Payson football ends successful year with loss to Olympus in 5A first round
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- Payson football players walk off the field after the 5A first round game against Olympus in Payson on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.
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- Payson defenders prepare for a play during the 5A first round game against Olympus in Payson on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.
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- Payson players and coaches talk things over during an injury timeout during the 5A first round game against Olympus in Payson on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.
The clock struck midnight on Payson’s Cinderella season as the Olympus Titans beat the Lions 24-8 Friday night in the first round of 5A prep football playoffs.
There was certainly an aura of excitement in the Payson community as its high school hosted its first playoff game since the 1970s. But Olympus deflated that enthusiasm pretty quickly thanks to a 60-yard pick six by Weston Olsen. After the successful PAT by Will Rigby, the Titans had a 7-0 lead at the 10:03 mark of the first quarter.
Later in the first quarter, Rigby added a 38-yard field goal to put Olympus out in front 10-0.
The defenses settled in for both teams, but Olympus benefitted from a series of Lion miscues late in the second quarter.
With Payson having the pigskin deep in their own territory, a bad snap resulted in a loss of 15 yards. Payson moved the ball out to their 15-yard line before readying itself to punt the ball away. But another mishandled snap resulted in a desperation incomplete pass where Olympus then took over.
Three plays later, Jackson Godfrey crossed the goal line on a 3-yard run to give Olympus a 17-0 lead at the halftime break.
Olympus got the ball to start the third quarter and went on a time-consuming drive but this was when Payson showed some fight as Tanner Ivers secured an interception near the goal line and returned it out to the 5-yard line.
Unfortunately for the Lions, however, they turned the ball right back over as Olsen’s second interception with a 8-yard return put the pigskin on Payson’s 7-yard line. Two players later Olympus quarterback Chase Moseley spotted running Jackson Godfrey on a crossing route for a score and the Titans surged to a 24-0 lead.
Payson then played its best football of the game as their passing game led by quarterback Kade Edwards went to work, hitting the likes of Jaxton Howard and Cooper Swasey.
The Lions missed a field goal but then got the ball back and at the end of the third quarter Edwards found Swasey on a 14-yard scoring strike. The pair connected again on a two-point conversion to bring Payson within two scores as the final stanza began.
Olympus went on another long drive but Payson’s defense rose up and forced a fourth down. The Titans were on Payson’s 34-yard line and could have attempted a long field goal or tried a punt to pin the Lions deep, but Olympus selected a third option and went for it on fourth-and-nine.
Swasey came up with a huge defensive play as he intercepted Moseley and returned the ball 62 yards to set up the Lions on the Titan 18-yard line.
But Olympus was able to get another interception to end the Lion scoring threat. Payson got the ball back once more on offense but couldn’t score and the Titans ran out the clock getting two first downs.
“We didn’t do ourselves any favors,” said Payson head coach Arnold Ale as he reflected on how the game played out. “We had short fields all night and we had turnovers but we didn’t take advantage. We definitely had our chances.”
Ale felt his team was in the right emotional state and prepared for the game.
“I thought our boys were ready,” Ale said. “Obviously, the pick six really killed us.”
But Ale remains excited about the direction of the Lion program and the returning talent the Lions have. The Lion head coach is also grateful for the seniors and the work they put in for Payson’s first winning season since 1978.
“I’m going to tell the kids, ‘hey man, don’t let one game ruin what we accomplished,'” Ale said. “We had some great games and they should be proud of what they accomplished. We have some talent coming back but right now we need to take care of seniors and have our banquet. Then after Christmas break we get back to work.”
Payson finished its 2022 gridiron campaign with a 7-4 overall record, while Olympus (6-5) will travel to The Jungle to take on a familiar foe in Brighton, who won Region 6 with a 9-1 record earning the No. 5 seed in the 5A tournament.
Score by Quarter
Olympus 10 7 7 0 -24
Payson 0 0 8 0 -8
Scoring Summary
O-Weston Olsen 60 interception return (Will Rigby kick)
O-Rigby 38 FG
O-Jackson Godfrey 3 run (Rigby kick)
O-Godfrey 7 pass from Chase Moseley (Rigby kick)
P-Cooper Swasey 14 pass from Kade Edwards (Swasey pass from Edwards)
