Valeti TD gets Springville football past Orem
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- Springville senior running back Tevita Valeti runs the ball up the field during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville senior running back Tevita Valeti runs the ball up the field during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- A Springville ball carrier is tackled during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville sophomore quarterback Lisiate Valeti runs the ball up the field during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springille and Orem players scramble for a loose ball during the Region 7 game in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville senior running back Tevita Valeti runs the ball up the field during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville sophomore quarterback Lisiate Valeti runs the ball up the field during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville senior Kinikinilau Fonohema tries to tackle Orem senior Mack Hixson during the Region 7 game in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville senior running back Tevita Valeti runs the ball up the field during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville players make a tackle during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville linemen block during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville kicker Lukas Franks kicks the ball during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville’s Luke Nadauld (44) celebrates after making a big play during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville defenders keep Orem wide receiver Asher Young from hanging on to the football during the Region 7 game in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
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- Springville linemen block on a kick attempt during the Region 7 game against Orem in Springville on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.
With the game on the line, there was little secret who was going to get the ball for the Springville Red Devils.
Tevita Valeti is one of the state leaders in rushing touchdowns, carries and yards and the senior running back put his team on his back as Springville topped Orem 28-21 in 5A Region 7 gridiron action Friday night on Springville’s Senior Night.
But while Valeti gets much of the glory and accolades, he is quick to give credit to his offensive line.
“I have to say it was the lineman (who made his successes possible),” said Valeti. “They always pull out every game. They block for me, that’s how I get my yards, my touchdowns, everything.”
Though Orem came into the game with a 3-5 record, Springville head coach Dave Valeti — who is Tevita Valeti’s uncle — knew the Tigers would be a tougher foe to vanquish than their record indicated.
“Their record doesn’t show how good they are,” said Dave Valeti. “They have a couple guys back (from injury) and we knew it would be a dogfight, a four-quarter war and we preached that.”
Valeti was also complimentary of his nephew who has been a huge bulk of the Springville offense all year long and the offensive line.
“He ran the ball hard. We know what our strengths are,” Dave Valeti said. “Our offensive line is the heartbeat of the team and we rely on our seniors a lot. Running the ball is the best defender we have.”
On the first play of the fourth quarter Orem’s Feliti Iongi scored on a 12-yard scamper and then kicked the extra point to tie up the score at 21-21.
Then midway through the final stanza Orem’s defense rose up and stopped Springville on four downs at their own 35-yard line. Then on the very next play Mack Hixon ripped off a 50 yard run to put the Tigers in the red zone on Springville’s 15-yard line.
But this is when things started to unravel for Orem as the Tigers turned the ball over when an attempted wide receiver screen was ruled a lateral and then Springville recovered it.
Springville moved the ball to midfield thanks to a spectacular catch by Luke Nadauld. But Orem’s defense rose up again and forced the Red Devils to punt.
This is where disaster hit Orem again as the Tigers muffed the punt and Springville’s Max Harris pounced on the pigskin at the Tiger 13-yard line.
Then it was Valeti time as his hard running gave Springville a first down at the 3-yard line. On the very next play Valeti lined up as the quarterback in the Wildcat formation and took the direct snap and plowed into the end zone for his third score of the game to give Springville a 28-21 lead with 2:54 remaining after Lukas Franks’ successful extra point.
The Springville head coach also praised the work of the special teams and the work of its coach Willy Child, who was also the head coach before Valeti took over the program.
“Special teams had a huge part (in this victory) and Coach Child had those boys ready,” said Dave Valeti.
After Springville’s go-ahead score, Orem was able to move the ball up to midfield but then Springville’s Reid Deede secured an interception that ended the Tiger threat. With just 1:12 left, Springville downed the ball three times to get the hard-fought victory.
The game initially looked like it might be a blowout as Springville scored the game’s first 14 points. Tevita Valeti scored on two touchdown runs of five yards to give the Red Devils a 14-0 lead after one quarter of play.
Orem showed some fight and quarterback Branko Hansell-Fotu found Asher Young on a 15-yard strike to pull Orem within a touchdown before halftime.
Springville scored first in the second half when Nadauld blocked an Orem punt which set up a 7-yard run by sophomore quarterback Lisiate Valeti, Tevita’s younger brother.
Orem struck back and scored on a 3-yard Hansell-Fotu run to make the score 21-14 for Springville going into the final quarter setting up a dramatic final stanza where two critical Tiger turnovers proved to be the difference.
Springville (7-2, 4-1) will actually conclude its regular season when it travels to Park City (9-0) for a game on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Orem will get a last chance for a win in the regular season when it hosts 4A Ridgeline (8-1) with the game set to be played at 7 p.m on Wednesday night.
Score by Quarter:
Orem 0 7 7 7 -21
SV 14 0 7 7 -28
Scoring Summary:
SV-Tevita Valeti 5 run (Lukas Franks kick)
SV-Tevita Valeti 5 run (Franks kick)
O-Asher Young 15 pass from Branko Hansell-Fotu (Feliti Iongi kick)
SV-Lisiate Valeti 7 run (Franks kick)
O-Hansell-Fotu 3 run (Iongi kick)
O-Iongi 12 run (Iongi kick)
SV-Tevita Valeti 3 run (Franks kick)
