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Provo sophomore running back Tagai Lesa scores a touchdown during the nonregion game against Cedar Valley in Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Provo tacklers bring down a Cedar Valley runner during the nonregion game at Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Cedar Valley senior linebacker Tanner Evans runs the ball upfield after recovering a fumble during the nonregion game at Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Cedar Valley junior wide receiver Noah Burnham gets tackled after a big catch during the nonregion game at Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Provo senior quarterback Jace Welsch throws a pass during the nonregion game against Cedar Valley in Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Provo sophomore wide receiver Drew Deucher catches a pass during the nonregion game against Cedar Valley in Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Provo tacklers bring down a Cedar Valley runner during the nonregion game at Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Provo senior quarterback Jace Welsch (5) gets congratulated after scoring a TD during the nonregion game against Cedar Valley in Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Cedar Valley senior running back/quarterback Easton Schank runs the ball during the nonregion game at Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Cedar Valley sophomore running back Joe Lomu scores a touchdown during the nonregion game at Provo on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Embrace the moment.

That wasn’t necessarily easy for Provo senior quarterback Jace Welsch midway through the third quarter of Friday’s nonregion home game against Cedar Valley.

The Aviators had cut the Bulldog lead to just seven points and then, as Welsch was trying to make a play, had knocked the ball away from him and recovered it.

That put Cedar Valley in position to tie the game — except the Provo defense came up big instead.

On the very next play, the Bulldogs ripped the ball away from an Aviator running back and got it back in Welsch’s hands.

“It’s just so relieving, knowing that your defense has your back at all times,” Welsch said. “They stepped up big time.”

Welsch made the most of the opportunity, leading his team down the field for a touchdown and putting Provo in position to get the 41-20 win over Cedar Valley.

“We’re proud of the effort,” Bulldog head coach Kirk Chambers said. “We’re down a few guys with injuries but we had guys step up and play big for us. I thought Jace managed the game really well and the defense stepped up for us again. Logalima Lesa and Danial Asisi were monsters back there.”

Turnovers played a big part in the game — as did turnovers that were avoided:

• The Aviators had a chance to recover a fumble on Provo’s opening drive, but the Bulldogs kept possession. The home team eventually got a 1-yard TD dive by Welsch.
• After a missed Cedar Valley field goal, Provo hit a deep strike that nearly got to the goal line — only to have the Aviators strip the ball and take it back the other direction. Cedar Valley turned that turnover into a 3-yard TD run by junior So’i Saaga to tie the game.
• After the exchange of fumbles in the third quarter, Welsch had an exchange with a running back result in the ball hitting the turf. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, it bounced right back into Welsch’s hands and he got down near the goal line instead of giving it back to the Aviators.
• With Provo leading by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Welsch had a pass batted in the air by Cedar Valley junior Bryan Vogl. The Aviator had a chance at snagging it with a lot of green grass in front of him, but couldn’t get the handle. The Bulldogs ended up putting the game out of reach with a final touchdown instead.

Welsch explained that the key for him to maintain his focus even with the wild momentum swings was to not look backward and embrace the moment.

“You’ve always got to focus on the next play,” Welsch said. “If a pick happens, if a touchdown happens, if anything happens, it’s always about the next play.”

Cedar Valley head coach Weston Zabriskie explained that his team has a theme every week and “embrace the moment” was the theme for this game.

“The thing we talked about tonight and moving into next week is to take advantage of the moments that come up,” Zabriskie said. “If it’s your chance and all you can do is return kicks, you do it to the best of your ability. If you’re on the punt return team, you do all you can for the punt return team. Those are things to build on with the way they battled tonight and seeing kids step up. We’ve got great players who can do what they need to.”

Cedar Valley had to rally when two starters — senior quarterback Payton Weber and senior offensive lineman Cole Linford — have to leave with injuries. The Aviators turned to senior Easton Schank to lead the team and he made some great plays.

The visitors got a pair of TD runs from sophomore running back Joe Lomu, while Welsch had two rushing TDs and two passing TDs for Provo. Bulldog sophomore running back Tagai Lesa also scored twice.

Both teams feel like there were things to build on from the game.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Chambers said. “There was a time when we felt like they were kind of marching down the field a little bit on us, so we’ve got some work to do there. We also need to get healthy and we’d like to establish the run game a little bit earlier.”

Zabriskie said: “For two weeks in a row, I think turnovers are really what killed us. Tonight you take a couple those turnovers away and we’re right there as well. But we’re in a good spot going into region and we’ve got a team that can really compete.”

Provo (3-0) next plays at Viewmont on Sept. 3 while Cedar Valley (1-2) starts Region 7 action at Payson.

Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

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