Maple Mountain football relies on defense in win over Granger
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- Maple Mountain’s Uhila Wolfgramm (left) makes a tackle during the non-region game against Granger in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
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- Maple Mountain’s Eli Mauga runs for a touchdown during the non-region game against Granger in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
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- Maple Mountain players take the field before the non-region game against Granger in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
Maple Mountain was a bit sluggish in the early going but once the Golden Eagles got going, they eased to a 23-6 home win over Granger in a non-region football contest Friday night.
“We started to make the basic plays,” said Maple Mountain head coach Kalin Hall when asked how his team came back to earn the victory after a slow start. “We were a little bit amped up playing another opponent outside of our own team, but we got a little synergy and got more in sync.”
The Lancers got an early first-quarter lead when La’auli Figieli hauled in a scoring reception from quarterback Aidan Welchman. The extra point was blocked and Granger ended the first quarter with a 6-0 lead.
But the momentum began to turn as Granger was plagued with penalties and Maple Mountain’s defense settled in.
Then Golden Eagle running back Eli Mauga took a screen pass from quarterback Mason Jensen, broke a couple of tackles and zoomed down the sideline for a 67-yard score. Fernando Banuelos was true with the extra point and the Golden Eagles took a 7-6 lead they would never relinquish.
Later in the second quarter Jensen connected with Derek Morehouse on a 35-yard reception down the Granger sideline. This then set up Jensen to find Dallas Whiting in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard score. The point after was blocked and Maple Mountain led, 13-6.
Granger had a scoring opportunity midway through the second quarter but an interception by Maddox Sabey ended that threat leaving Maple Mountain ahead by seven at halftime.
In the second half Maple Moutain’s defense continued to dominate and the Lancers continued to shoot themselves in the foot.
The Golden Eagles defensive line led by Jag Ioane, Daniel Bishop, Grayson Archibald and Uhila Wolgramm closed up the holes and put constant pressure on Welchman. Ioane and Wolfgramm are just sophomores and showed the ability to rush the quarterback from their defensive end positions.
Carsten Fegan made the first of two picks on the night which set up a 20-yard field goal by Banuelos that made it a two-score game at 16-6 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
Maple Mountain tacked on one last score when Morehouse scored with 1:37 left in the final stanza on a 37-yard reverse.
Hall was complimentary of his quarterback making his first start after moving to Utah from Eastmark High School in Mesa, Arizona.
“He (Jensen) came to us in January and we’re glad to have him,” said Hall. “He’s a great kid. I mean, he’s smart, he’s intelligent. His older brother (Jake) played at BYU and then USC so he’s got some pedigree.”
Jensen likewise is glad to be in the Maple Mountain program.
“I love it up here,” Jensen said. “The coaches are great here.”
Jensen ended up with two touchdown passes and one interception.
“I’ve got to clean some stuff up,” Jensen said. “But overall it was a great team win. We did what we’ve got to do. We just need to clean some things up going into next week.”
Though the two teams are in different classifications with Maple Mountain (1-0) being in 5A and Spanish Fork (1-0) in 4A, it’s still a huge rivalry game that should have a packed house next week.
The Dons just upset 2023 5A semifinalist Olympus 24-20 and will be glad to be at home to take on one of their heated rivals. Maple Mountain beat Spanish Fork last year 27-24 when Banuelos hit a 38-yard field goal into a howling wind on the game’s final play.
Granger (0-1) will hope to bounce back as it hosts Viewmont (1-0), who crushed Skyline 46-0 in its opener.
