Springville head football coach Dave Valeti got the perfect birthday present Friday night as his Red Devil team defeated the Skyline Eagles, 45-17.
The win moved Springville to 2-0 on the young season while Skyline dropped to 1-1.
The game itself was a tale of two different halves.
The first half was competitive and it looked like the contest was going to be an offensive shootout where the team that had the ball last would win. Skyline’s Zane Cooper’s 29-yard field goal on the last play of the first half tied the score at 17-17.
But the second half was all Springville.
Tavita Valeti, the head coach’s nephew, ran for two second-half touchdowns, and three total on the night, behind an offensive line that was totally dominant. He also added another touchdown reception of 22 yards on a well-executed screen pass.
“The line did a hell of a job,” said Tevita Valeti. “I love my line. They are like my family. I love the whole team. I couldn’t do what I did without them.”
Kinikinilau Fonohema, Ty Miller, Ryan Conrad, Dallin Johnson and Ammon Shaw made up the offensive line that pushed around the Eagle defensive front. Fonohema and Johnson played some defensive line and Johnson had two deflections at the line of scrimmage in the second half that disrupted Skyline’s offense.
Springville had four rushing touchdowns in the second half as tight end Walker Deede got into the act by scoring on a 3-yard tight end reverse after a carry three plays previous that went 16 yards.
The Red Devil defense, which Dave Valeti still coordinates, was dominant in the second half only allowing Skyline to penetrate their territory in the last minute of the final stanza.
Skyline came out strong in the first half and Springville derailed itself a bit with three turnovers and some untimely penalties.
“We came out a little flat to be honest,” said Dave Valeti. “We may have gotten ahead of ourselves a little bit after last week (a dominating 41-14 win over perennial 4A power Dixie). It took a rough half for us to settle in and play. I’m proud of the boys. We challenged them at halftime and they came through.”
Tevita Valeti has scored seven touchdowns in two games and definitely earned the praise of his head coach and uncle.
“He’s a different kind of back,” Dave Valeti said. “You can do everything right (as a defense) and have your guys ready to tackle him, but it’s a tough task, especially over four quarters. We think he really fits our offense well, and he runs it well.”
Though Springville quarterback Ryder Burton didn’t have to pass the ball a lot, he was effective when he did.
With the game tied 7-7 and facing a fourth down, wide receiver Luke Nadauld got behind the Eagle defenders on an out-and-up. Burton’s perfect pass hit him stride for a 31-yard scoring connection.
Valeti was happy with Burton’s performance though the Red Devils didn’t air it out much.
“I think him managing what we do and being humble enough to do it is a credit to him,” said Dave Valeti. “You saw there, he was able to connect. When they go single high or single coverage, we’re able to get some yards out of it too.”
Another hero for the Red Devils was Lukas Franks who connected on all six extra point attempts and drilled a 33-yard field goal.
Springville will hit the road for its next game and take on the Bountiful Redhawks, while Skyline will travel to Idaho for a game with Post Falls.
Score by Quarter:
Skyline 7 10 0 0 -17
Springville 14 3 14 14 -45
Scoring Summary:
SKY-Miles Hall 5 pass from Josh Calvert (Zane Cooper kick)
SV-Tevita Valeti 56 run (Lukas Franks kick)
SV-Luke Nadauld 31 pass from Ryder Burton (Franks Kick)
SKY-Luke Wright 3 pass from Calvert (Cooper Kick)
SV-Franks 33 FG
SKY-Cooper 29 FG
SV-Valeti 22 pass from Burton (Franks kick)
SV-Valeti 7 run (Franks kick)
SV-Valeti 1 run (Franks kick)
SV-Walker Deede 3 run (Franks kick).
News Source: Herald Extra
