Dominating ball control from the outset, timely execution made on both sides of the ball, along with one of the most spectacular interceptions you’ll ever see at any level all combined to give Lone Peak a 13-7 win over Skyridge and a trip to the 6A state championship.

All of it was unfolded under the lights at Rice-Eccles Stadium, as the Knights eliminated the Falcons from competition for a fifth time in seven years. It’s a position that seemed a bit far-fetched as recently as a month ago before Lone got healthy, kicked things in gear and ultimately secured a spot yet another spot in the 6A state championship game.

“It feels great after we fought through so much adversity this year,” said Lone Peak running back Tate Barney, who finished Friday’s win with 95 yards rushing on 19 carries. “We get another chance at Corner Canyon again, and we’re feeling confident.”

Last season saw the Knights lose a 30-27 heartbreaker to the Chargers in the 6A state championship, leaving senior Lone Peak quarterback Kepa Niumeitolu grateful for the opportunity to exact some revenge a year later.

“We now have an opportunity to make a wrong right, is what coaches say,” Niumeitolu, who ran for 82 yards and threw for 156 more in the win, said.

As for Niumeitolu’s and Barney’s effort, they were central in providing long, clock-chewing drives that was very much the gameplan heading into the game.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Knights held the ball for eight and a half minutes before turning the ball over on downs deep inside Skyridge territory. Lone Peak’s defense then responded to force the Falcons to punt after just two minutes of ball possession on their end. The ensuing drive saw Lone Peak eat up a lot of clock before Niumeitolu capped it off with a 6-yard touchdown run for an early 7-0 lead with 8:10 remaining until the half.

“We always want to have long drives here and there to keep potent offenses off the field,” said Lone Peak Coach Bart Brockbank. “We can keep them from getting into a rhythm if we keep them off the field.”

And it takes a great defensive effort, too, with Lone Peak’s defenders stepping up time and again to hold a Falcon offense that had scored 59 and 66 points in its last two outings to just a single touchdown.

Leading off the defensive effort was a stand at midfield on Skyridge’s second first half possession. Faced with a 3rd-and-1 situation just past midfield, Lone Peak’s line crashed hard to force the Falcons into a 2-yard loss. Skyridge opted to go for it on 4th-and-3, but was held short courtesy of Lone Peak linebacker Anthon Grimmer busting through the gap to drop Skyridge quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne again behind the line of scrimmage.

“Our defense always comes up big for us when we need them, and we try to come up big for them,” Niumeitolu said. “It was a great team win.”

But the defensive highlight which ultimately swung the game big for Lone Peak was made several minutes later with Lone Peak safety Kennan Pula snagging an interception out of the air that is certain to go viral and perhaps even make ESPN Sportscenter’s top 10 plays of the day. Up just 13-7, and with Skyridge driving midway through the fourth quarter, Lone Peak needed to make a stand, and Pula did just that, leaping high up in the air to snare a pass with his left hand fully-extended and in turn come down with the football.

The play proved huge in not only preventing Skyridge from a potential go-ahead score, but swung all the momentum squarely back in Lone Peak’s direction. While most people gathered at Rice-Eccles haven’t and most likely will never see a catch like it again, Lone Peak players actually have.

“In practice Kennan actually made that exact same catch, and it was as crazy as it was out there tonight,” Brockbank said. “We almost stopped practice and sent everyone home after that. It was a huge play and it came when we definitely needed it.”

“Big players make big-time plays,” Neimeitolu added.

Lone Peak was able to effectively end the game from there, using good ball-control on offense while the defense continued to step up and make big plays, the type of plays it simply wasn’t making at the close of the regular season. After starting the season 5-1, the Knights lost their final three games heading into the playoffs, while looking like a team most could write off as a serious championship contender.

But the team battled back, got healthy, and made pointed improvements to arrive back at Rice-Eccles Stadium with a prime opportunity to take home a 6A state championship.

“We had a three game stretch where we didn’t execute against some really good teams, and you saw the result,” Brockbank said. “But we took some time, did some great team-building experiences while talking about the necessity to do all the small things and the kids have responded great. I’m proud of all of them for the work they put in.”

As for Neimeitolu, who missed a large portion of the season with injury, he couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to take home a championship.

“It’s been the most challenging season for me, both mentally and physically,” he said. “But I’m just going to put all my faith in God, like my parents say, and whatever God has in store for me I’m fine with.”