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Springville running back Seth Rigtrup scores a touchdown during the nonregion game against Bountiful in Springville on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Marcia Harris, Herald correspondent)

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Springville running back Seth Rigtrup runs the ball during the nonregion game against Bountiful in Springville on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Marcia Harris, Herald correspondent)

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Springville receiver Cole Clement catches a pass during the nonregion game against Bountiful in Springville on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (Marcia Harris, Herald correspondent)

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Over the decades, the Springville Red Devil football program has been known for its old-school, hard-nosed, physical brand of football.

The 2021 team is no different and against another program that has also prided itself over the years in playing a physical style of football, Springville was a bit tougher, or better, Friday night as it downed visiting Bountiful, 19-10.

“This was a good high school football game,” Springville head coach Willy Child said. “Bountiful is a very physical team just like us. This was a good test and the boys played well.”

Fourth-down conversions played a big part of Springville’s first score as the Red Devils converted two of them. After a successful quarterback sneak that moved the chains by mere inches, Cole Clement’s 27-yard fourth-down catch set up Seth Rigtrup’s first touchdown of the night, a 5-yard scamper to pay dirt.

However, the point after was blocked and Springville led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.

In the first half, Springville struggled a bit with turnovers as the Red Devils coughed up the ball three times.

But the defense played well, only allowing Bountiful to score one touchdown as Jacob Brooks hauled in a 21-yard reception from Max Barker. After Isaac Jackson’s successful extra point, the Red Hawks led at halftime, 7-6.

Bountiful extended its lead thanks to a 40-yard field goal late in the third quarter by Jackson. Now leading 10-6, the Red Hawks forced the Red Devils to score a touchdown to have any hopes of victory.

The Red Devil offense stepped up in the final stanza scoring 13 points to win the game and move to 3-0 on the season.

Springville’s first score in the fourth quarter was a Bradey Mortensen 31-yard touchdown reception from senior quarterback Kade DeLlamas. It looked like an innocuous out route that would move the chains but the senior broke a tackle and took it to the house down the enemy sideline. The extra point by Zack Antonio was true and put the Red Devils ahead 13-10 with just over nine minutes left in the contest.

The Red Devil defense played huge with a stop and then Rigtrup took over and scored on a 16-yard run with just under two minutes remaining. Though the point after was blocked, Springville led by nine points and the Red Hawks had to score twice to win the game.

Bountiful botched the kickoff return resulting in bad field position. Then the Red Devil defense put the finishing touches on the game as Porter Small registered a sack and Clement came through with an interception that completely iced the game.

“The whole team was awesome,” Clement said. “I may have had that pick, but Bradey (Mortensen) had that touchdown and Seth (Rigtrup) was breaking a ton of tackles.”

The Springville wide receiver and defensive back, like his head coach, had nothing but respect for Bountiful.

“They’re the best team we’ve played so far,” Clement said. “We knew it was going to be like that. They’ve always been physical. And we’re physical.”

The undefeated Red Devils will travel to Riverton (2-1) next week. Meanwhile, Bountiful (1-1) will host Skyline, a team Springville defeated 38-6 in the week previous.

Notes: Bountiful is one of several teams that had a game lost due to COVID-19 complications. The Red Hawks were supposed to play Highland in Week 1 but the game was canceled.

Utah County teams American Fork and Lone Peak also had games canceled this week as the Cavemen were supposed to play West and the Knights were up against East. All three Salt Lake School District schools now have had games canceled due to COVID-19.

Last school year, Bountiful decided to change its mascot from the Braves to the Red Hawks.

Besides scoring two touchdowns, Rigtrup had an interception for the Red Devils. There were five total turnovers in the contest but both teams played penalty free until late in the second quarter.

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