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UMA-Camp Williams running back Jordan Gardner plays the trumpet during the national anthem before the start of a high school football game with UMA-Hill Field on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.

Brian E. Preece, Special to the Herald

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UMA-Camp Williams head coach Ephraim Schulte instructs his team during a fourth quarter time out in a high school football game with UMA-Hill Field on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2025.

Brian E. Preece, Special to the Herald

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With 35.7 seconds left on the clock, Utah Military Academy-Camp Williams quarterback David Shern raced to the house on a 60-yard scamper, followed by Sebastian Segura splitting the uprights on the all-important extra point to knot the score at 21-21 in Friday’s 1A-eight player rivalry contest with Utah Military Academy-Hill Field.

However, less than 15 seconds later, everything changed on a dime as on the ensuing kickoff UMA-Hill Field’s Corbin Duran took the ball from his own 10-yard line and ran right up the middle, breaking a tackle around midfield then sprinting to paydirt. Though the extra point was missed it gave the Thunderbirds a 27-21 lead with just 21.2 seconds left in regulation.

UMA-Hill Field’s kickoff went out of bounds and Marauder head coach Ephraim Schulte elected to have the Thunderbirds kick again instead of taking the ball at the 35-yard line. But then the next kickoff, a squib kick up the middle, bounded off one of the front-line players for UMA-Camp Williams and was recovered by the Thunderbirds who were able to run out the clock and preserve their victory.

Both schools are in their second year of playing 8-player football and for the second time the Thunderbirds won, keeping the rivalry cup. Though 8-player football is known for its high-scoring games, this contest was mostly a hard-hitting defensive affair with emotions running high.

“That’s the beauty of a rivalry match-up. Hopefully, you inspire the best in both teams,” Schulte said. “I think you saw that tonight. Both defenses playing lights out, both offenses trying to run the ball and two teams trying to dominate the line of scrimmage.”

Shern was the offensive star for the Marauders as he scored twice on runs of 60 and 57 yards and connected with Tyler Muse on a 35-yard scoring pass. His inspired play didn’t go unnoticed by his head coach.

“All credit to that offense and our quarterback David Shern. To put us back in that game with such little time,” Schulte said. “He made a heckuva play, and he made plays all night. That kid has the heart of a lion.”

For UMA-Hill Field, their offensive stars were quarterback Devian Tiznado and receiver Keaton Speier, who hooked up for three touchdown passes 13 and 60 yards, and then a 2-yarder in the final stanza that gave the Thunderbirds a 21-14 lead.

UMA-Hill Field looked to run out the clock but two holding penalties prevented the Thunderbirds from getting the clinching first down. Then UMA-Hill Field turned the ball over on downs with just 53 ticks left on the clock allowing Shern to give the Marauder faithful one last hope of victory.

While Segura hit all three extra points, special teams proved to be the downfall of the Marauders. A botched punt snap gave UMA-Hill Field deep inside Marauder territory which set up its first touchdown. Then the long kickoff return followed by recovering the ensuing kickoff on a squib kick provided the final touches for a Thunderbird victory.

Notes: 8-player football has been a resounding success and the Utah High School Activities Association deserves credit for instituting it several years ago. A total of 11 schools play 8-player football classification, which is actually more than the 1A and 2A classifications have in the traditional 11-player format. Escalante tried to put together a team but didn’t finish the season and the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind (USBD) has a team but plays an independent schedule. Over time, Utah high school football fans can expect more smaller schools to start programs.

In 8-player or what is more commonly called 8-man, five players are eligible to go out and catch passes while the other three can’t go past the line of scrimmage. 8-man football often uses a field that is less wide or 40 yards, but in some cases, like what happened last night, it is played on a regulation football field. That means with less players, there is more space and that most often leads to wide open scoring contests.

For example, this season, Monticello beat Whitehorse 77-42. And Whitehorse nearly cracked the century mark beating USBD 97-46 to open up their season. So while 27-21 seems like a decent scoring game, a combined scoring of 48 points is really unusual and UMA-Camp Williams led just 7-6 at halftime.

UMA-Camp Williams doesn’t have a football field on campus so they rely on neighboring schools to help them host games. The Marauders have had games at Cedar Valley, Lehi, Skyridge and this past week at Pleasant Grove. Sometimes this leads to interesting situations. The referees locked their changing room with the keys inside so some retreated for warmth on a cold rainy night to the press box. But by game’s end, a Pleasant Grove administrator was able to locate a second set of keys.

UMA-Camp Williams not only recognized its senior football players but also its seniors in all other fall sports, as well as the cheerleaders and the band. During halftime, cadets from the Air Force ROTC program did a precision march. Sergeant First Class Zach Crase and his wife Kalyn, who serves as the cheerleader advisor, were recognized between the third and fourth quarters. Zach Crase has been reassigned to a base in California.

Another cool moment was during the national anthem when running back/safety Jordan Gardner played trumpet in a trio showing that at any smaller school, students often wear many hats.

UMA-Hill Field 27, UMA-Camp Williams 21

UMA-HF 0 6 7 14 – 27

UMA-CW 7 0 7 7 -21

UMA-CW-David Shern 57 run (Sebastian Segura kick)

UMA-HF-Keaton Speier 13 pass from Davian Tiznado (run failed)

UMA-HF-Speier 60 pass from Tiznado (Christopher Echevaria kick)

UMA CW-Tyler Muse 35 pass from Shern (Segura kick)

UMA-HF-Speier 2 pass from Tiznado (Speier pass from Tiznado)

UMA-CW-Shern 60 run (Segura kick)

UMA-HF-Corbin Duran 90 kickoff return