Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

The Timpview football team finally got a “home” game, though it was played on the campus of their archrival Provo High School. It was even Homecoming to boot, and the Thunderbirds played well, defeating Orem 41-21 Thursday night.

As the construction continues at the Timpview campus for a second year, the Thunderbird players and coaches seem completely unfazed about having to get on a bus for all of their games.

“I don’t know anything different,” said Timpview head coach Donny Atuaia, who is just in his second year at the helm of the Thunderbird program. “And it’s the same for them (the players).”

One of those players that has never actually played a home game on the Timpview campus is sophomore quarterback Helaman Casuga. But wherever the Thunderbird signal caller competes, his athleticism can truly change the tenor of the game.

Casuga accounted for five of the six Timpview touchdowns as he ran for one score and tossed for another five.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

“For this early in the season, I have a lot more confidence,” said Casuga “I’m just able to make reads that I’m more comfortable in.”

On Orem’s first possession, Taani Makasini’s big hit forced a fumble which Timpview recovered on the Tiger 21 yard-line. Two plays later Casuga ran it in from 20 yards out to give the Thunderbirds a 7-0 lead.

Then the defenses of both teams then dominated the action for much of the first half before Orem’s Mack Hixon scored on a 1-yard run with 6:48 remaining in the second quarter.

The scoring drive was set up by a spectacular 36-yard catch by Asher Young that brought the ball into Timpview territory at the 21-yard line. On the next play Hixson scampered for 20 yards for another Tiger first down before scoring two plays later to knot the score at 7-7.

But this is when Casuga and Timpview’s offense came to life.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

Trinity To’a scored on an 18-yard run on Timpview’s next possession to give the Thunderbirds a 14-7 lead. But Timpview first had to convert a long third down and Casuga found Quezon Villa to keep the Thunderbird drive alive.

Then after forcing Orem to punt on its next possession, Casuga connected with Jaron Pula on a 48-yard strike to give Timpview a 21-7 halftime lead.

The Thunderbirds then took control of the game early in the third quarter as Casuga spotted Pula for another score, this time covering 33 yards. After forcing another Orem punt, Casuga found fellow sophomore Braxton Wilkerson on an 18-yard scoring strike, and after Luke Thornock’s successful extra point, the Thunderbirds led 35-7.

Though Casuga had five touchdown passes, he used his legs quite a bit to move the chains. This aspect of Casuga’s game was not lost on Atuaia.

“Helaman did a lot more running tonight to finally find his rhythm,” the Thunderbird head coach said.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

Casuga agreed that his ability to run the ball well helps his passing game.

“I think for me, running the ball, turns the switch on to wake up mentally,” Casuga said.

Orem did score two more times as its own sophomore quarterback Cole Engemann hooked up with Young late in the third quarter to trim Timpview’s lead to 35-14. Then in the final stanza Hixson crossed the goal line for a second time.

Sandwiched in between these Tiger scores was Pula’s third touchdown of the night on a 33-yard connection with Casuga. Orem did block the extra point to keep Timpview’s final tally at 41 points.

Timpview (4-2, 2-0) will go on the road again to play at Cedar Valley, while Orem (2-4, 1-1) will visit Maple Mountain for its next Region 7 contest. Both games will be Friday night at 7 p.m.

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