Provo football loses late lead, falls to Box Elder in 5A second round
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- Provo senior quarterback Kyson Condie gets tackled during the 5A second round game against Box Elder in Provo on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
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- Provo senior running back Jamison Harward (left) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the 5A second round game against Box Elder in Provo on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
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- Provo senior quarterback Kyson Condie throws a pass during the 5A second round game against Box Elder in Provo on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
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- Provo defenders make a tackle during the 5A second round game against Box Elder in Provo on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
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- Provo junior defensive back Drew Deucher makes a tackle during the 5A second round game against Box Elder in Provo on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
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- Provo senior Lanitalo Takitaki gets tackled during the 5A second round game against Box Elder in Provo on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
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- Provo head coach Kirk Chambers watches his team in action during the 5A second round game against Box Elder in Provo on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
For the second time this season Box Elder and Provo staged a classic for their gridiron fans. When these two teams met in the second week of the season, Provo won a 44-38 thriller but this time around it was Heartbreak City for the Provo faithful as the Bees pulled off a 24-21 win to advance to the quarterfinals of the 5A football playoffs.
After a scoreless third quarter both teams were deadlocked at 14-14.
Provo had put together a nice drive in the third quarter to get inside the Box Elder 5-yard line but a fumble by Provo quarterback Kyson Condie was recovered in the end zone for a Bee touchback ending that scoring threat.
“Offensively, we’ve got to take care of the ball, especially when we’re going into score,” said Provo head coach Kirk Chambers. “That (turnover) was a big deal.”
Provo’s defense was still stout and got the ball back. Tagai Lesa broke the plane with 11:17 left in the fourth quarter to put Provo ahead, 21-14.
The two teams exchanged punts, but Box Elder drove it close enough for Cole Mortensen to sneak the ball just inside the left upright from 23 yards away to pull the Bees within four points at 21-17 midway through the final stanza.
The Bulldogs now looked to put the game away but a bit of misfortune came Provo’s way giving Box Elder life.
Provo had not committed a penalty the entire game but the one they did was critical in the game’s outcome.
Jamison Harward had broken off a long 60 yard run which would have put the ball inside the Bee 10-yard line, but a holding penalty nullified the long gain. Provo then couldn’t move the ball and were forced to give the ball back to the Bees.
“That was very unfortunate to have that happen, but I thought it wasn’t a big deal, that we’d come back and (still) drive the ball there,” Chambers said. “But then a couple of things went the wrong way, and the next thing you know, we’re punting the ball.”
After a short punt, the Bees got the ball at their own 45-yard line with just over five minutes left in regulation.
Box Elder is more comfortable with running the ball using a variety of counter-type plays. But when the Bees had to air it out, they found some success including a 22-yard diving catch by Jackson McKee that put the ball on the Bulldog 9-yard line. Then two plays later Bee quarterback Ryan Griffin scrambled in from five yards out to give the Bees a 24-21 lead with 2:09 remaining.
On Provo’s next possession, Box Elder’s Mortensen, who plays both wide receiver and defensive back, along with his place kicking duties, secured an interception at Provo’s 30-yard line with 1:36 left on the clock.
Provo used its remaining two timeouts to stop the clock. Then at Provo’s 25-yard line Box Elder went for it on fourth down with 35 second remaining instead of kicking a field goal. The Bee pass fell incomplete, giving Provo one last chance to either tie or win the game.
Provo advanced it out to midfield with just four seconds left, but after a complete pass and a series of laterals, the ball finally ended up on the ground in the hands of Bulldog offensive lineman Strantz Mangisi, who tried to keep the play alive with a lateral of his own, but the desperation play was ruled dead by the officials and Box Elder’s players stormed the field to celebrate its upset win over No. 8 seeded Provo.
In the first half the two teams battled to a 14-14 stalemate as both offenses went on long scoring drives and chewed up much of the clock.
Both teams exchanged scores as Dax Sumko carried the ball over the goal line from four yards out for Box Elder. Provo then answered as Harward powered in from five yards. After a successful point after by Moses Vaenuku, the score was tied at 7-7.
Box Elder’s second drive also paid off as McKee scored on a 6-yard pass from Griffin where again Provo answered with a 3-yard physical scoring run by Lesa.
Then at the end of the half, Provo’s Sosai Hifo secured an interception in the end zone that prevented a Bee score.
Yet in the end, No. 9 seeded Box Elder (9-3) made just enough plays in the fourth quarter and advanced to play No. 1 seed Lehi (11-0).
Provo finishes the season 6-4 after a third straight defeat in the second round of the playoffs.
“We’re super proud of our kids, we love them, but we’re disappointed, every one of us” said Chambers, reflecting on the season and getting that elusive playoff win. “As a program we’re still waiting for that deep push into the playoffs. It’s so unfortunate that they (the returning players) have to wait a whole another year to get another try at it.”
Score by Quarter:
Box Elder 7 7 0 10 -24
Provo 7 7 0 7 -21
B-Dax Sumko 4 run (Cole Mortensen kick)
P-Jamison Harward 2 run (Moses Vaenuku kick)
B-Jackson McKee 6 pass from Ryan Griffin (Mortensen kick)
P-Tagai Lesa 3 run (Vaenuku kick)
P-Lesa 4 run (Vaenuku kick)
B-Mortensen 23 FG
B-Griffin 5 run (Mortensen kick)
