Skyridge football delivered a dominant 45-0 shutout victory over the Riverton Silverwolves in the first round of the 6A state tournament on Friday, Oct. 30. Despite miserable weather and a turf described as a slick sheet of water, the top-seeded Falcons managed to freeze out their opponents early in the game.
The Skyridge offense, led by junior quarterback Jagger Fountaine, scored 28 points in the first quarter alone. Junior running back Beckham Bennett opened the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run, followed by a 31-yard touchdown pass from Fountaine to senior receiver Omarian Sanders. Amanaki Levatau added a one-yard touchdown run, and Fountaine contributed a two-yard rushing touchdown to complete the first-quarter clinic.
Fountaine finished the game with 254 passing yards on 19-of-24 completions, plus 32 yards on six rushes. Sanders added a 23-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter to extend the lead to 35-0 before halftime. In the third quarter, backup quarterback Cannon Tripp threw a 40-yard touchdown to senior receiver Dax Rehrer, who finished the night with 115 yards on five catches. Junior kicker Evan Kopp sealed the 45-0 victory with an 18-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
The Skyridge defense remained aggressive despite the slippery conditions. Senior defensive lineman Carter Seu recorded a sack and multiple tackles, while senior linebacker Sa Tanuvasa and senior linebacker Rex Caswell were noted for disrupting the Riverton offense. The defensive front helped maintain the shutout by forcing errant handoffs and short passes.
Skyridge head coach Justin Hemm stated that the team executed at a high level and noted that the players had prepared well during the previous two weeks of practice. Senior receiver Omarian Sanders said the team remains focused on their goal of a championship run and must avoid becoming complacent.
Skyridge enters the next round with a 9-1 record. The team is the reigning Region 3 champion.
Skyridge is scheduled to host local rival No. 8 American Fork in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 6. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Falcon Stadium.
