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Provo players stand for a moment of silence in remembrance of Alycia Weir before the Region 8 game against Timpanogos at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Weir died in a car accident earlier in the week.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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A Provo cheerleader's box stands empty and decorated in remembrance of Alycia Weir before the Region 8 game against Timpanogos at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Weir died in a car accident earlier in the week.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo fans stand and wipe away tears during a moment of silence in remembrance of Alycia Weir before the Region 8 game against Timpanogos at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Weir died in a car accident earlier in the week.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo senior receiver Kyle Larsen goes high over the Timpanogos defenders to catch a pass during the Region 8 game at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos receiver Cache McCann (10) cuts in front of a Provo defender to catch a touchdown pass during the Region 8 game at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo junior running back Sosaia Hifo gets tackled by Timpanogos senior Tage Litster during the Region 8 game at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos senior wide receiver Luke Livingston tries to make a catch on the sideline during the Region 8 game at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo senior running back Feitagai Lesa bulls into the end zone during the Region 8 game against Timpanogos at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos senior quarterback Chase Riggs throws a pass during the Region 8 game at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos defenders tackle a Provo running back during the Region 8 game at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo defenders upend Timpanogos senior tight end Josh Graf during the Region 8 game at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo junior quarterback Soakai Aston throws a pass during the Region 8 game against Timpanogos at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos receivers and Provo defenders collide in the end zone as the ball falls incomplete during the Region 8 game at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Provo head coach Kirk Chambers watches his team during the Region 8 game against Timpanogos at Provo on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

A Homecoming football game usually brings added excitement with various festivities and Provo High was no exception on Friday night. Bulldog senior safety/wide receiver Kyle Larsen was even recognized at halftime as 2023 Homecoming King.

But there was also a somber side to the evening as the school and community mourned the loss of one of their own.

Alycia Weir died in a car accident earlier this week and Provo honored her memory and her family with a special moment of silence before the game.

Her dad is on the football staff and since Weir was also involved in cheerleading, a special box in the middle of the cheer squad on the sideline was unoccupied and instead decorated with flowers, photos and pom-poms.

“We knew it was bad,” Bulldog head coach Kirk Chambers said. “We are just happy that we were able to share this evening with them. They were gracious enough to allow our community to honor them the way that we wanted to. They wanted to celebrate Alycia. They were doing it for her. There has been a lot of love and a lot of emotions this week.”

Although there were all those emotions on the minds of the Provo players and coaches, the Bulldogs still had a game to play against a very good Timpanogos squad.

“Honoring them after what happened was really sweet,” Larsen said. “It was great to get the whole community together to support them. It was really hard and I felt it.”

In the first quarter, the Timberwolves demonstrated just how good they were, slicing up the Provo defense twice including recovering a fumble to build a quick 13-0 lead.

But on this night, the Bulldogs were determined they wouldn’t stay down.

“We were able to push through and overcome, then finish out the game strong,” Larsen said. “We huddled together and said we needed to play like us. We came together and started playing as we should.”

Provo came roaring back, scoring 48 unanswered points on its way to the impressive 48-13 win.

“We knew they were very explosive offensively and we knew we were going to have to make adjustments to what they were doing,” Chambers said. “We did that. The whole week we were telling our boys to stay tenacious, stay after it. I feel like they pulled through and made adjustments. It’s a testament to our team to see them make those adjustments and go win a game like this.”

Bulldog senior linebacker/running back Feitagai Lesa said his team started “sloppy” and knew it just needed to up their game.

“We needed to wake up,” Lesa said. “They made some good plays but we had to come back. It was a great experience to be out there with my great teammates and the coaches.”

His bruising running was a big part of the Provo success and he scored three consecutive touchdowns to give the home team a 21-13 lead at halftime.

“Everybody points toward me but I give all the credit to the offensive line and my coaches for setting up plays for me, putting me in great spots,” Lesa said.

Timpanogos had a number of players get hurt in the contest but having talented wide receiver Luke Livingston go down right before the end of the half made it much tougher on the Timberwolf offense.

“That was a big hit to their team and what they were trying to do,” Chambers said. “That changed the dynamic of the game.”

The visitors stopped the Bulldogs on the first drive of the second half and had the ball with a chance to tie, but the Provo defense didn’t bend.

The Bulldogs ended up forcing a pair of second-half turnovers and getting a turnover-on-downs, turning them into TD catches by senior Drew Deucher (twice) and Larsen as well as a short scoring run by sophomore Lincoln Dansie.

The Provo defense did give up some yards but refused to let Timpanogos get any more points, which was an achievement Larsen was proud of.

“I’m so proud of the defense,” Larsen said. “It’s one of my favorite things to be able to shut teams down. We did good in the second half and I’m proud of my team for it.”

While the win was satisfying, Chambers felt like the overall performance was the best way to honor Weir.

“It’s a feel-good night,” Chambers said. “We still hurt and we still tear up, but sometimes football helps us heal in ways that only it can do. That’s what Alycia would want. She would want to be out there screaming and yelling. We honor her by doing our best out here.”

Provo (4-2) next plays at Payson on Sept. 22 while Timpanogos (4-2) hosts Mountain View on the same evening.

Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Timpanogos 13 0 0 0 – 13

Provo 0 21 13 14 – 48

T-Easton Bretzing 4 run (kick failed)

T-Cache McCann 10 pass from Chase Riggs (Parker Harvey kick)

P-Feitagai Lesa 7 run (Jonah Loosli kick)

P-Lesa 9 run (Loosli kick)

P-Lesa 4 run (Loosli kick)

P-Drew Deucher 16 pass from Soakai Aston (Loosli kick)

P-Deucher 30 pass from Aston (kick failed)

P-Kyle Larsen 37 pass from Aston (Loosli kick)

P-Lincoln Dansie 2 run (Loosli kick)