By Brandon Gurney, Deseret News
Published: Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011 11:54 p.m. MDT

Bingham High football coach Dave Peck remembers it well — almost too well.

In 2009, his team had a chance to take on national power Trinity Euless at Cowboys Stadium. Bingham showed well in mounting a comeback after trailing 28-7, but ultimately came up short, losing 42-21.

"It was the last loss I've had as a coach, so yeah, you remember that," said Peck. "We wanted to go out there and show the nation that Utah schools can play with anyone, and I firmly believe that we can play with anyone, although we came up short that day."

Peck and his Bingham team will have another opportunity Saturday to show that they can play with some of the top prep teams in the country with the Miners taking on Southern California powerhouse Orange Lutheran in Mission Viejo, Calif., at 5:30 p.m. MT.

Both Timpview and Alta are making the trip as well. The T-Birds kick off the day taking on Bakersfield at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Hawks battling Crenshaw at 2:15 p.m.

"It's a great opportunity not just for us, but for all three schools to represent well for the state of Utah," said Peck. "We have great football here. Some people who have seen us play in the 7-on-7 tournaments against other states know it, and more people are getting to know about what kind of football we have here in the state and at Bingham, but we want to make more people aware of it."

Alta hopes to rebound from last week's heart-breaking loss in the annual Black and Blue game against Bingham. The Hawks fell victim to a last-minute score by the Miners to fall 21-18.

"It was a game that could have gone either way, but we have to learn to execute better during key situations," said Alta coach Bob Stephens. "This week, we'll have a great chance to build some team unity, playing a great and challenging opponent in Crenshaw and we're excited for it."

This weekend's slate of games was brought about after some schedule tinkering by both Stephens and Timpview coach Louis Wong. Both teams were scheduled to play each other during the third week, but opted to join with Bingham in playing their endowment games in Mission Viejo.

"Louis Wong called me up and told me they didn't think they were going to have enough money to travel out to Hawaii, which they had planned as their endowment game," said Stephens. "He told me about a guy named Brian Hercules, who was planning to put together some games in Mission Viejo, and asked if I'd be interested. It just sort of fell in place from there and we got Bingham to join us, which is great."

Crenshaw is the returning champions of the CIF Los Angeles section champions. After dropping its first two games of last season, Crenshaw won its final 12 games by an average score of 52 to 5.

"They're a very, very athletic team," said Stephens. "They won their league last year, blowing out opponents, and they'll likely be the most athletic team we'll ever go against. It will be a challenge, but we'll be up to that challenge I feel."

For Alta players, they couldn't be more excited about the opportunity.

"When coach told us we were going to California to play Crenshaw, we were all very excited," said Alta star defensive back Austin Lee. "It's a great thing for us to go out there and it should be a lot of fun as well. We had a very tough loss to Bingham and this will be nice to get away and play a top team. I can't wait."

Although Bingham is Alta's fiercest rival, Alta players and coaches alike will be pulling hard for them to upset their opponent, Orange Lutheran.

"I really like and respect the players at Bingham and a lot of them are friends," said Lee. "On the field, we want to beat them bad, but off of it, I want nothing but the best for them. I really hope they win their game."

"I want all three teams to win," said Stephens. "I'm so excited for the kids more than anything. I'm excited to represent the state of Utah and the great football we have here and I just want to win. I want Bingham and Timpview to win and to represent well and I know they will and hopefully we can join them."

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See http://www.deseretnews.com/sports/high-school/stats/game/96821/2011-08-19-football-Timpview-Alta.html

Click the various tabs for rushing, passing, receiving and kicking stats. Detailed stats normally are posted within a week of the game.

By Bruce Smith, For the Deseret News
Published: Friday, Aug. 19, 2011 11:37 p.m. MDT

SANDY — First-year Alta coach Bob Stephens admitted he didn't sleep much Thursday night.

That was deservedly so because the Stephens era that started Friday was a nightmare.

Fortunately, the Hawks rallied from a miserable beginning to beat Timpview 35-14 in front of a near-capacity crowd on their home field in the season opener for both teams.

"First-game jitters," is how Stephens described Alta's two lost fumbles in its first four offensive plays. At one point, the Hawks trailed 14-0 and, if Timpview hadn't had a few jitters of its own, Stephens could have found his team trailing by a lot more.

"That first quarter was awful," said senior running back Bryan Engstrom. "But we never felt like we weren't moving the ball. We just put it on the ground too much. We just needed a chance."?

Timpview gave it to them. The Thunderbirds, who have won the 4A state title in five of the past six years, went from potential giant-killers to a stumbling, bumbling team in just a short time. Quarterback Marshall Nelson had a fine game, but a couple of fumbles, including several errant snaps, resulted in their demise.

"I told the kids they (the Thunderbirds) played one good quarter," said coach Louis Wong. "That's what preseason is all about. Maybe next game we play two good quarters and we go on from there.

"Hopefully, they get better and learn from it," he added. "I was watching our kids late in the game. I was looking at who was sulking and who was asking for more. It's my job to find out what needs to happen for us to get better."?

Alta scored the game's final 35 points and that helped Stephens almost dismiss the Hawks' poor start. Senior quarterback Tyson Blackner completed 20 of 36 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. He had one interception, off a deflection in the first quarter (of course).

Blackner completed passes to seven different receivers. Jordan Urrutia caught two touchdown throws, Ammon Barker had six catches for 80 yards, Engstrom had five catches, and 6-foot-4 tight end Steven Richards proved to be a big target and caught four passes.

On defense, Alta held Timpview to just two first downs in the second half. Austin Lee and Rhett Sandlin had several good plays that stopped Timpview drives.

"They really stepped it up," said Stephens. "But I was especially proud at how they kept us in the game when we were down early."

Timpview never developed a running game and finished with minus-11 yards rushing. Nelson, however, threw touchdown passes to Rickey Shumway and Austin Fullmer in the opening period for the 14-0 lead. The T-Birds seemed ready to add to it shortly afterward but, after reaching the Alta 14-yard line, a bad snap sailed over Nelson's head and Alta recovered.

On Timpview's next drive, Gregson Aspinall fumbled after a long run. Alta didn't let opportunity pass.

"We had our opportunities and didn't take advantage," said Wong. "You can't miss those when you play good teams."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700172239/High-school-football-Down-early-Alta-soars-back-for-big-win-over-Timpview.html

Jason Franchuk - Daily HeraldDaily Herald | Posted: Saturday, August 20, 2011 1:03 am

SANDY - Louis Wong went for the long, motivating speech Friday. Not something Timpview's football coach has been required to pull out too often this early in the season, under these circumstances.

He spoke calmly but effectively to his players, then chatted easily and graciously about the 35-14 loss at Alta with a couple of reporters.

It wasn't until a couple of younger Thunderbird players asked the coach if they could go home with parents that Wong seemed even the slightest riled up.

"Get on the bus," Wong made it clear, he wanted those guys with their team.

This isn't the Timpview teams of past, sure, but by golly they're not going to get divided this early.

"I told them they played one good quarter," Wong said without the least bit of mockery.

The visitors led 14-0 after one quarter.

Wong's known to talk about the value of adversity - rising to life's challenges. And, frankly, he'll be the first to say that it could have been a much more significant lead after 12 minutes. Alta committed three early turnovers.

Unfortunately for Wong, his team did too good of a job catching up on the error scoreboard.

Alta scored the final five touchdowns, securing first-year head coach Bob Stephens his first win since replacing the highly successful Les Hamilton. Alta was down big-time last year, but appears to have made strides in depth, endurance and especially play-making speed.

"We were really able to run the ball well tonight," Stephens said, which isn't something that's uttered often against Wong's teams.

Though Wong knew there were going to be some predicaments this year, especially in the trenches. And Timpview was without one offensive lineman, who had an out-of-state wedding he had to attend. Another was suspended for the first half for being late for a practice.

The biggest stats: Alta's quarterback, Tyson Blackner, completed 20-of-36 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Fleet running back Bryan Engstrom added 129 yards, while Timpview didn't even achieve positive rushing yardage. It was at minus-11.

Wong said he's "very energized" by this project, and speaking to his team afterward he hopes the players feel the same way. He wants the squad to be at least two-quarters good next Friday, three the one after that and a full game's worth heading into week 4.

Wong said he spent more time than he usually does monitoring emotions last night. Would heads hang? Who would relish the idea of having to rally? He felt like he kept having to provide the energy, and he hopes players will do that soon.

It was still just a two-touchdown deficit heading into the fourth quarter. Wong pointed out that his team scored 14 points and gave up none in the first quarter. It needed to complete those bookends. Timpview's done it before, right?

"You bring that challenge and try to motivate them," Wong said. "But we're not there yet."

Alta started the fourth quarter with the ball, after a punt, and benefitted from a roughing-the-passer call.

A deep pass that should have been a touchdown was dropped. But Alta, rallying from a 4-6 campaign last year in 5A, went after the 4A juggernaut with a 54-yard touchdown run on the next play.

"I asked them to give a really strong practice (Saturday)," Wong said. "Then we need to do it again Monday and go from there."

http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/high-school/football/article_fe2e896e-cafb-11e0-b500-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story