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Timpview quarterback Helaman Casuga looks for a receiver against Orem in a 5A football second round playoff game on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's River Matthews, right, tips away a pass intended for Timpview's Quezon Villa during a 5A football second round playoff game on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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From left, Timpview receivers Braxton Wilkerson, Tai Nacua and Kennan Pula celebrate a touchdown during a 5A football second round playoff game against Orem on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem quarterback Lance Reynolds III, right, is consoled by his father, Tigers head coach Lance Reynolds Jr., after a 5A state football playoff loss to Timpview on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Mack Hixson (19) is congratulated by a teammate after scoring a touchdown in a 5A football state playoff game against Timpview on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Timpview's Taaniela Makasini, right, tries to pick up an Orem fumble in a 5A state football playoff game on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Boston Sallenback, left, is tackled during a 5A state football playoff game against Timpview on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Feleti Iongi (1) is tackled by a host of Timpview players in a 5A state football playoff game on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem team captains (from left), Aidan Brown, River Matthews, Ioane Prescott and Lance Reynolds III walk to midfield for the coin toss before a 5A state playoff football game against Timpview on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Timpview football team takes the field before a 5A state football playoff game against Orem on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Timpview's Lukas Thornock (37) kicks off to start a 5A state football playoff game against Orem on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Timpview team captains (from left), Haven Halladay, Isaiah Vaea, Tei Nacua and Paka Haunga, walk together to the middle of the field for the coin toss before a 5A playoff game against Orem on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

Going for it on fourth down can be the ultimate “high risk, high reward” moment in a football game.

In Friday’s 5A second round playoff game between No. 1 seed Timpview and No. 17 Orem, both teams faced critical fourth downs in the second half.

Laying it all out on the line on fourth down has consequences.

T-Birds quarterback Helaman Casuga, who threw four first-half touchdown passes, was successful on his fourth-down conversion in the fourth quarter, which led to what turned out to be the clinching touchdown for the T-Birds in a 35-28 victory at the old Provo High School field.

“We were worried about a lot of things,” Timpview coach Donnie Atuaia said. “Orem, they have some studs over there. We had a lot of time to prepare for them but Lance Reynolds and their staff did a heck of a job. We’re just grateful that we were able to come out with a victory. The guys showed some grit with the pressure that we felt at the end of the game.”

Orem’s moment of truth came early in the fourth quarter trailing 28-21. The Tigers opted for a fake punt on fourth-and-10 from their own 23-yard line but the pass fell incomplete, with the Orem sideline clamoring for a pass interference call that didn’t come. Timpview missed a field goal on its ensuing possession but gained precious field position for its next drive.

The T-Birds had been punting from shotgun formation all game long and faced a fourth-and-5 from the Orem 41 midway through the fourth quarter. After a time out, Casuga took the snap and raced right up the middle on a quarterback draw for a first down, keeping the drive alive.

“It was kind of a risk we needed to take,” Casuga said. “I’m glad we took it because I was able to just take the ball into my own hands and make it happen. It turned out positive and that’s just a part of me that no one really has seen, just bringing out the dog and getting the team win. And I’m super grateful for that.”

After a 26-yard strike on a slant from Casuga to Keenan Pula, Quezon Villa found his way into the end zone on a 6-yard run for a 35-21 Timpview lead with 6:20 remaining in the game.

Orem wasn’t done yet. Asher Young’s tremendous catch of a Lance Reynolds III pass for 35 yards set up a 2-yard Mack Hixson scoring run to trim the deficit to 35-28 with four minutes remaining.

The Tigers got the ball back with 2:14 to play when Feleti Iongi picked off a Casuga pass near midfield. Just two plays later, Timpview’s Nelsoni Tu’ua intercepted a Reynolds pass at the Timpview 20 with 1:36 remaining and the T-Birds knelt down three times to end the game.

Timpview, which hadn’t played in nearly three weeks due to its regular season schedule and a bye in the first round of the playoffs, came out on fire. Casuga carved up the Orem defense with three touchdown passes to sophomore Keenan Pula and one to Tai Nacua, while the Tigers managed a 1-yard Hixson touchdown run in the second quarter and trailed 28-7 at the half.

Orem surprised Timpview by recovering an onside kick to start the second half. Iongi took a swing pass from Reynolds and juked his was into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown to make the score 28-14.

On Timpview’s next possession, Orem’s Aidan Brown and Tui Tasini combined for a tackle for loss to force a punt. The Tigers struck quickly after getting the ball back, Reynolds lofting a perfect strike to Kaue Akana down the sideline for an 85-yard touchdown to close to within 28-21 midway through the third quarter, setting up the tense fourth period.

During construction of its new high school, Timpview has been playing its home games at Provo High and took on Orem at the old Provo High site since the Bulldogs also had a playoff game Friday night.

“It’s good because I think we just have a chip on the shoulder,” Casuga said. “It just gives us the mindset that we’re in their territory, so let’s show them who we are. Home games are great because of close friends and family but anytime it’s an away game, my mindset is different.”

Timpview (8-2) will host No. 8 Brighton (8-3) next Friday in the 5A quarterfinals. The Bengals blitzed No. 9 Woods Cross 44-7 in the second round.

Orem 0 7 14 7 – 28

Timpview 14 14 0 7 – 35

TV-Nacua 13 pass from Casuga (Thornock kick)

TV-K. Pula 42 pass from Casuga (Thornock kick)

TV-K. Pula 20 pass from Casuga (Thornock kick)

O-Hixon 1 run (Ioni kick)

TV-Pula 12 pass from Casuga (Thornock kick)

O-Ioni 5 pass from Reynolds (Iongi kick)

O-Akana 85 pass from Reynolds (Iongi kick)

TV-Villa 1 run (Thornock kick)

O-Hixson 2 run (Iongi kick)