Provo passes first 4A challenge with solid win over Green Canyon
-
- Provo running back Malik Filimoeatu rushes for a touchdown in the first half of a game against Green Canyon on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Provo.
-
- Led by Brexton Hunter, Provo’s defense stops the ball carrier in the second half of a game against Green Canyon on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Provo.
-
- Provo quarterback Gehrig Orchard hands the ball off to runningback Lincoln Dansie in the first half of a game against Green Canyon on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Provo.
-
- Provo’s Ronnie Wright runs with the ball in the first half of a game against Green Canyon on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Provo.
-
- Provo’s Ronnie Wright makes a catch in the first half of a game against Green Canyon on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Provo.
Provo High deliberately assembled a nonconference football schedule that pitted itself against the other top teams 4A has to offer.
The Bulldogs’ first performance against such a challenger Friday suggested the Region 8 favorites size up quite well on a statewide level.
Provo won 27-14 over a strong Green Canyon program from the Cache Valley, in a game that would have been further lopsided if not for a staggered finish from the hosting Bulldogs.
“Always in the first game you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know what you are. You don’t know what they are,” Provo coach Kirk Chambers said. “There’s a reason why we schedule teams from the north and south, so we can kind of gauge ourselves, where we are in the state, and so this is a good indicator.”
The challenge only rises next week when the Provo travels south to face defending champions Crimson Cliffs, though what the Bulldogs did Friday offered plenty to build upon, particularly with its defensive effort.
Provo shut out Green Canyon for the better part of three quarters as it built a 20-0 lead, halting promising Wolves drives with multiple fourth down stops, beginning in the first quarter when the Bulldogs snuffed out a fourth-and-goal from the 4.
In the second half, the Wolves grabbed some brief momentum behind backup quarterback Carter Perry with a touchdown to cut the score to 20-7, followed by a recovered fumble on the ensuing kick return. But the Bulldogs’ defense, aided by offensive penalties, drove Green Canyon back from inside the 10-yard line to a turnover on downs at 4th-and-40.
The effort was capped in the fourth quarter, when, following another Provo turnover in Green Canyon territory, Teave Brown delivered a pair of sacks and kept the game at a two-score distance.
“Our defense did an outstanding job getting off the field. Holy cow,” Chambers said. “Some of those sacks were really big at the end too, putting them in a really tough position and just keeping scores off the board.”
The defense forced four turnovers on downs, a missed field goal and added an interception by Justice Tela, while giving up a pair of rushing touchdowns from Perry.
Chambers was pleased with the efforts of his front seven, mentioning Brown and Griffin DeMartini.
“Usually you’d like to double team one of those ends,” he said, “but go ahead and pick one of them, because the other one’s gonna most likely win. … We do have to keep lanes closed. Their quarterback did score multiple times, that’s one thing we have to work on.”
On the offensive side for Provo, quarterback Gehrig Orchard started his senior season where he left off, going 10-of-17 passing for 237 yards, a 96-yard touchdown, 21-yard touchdown throw and an interception, while adding a wrinkle to his game when he churned out a 60-yard run on the game’s opening play.
“We were really excited that first play where he pulled it and ran for about 60 yards,” Chambers said. “Because that’s what he’s been improving on, is running the ball. As a quarterback last year, he wouldn’t really run the ball as well. So when we saw that, I’m like, Okay, this is Gehrig 2.0 right here. He’s becoming more of a complete quarterback.”
Provo running back Malik Filimoeatu added a 2-yard rushing touchdown in the first half.
The Bulldogs leaned heavily on the run game in the second half to churn the clock, and, boosted by the defense’s 4th-down stops, crossed off a win over a northern foe. Provo now sets its sights on the Mustangs to the south.
“As far as our expectations, we’re not there yet,” Chambers said. “But we’ll always take the win and go to work.”
