The 2A state championship game started under favorable conditions, but a snow storm at halftime made the Alta High School field look more like the Alta Ski area.
The Broncos put together a decisive scoring drive in the second quarter to gain the lead. They held on through thick and thin in the second half to shut out South Summit and clinch the title.
It was the inspired play of the Bronco defense that made the difference, particularly in the second half, when South Summit was unable to put together any drives.
In the second half, the Broncos put together a number of lengthy drives that sputtered before adding points to the board but not until after they consumed time on the clock.
The Broncos took advantage of turnovers by the Wildcats and a few key defensive stops of their own to claim the win.
South Summit dominated in the early going, driving down the field twice in the first quarter. A Stettler Shumway fumble recovery and a missed field goal attempt kept South Summit off the score board.
The San Juan offense couldn’t get going, but ironically, a 65-yard punt by Stettler Shumway eliminated South Summit’s favorable field position and put the Wildcats in a hole early in the second quarter.
A Bronco defensive stand and Wildcat punt gave San Juan the ball at midfield. Two runs by Stettler Shumway moved San Juan into Wildcat territory.
On two successive plays, Bronco quarterback Cameron Shumway completed passes to Benny Royer. The second pass was into the end zone for a Bronco touchdown. The TD and extra point were the only scores of the game.
The remainder of the game featured the Bronco defense. Many of the Broncos who had been featured on the offensive side of the ball throughout the season were stalwarts on the defensive side of the ball during the championship game. They include Jace Holliday, Cameron Shumway, Benny Royer, Stettler Shumway, Peyton Black, AJ Slavens, Nache Nielson, and Jimmy Tate.
Broncos claim fifth title An interview with San Juan Bronco Coach Monty Lee
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