Syracuse High football secured a 35-19 victory over No. 6 Westlake in the first round of the 6A state playoffs on Friday night in Saratoga Springs. Ledger Wight contributed one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown, while Parker Moffat recorded a touchdown catch and a kickoff return touchdown during the win.
In the 6A matchup, Syracuse (6-4) responded to an early 7-0 lead by Westlake (7-4) with a 68-yard touchdown run from Bo Metcalfe. Parker Moffat caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Wight to give Syracuse a 14-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. After Westlake scored to make it 14-13, Moffat returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, leaving Syracuse with a 21-13 halftime lead. Wight added a 28-yard rushing touchdown in the second half, and Jack Benoit scored on a 14-yard run with 4:35 remaining to finalize the score.
In the 5A first round, No. 14 Woods Cross defeated No. 3 Box Elder in overtime after the Bees overcame two two-score deficits in the fourth quarter. Sam Bahr scored twice in the first half to give Woods Cross a 14-0 lead. Following a safety that gave the Wildcats a 16-0 lead, Box Elder began a comeback with a touchdown run from Judd Howells. Josh Pugsley returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to narrow the deficit to 23-15. A two-point conversion pass from Kadyn Reyes to Howells tied the game at 23 with one second remaining. After Tytan Hupp hit a 32-yard field goal for Box Elder in overtime, Bahr scored his third touchdown on a 2-yard dive to secure the win for Woods Cross.
No. 1 Morgan shut out No. 9 Cedar 49-0 in the 3A quarterfinals. Lawson Walker contributed two touchdowns, returning both a blocked punt and an interception for scores. Owen Gilson accounted for three touchdowns through passing and rushing, including a 4-yard run and a pass to Rhett Larsen. Other Morgan scorers included Myles Siddenham, William Pace, and George Thurston.
Other playoff results included West 63, Roy 0 and Highland 70, Bear River 42. In other scores, No. 4 Herriman defeated No. 13 Weber 55-6, No. 2 Juab beat No. 3 Ogden 16-13, and No. 1 Rich defeated No. 8 St. Joseph 56-20.
Syracuse is scheduled to travel to No. 3 Corner Canyon for a quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov. 6. Morgan will face No. 5 Richfield in the 3A semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
