intercepted a Tyson Blackner pass.

On the return, though, Cummings was blindsided and fumbled.

Alta recovered, and the Hawks never looked back.

Senior Eric Emery replaced Blackner at quarterback, and Eyring was unstoppable behind him.

Alta quickly took a 14-6 lead on Eyring’s 2-yard touchdown run.

On the next possession, he took a pitch from Emery and raced 47 yards for another score.

Finally, with 3 1/2 minutes left, Alta stopped American Fork on downs in Hawk territory for the third time in the half.

On the first play after taking possession, Eyring burst up the middle for a clinching 91-yard touchdown.

The win bumped Alta’s record to 3-5 overall but 3-1 in Region 4.

“Our goal is to get the region, and we’re on our way,” Eyring said. “Hopefully, we can keep this up.”

In the first quarter, American Fork threatened when Spencer Vernon recovered a muffed punt at the Alta 36.

The Cavemen eventually reached the Alta 14, but the Hawk defense held, and American Fork’s Kyle Rusick missed a 31-yard field goal.

On the next possession, Alta faced a third-and-11 when Blackner hit Ammon Barker for a 70-yard touchdown.

In the second quarter, a pair of American Fork drives stalled deep in Alta territory, although Rusick kept the Cavemen close.

His 22-yard field goal made it 7-3 and, with 20.1 seconds left in the half, he drilled a 40-yarder.

At halftime, American Fork had outgained the Hawks 147 yards to 98. The Cavemen also had 10 first downs, compared with Alta’s two.

Enter Eyring.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/50442115-77/alta-eyring-american-fork.html.csp