T’Bird title time: Timpview football makes big plays to beat Bountiful in 5A state championship
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- Timpview players celebrate after winning the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview defenders make a big fourth-down stop at the goal line during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after getting a late fourth-down stop during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after winning the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview sophomore quarterback Helaman Casuga throws a pass during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior wide receiver Tei Nacua makes a catch during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview pose for a photo after winning the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Isaiah Vaea (1) and junior Matthias Lesa celebrate after winning the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players take the field before the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview junior Matthias Lesa celebrates getting a sack during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview defenders make a tackle during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Quezon Villa runs the ball during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after getting a late fourth-down stop during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players prepare before the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after winning the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior running back Tru To’a runs the ball up the field during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview defenders make a tackle during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview head coach Donny Atuaia (center) talks to his team during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview defenders rush the quarterback during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Isaiah Vaea tackles Bountiful running back Siaki Vekitoa during the 5A state championship game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after winning the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after getting a late fourth-down stop during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Jackson Farrar runs the ball up the field during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior wide receiver Tei Nacua makes a catch during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after getting a fourth-down stop during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players celebrate after winning the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview players head to the locker room before the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview head coach Donny Atuaia talks to his team before the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior Marley Filiaga celebrates after winning the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- TImpview players watch as the chains show they got a key fourth-down stop during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
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- Timpview senior wide receiver Tei Nacua tries to make a catch during the 5A state championship game against Bountiful at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023.
Victory on the biggest stage of high school football often comes down to making the most of opportunities.
Common sense would say a team is more likely to convert on fourth-and-short than on third-and-15, but in the first half of Friday’s 5A state championship game between Timpview and Bountiful, the Thunderbirds overcame the odds.
Twice the Timpview offense converted the long-yardage play and twice the Thunderbird defense stopped the Redhawks on fourth down, allowing the top seed to build a solid lead then survive a late rally to get the 23-15 win over No. 10-seeded Bountiful.
Timpview faced a third-and-15 from the Redhawk 32-yard line on its opening drive of the game, but Thunderbird sophomore quarterback Helaman Casuga eschewed trying to get the ball to the sticks and went for it all. His pass to senior wide receiver Quezon Villa was right on target for a 32-yard TD that put Timpview in front for good.
Then it was the T’Bird defense’s turn to come up big.
Bountiful mixed runs and passes to churn out a long drive but the Redhawks faced a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. The underdogs decided to go for it but Redhawk sophomore running back Siaki Fekitoa was met by a trio of Timpview defenders a yard short of the goal line, giving the Thunderbirds the ball back and a big shot of momentum.
The Timpview offense made the most of it, moving back into Bountiful territory — only to face another third-and-15 from the Redhawk 29-yard line.
While this time the Thunderbirds didn’t get in the end zone, Casuga and senior receiver Jackson Farrar only got 22 yards on the conversion.
It eventually set up a 1-yard power run for senior running back Tru To’a to push Timpview’s lead to 13-0.
The Thunderbird defense was called on again in the second and third quarters to make big fourth down stops when Bountiful was threatening to narrow the gap.
The first was from the Timpview 15-yard line, while the second was from the Thunderbird 7-yard line. Both plays resulted in incomplete passes as the Timpview defense held.
Timpview added a 35-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Luke Thornock to enjoy a 16-0 lead at halftime and appeared poised to go up even more after stopping a Redhawk fake punt attempt and getting great field position at the Bountiful 29-yard line.
But after an incompletion that was nearly intercepted, Casuga had a short pass tipped and picked off by Redhawk junior defensive lineman Caleb Norris.
Bountiful pounced on the change of momentum, getting four straight runs of 10 yards or more. It was capped by a big 32-yard scoring run by Fekitoa.
The Redhawks went for the 2-point conversion and the pass was good, making it a one-score game at 16-8.
It was the first sign from Bountiful that the Redhawks had a chance to rally, so the Thunderbird offense needed to answer.
And answer it did.
Sparked by a solid kickoff return from senior Tei Nacua, Timpview roared back down the field behind tough running from To’a.
He got the Thunderbirds in range with a trio of big runs, then Casuga found sophomore wide receiver Jaron Pula at the goal line for an 8-yard TD to push the lead back to double digits.
Timpview would need an interception from senior Grady Gregory near the goal line and a fourth-down stop early in the fourth quarter to stop two other Redhawk drives, but there was still time for some late drama.
Bountiful scored a touchdown to narrow the deficit to eight points, then stopped Timpview and forced a punt.
The Thunderbird offense wasn’t able to get a first down and Timpview gave the Redhawks the ball back with just over a minute left, needing to go 66 yards to have a chance to tie.
Bountiful’s first three passes were incomplete, but on fourth-and-10 Redhawk quarterback Emerson Geilman got the ball to senior Faletau Satuala on a crossing route.
Satuala turned the ball up field and tried to get to the line to gain, only to be met by Thunderbird junior Taani Makasini near the sticks. The ball was spotted and both teams waited anxiously as the chains were stretched.
It was Timpview how got to celebrate as the ball was a foot or two short, ending the last Bountiful comeback hope.
In the end, the Thunderbirds did just enough to get the win.
It is the 12th state championship in Timpview history but the first since the Thunderbirds won seven in nine years from 2006-14. The Thunderbirds had come close in recent seasons, losing in the championship game a couple of times including the double-overtime thriller they lost to Lehi in 2022.
This year, however, it was Timpview’s turn once again.
For more details and reaction from the Thunderbird state championship victory, check out Monday’s Daily Herald sports section or go to http://HeraldExtra.com.
