Provo rolls to second round playoff win with strong ground game
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- Provo’s defense (left) lines up against Salem Hills in a 4A football second round state playoff game on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.
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- Captains for Salem Hills (in white) and Provo meet before the coin flip in a 4A football state second round playoff game on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.
During its six-game winning streak No. 5 seed (4A) Provo has been known for its aerial fireworks, putting up 60 or more points against three of these opponents. But in their second round 45-6 playoff victory over No. 12 Salem Hills Friday, the Bulldogs broke out their ground assault, churning up 254 yards running the ball.
Malik Filimoetu did most of the damage, rushing the pigskin 22 times for 171 yards with two touchdowns.
“I love my boys,” Filimoetu said, referring to his offensive line made up of Inoke Folaumahina, Howie Kinikini, McKay Marvell, Brenyn Benson, and Luke Paulsen. “My boys were working hard out there.”
Filimoetu wasn’t just dangerous running the ball as he also hauled in three passes for a team high 66 yards.
Throughout the game Provo used some run heavy packages with double tight end looks, extra offensive linemen and three-back sets with fullback Julius Pan opening up holes for both Filimoetu and Teave Brown, who also had two touchdown rushing as he racked up 81 yards on 16 carries.
The work of Pan and the offensive line didn’t go unnoticed by Provo head coach Kirk Chambers.
“We found a few formations that were working for us,” Chambers said. “We went with a little heavier set and I just want to give credit to Julius Pan who was kind of our fullback and all the linemen. That was kind of fun to see.”
“I loved it,” Pan said of being the lead blocker.
Pan, just a sophomore, also had a big impact on defense. Early in the fourth quarter, his strip sack of Salem Hills quarterback Ryder Hales led to a 3-yard fumble return for a touchdown by fellow sophomore Makeli Toutai. And Pan definitely has a preference for what side of the ball he likes to play on.
“I have to say defense. I like tackling the ball carriers.”
Toutai’s fumble recovery for a touchdown wasn’t the only points Provo scored that weren’t offensive based. Early in the second quarter Salem Hills tried a fake punt but Brexton Hunter sniffed out the trick play and turned it into a Halloween treat of a 37-yard pick six that gave the Bulldogs a 21-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Spencer Shuman had a very good day kicking the ball for the Bulldogs nailing a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to go along with six extra points and three touchbacks kicking off.
Salem Hills showed some fight as Guss Johnson hauled in a 6-yard pass from Hales to trim Provo’s lead to 21-6. But some problems with the kicking game led to a block point after along with an earlier field goal attempt being blocked by Provo’s Griffin DeMartini. Though Provo had more penalties than the Skyhawks, the ones for Salem Hills came at inopportune times erasing one score with an illegal formation penalty and then when deep into Bulldog territory late in the third quarter, an illegal procedure penalty pushed the Skyhawks back and they could not convert on fourth down.
Provo finished strong scoring three touchdowns in the final stanza and will head into next week’s game with No. 4 seed Hurricane (7-3) with plenty of momentum. Meanwhile, Salem Hills ended their season with a 7-4 mark.
Pan summed up what needs to be done for Provo (7-4) to advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 1999.
“Practice hard during the week, and when we get there, play physical.”
Notes: Playoff games on Halloween are extra fun. During breaks in the action, the PA system blasted Halloween themed songs that included “Ghost Busters,” “Somebody’s Watching You” and “Thriller” as well as the theme songs for the movie “Halloween” and the television series “Stranger Things.” Plenty of Provo High students and faculty were in costumes as well as the chain gang and the marching band. With temperatures in the 60’s, the 4 p.m. start was perfect for students, including Provo’s football players, to celebrate, including a school stomp later that evening.
PROVO 45, SALEM HILLS 6
Salem Hills 0 6 0 0 -6
Provo 14 10 0 21 –45
P-Teave Brown 4 run (Spencer Shuman kick)
P-Malik Filimoetu 21 run (Shuman kick)
P-Brexton Hunter 37 interception return (Shuman kick)
SH-Guss Johnson 6 pass from Ryder Hales (kick blocked)
P-Shuman 45 FG
P-Brown 6 run (Shuman kick)
P-Makeli Toutai 3 fumble return (Shuman kick)
P-Filimoetu 3 run (Shuman kick)
