Unknown to hero: Timpview sophomore kicker comes up clutch with game-winning field goal in 5A semifinals
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- Timpview players congratulate sophomore kicker Luke Thornock after he made the game-winning field goal in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview sophomore kicker Luke Thornock kicks the game-winning field goal in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview sophomore quarterback Helaman Casuga (2) celebrates with senior Tei Nacua after they hooked up for a touchdown pass in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior wide receiver Tei Nacua fights for extra yardage in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview and Olympus players go up for a pass in the 5A semifinal game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview sophomore quarterback Helaman Casuga throws a pass in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after kicking the game-winning field goal in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Jacob Rust celebrates with the Thunderbird student section after winning the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview defenders make a tackle in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior receiver Tei Nacua flexes in celebration after winning the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior receiver Tei Nacua converts a critical fourth down in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior receiver Tei Nacua gets upended as he makes a catch in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior receiver Jackson Farrar tries to avoid a tackle in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Grady Gregory recovers a fumble in the end zone in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Quezon Villa celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview sophomore Braxton Wilkerson makes a catch in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview and Olympus captains meet for the coin toss before the 5A semifinal game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Christian Lorcy tries to block a pass in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview sophomore receiver Braxton Wilkerson gets tackled after making a catch in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview players stand for the national anthem before the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview junior Taani Makasini (9) makes a tackle in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview sophomore quarterback Helaman Casuga runs toward the goal line in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview players take the field before the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
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- Timpview senior linebacker Pakaroa Haunga makes a tackle in the 5A semifinal game against Olympus at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023.
Ask any Timpview football fan who they would expect to make a big play with a game on the line and they would almost certainly mention senior wide receiver Tei Nacua and sophomore quarterback Helaman Casuga.
Tei Nacua, the younger brother of former BYU stars Puka Nacua, Kai Nacua and Samson Nacua, comes from a family with an impressive gridiron legacy, while Casuga is one of the rising QB prospects in the nation.
But what about sophomore Luke Thornock?
It’s unlikely anyone in the football world had any idea who he was, since he is a soccer player who only started kicking the pigskin last spring.
When the Thunderbirds found themselves behind in the final second to a tough, talented Olympus team in Thursday’s 5A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, however, they needed that trio — two stars and an unknown — to come up with monumental plays.
Top-seeded Timpview led the No. 5-seeded Titans 19-7 in the fourth quarter and was knocking on the door inside the Olympus 5-yard line, when the Thunderbirds got stuffed on a fourth-and-1.
The underdogs seized on that momentum, driving the length of the field for a touchdown, forcing a three-and-out, and then scoring a stunning double-pass touchdown that covered 49 yards to put the Titans up 20-19 with 2:30 left in the game.
Timpview marched down the field but faced a fourth-and-7 from the Olympus 33-yard line with 1:05 on the clock.
Even though the season was on the line, Casuga stayed composed and fired a strike to Nacua for a 15-yard gain.
“We knew our chemistry and we knew the defense well,” Casuga said. “We had a play called but I checked out of it. I’m super-glad No. 10 (Nacua) was able to get it and get the first down.”
Nacua said that even though that situation appeared pressure-packed, he still felt like his team was ready.
“I had all the confidence in No. 2 (Casuga),” Nacua said. “All we had to do was go out there and execute the play that coach gave us. I’m thankful for Coach calling the right play. All I had to do is just go do my job.”
The Thunderbirds got the ball to the 7-yard line before an incomplete pass stopped the clock with just two seconds left.
And Thornock trotted on the field for the biggest kick of his short football kicking career.
“I had all the belief in the world in him,” Nacua said. “We’ve been doing this every week in practice. I had no doubt at all.”
Even though he didn’t want to, he couldn’t help but think about the extra point that sailed wide left in the first quarter and the 34-yard field goal that missed after hitting the left upright in the third quarter.
Timpview head coach Donny Atuaia said that he intentionally didn’t say anything to Thornock as the field goal unit went out for the final play.
“We left him alone on that kick,” Atuaia said. “He’s just a kid playing football for the first time this year. To be put in that situation, holy smokes. We were just praying for him.”
Casuga said he couldn’t watch. He peeked a little bit at the video board as the teams lined up but he didn’t see the kick itself.
“I walked off the field and was facing the other way,” Casuga said.
Thornock said he thought about what Timpview assistant coach (and soccer coach) Matthew Wheatley had told him.
“He taught me to keep my head down,” Thornock said. “That’s probably why I think that’s why I missed that first PAT was I lifted my head a little early and it went left. I kept telling myself on the last one to keep my head down.”
The snap from sophomore Aisa Galeai was right to senior holder Quezon Villa, who set the ball down as Thornock stepped forward and swung his foot while keeping his head down.
He didn’t see the ball arch high over the leaping arms of the Olympus defenders — and right through the uprights to give the Thunderbirds the dramatic 22-20 win.
“The biggest emotion was relief,” Atuaia said. “For the players, I think there was a lot of excitement but for me as a coach there was relief that we lived to play another day.”
Casuga said hearing the crowd cheering told him all he needed to know.
“I was super-glad that he made it and he was able to experience that. You can’t get better than just winning the game for the team as a kicker, so I’m super-proud of Luke.”
The Timpview sideline exploded in celebration while dejected Titan players collapsed or slowly walked off the field. Naturally, the biggest mob of Thunderbirds was around Thornock, who had tears of joy and relief.
“This was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” Thornock said. “I’m shocked. I felt like I was like in a fever dream, that this was not real. Everyone was surrounding me, going crazy. I couldn’t breath. I’ve never felt more relief than when it went through.”
It was a fitting end to a nail-biting high school football game that had some of everything.
Both teams had fumbles inside the 5-yard line that prevented the other team from scoring. Timpview dominated statistically (539 total yards to just 329 for Olympus) but the Thunderbirds struggled with penalties (15 for 154 yards).
“There were a lot of ups and downs,” Casuga said. “I’m just glad we were able to come back and make the plays we needed to in the fourth quarter.”
Timpview would’ve loved to have it have been an easier ending, but credited Olympus for playing hard and pushing the T’Birds to the very end.
“It was a roller coaster,” Atuaia said. “They came up with big plays. We have our two-minute drill in practice and it ended up working out for us today. I attribute that to the way we practice.”
That set up Thornock up for his big kick. When asked if the pressure of the moment made him have second thoughts about coming out for football, he said, “I definitely would’ve if I had missed. But I made, so I’m glad I come out.”
In the end Timpview did just enough to get another shot at a state championship.
“We’ve got another story to finish next week,” Nacua said.
The Thunderbirds will face Np. 11-seed Bountiful, who played a thriller of their own against No. 11-seed Alta in the other 5A semifinal. The Redhawks scored on a TD pass with 1:02 left in the game, then held on to defeat the Hawks, 20-19.
Timpview and Bountiful will play for the 5A title at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
