The game was highlighted by big plays by the Braves' offense and defense and even on special teams. The Braves were careful not to underestimate the Wildcats, who fell to 1-6 in region play. In fact, on the Braves' second play from scrimmage they used some trickery to surprise the Wildcats. Bountiful quarterback Jason Freckleton pitched the ball to wide receiver Jace Wood on a reverse, who then connected with fellow wideout Royce Taylor for a 56-yard touchdown to give the Braves an early 7-0 lead.
On the following possession for Woods Cross they started to move the ball downfield with a first down, but quarterback Andrew Angus was sacked twice by defensive end Jeff Holmes in three plays and the Wildcats were forced to give up the ball to the Braves' offense. After a quick three and out by the Braves' offense, the Wildcats got the ball back and had their best drive of the half. The Wildcats received the ball on their own 40-yard line and moved all the way down to the Braves' 19-yard line before being plagued once again by big sacks. Angus was sacked for a loss of 16 yards by linebacker Eric Nelson on second down and after moving forward to the Bountiful 26, the Wildcats attempted a long field goal which was wide right.
It took the Braves' offense only two plays to score again, this time on a 76-yard run by running back Jake Magalei to increase the Braves' lead to 14-0. After forcing a three and out for the Wildcats defense, the Braves received the ball on the Wildcats 39-yard line and, once again, went to work very quickly with Freckleton hooking up with Wood on a deep post, which Wood was able to take 39 yards for another Bountiful touchdown, and with 6:00 remaining in the second half the Braves had called eight offensive plays, but held a 21-0 lead.
After the Wildcats got the ball back again, after consecutive first downs, the persistent Bountiful High rush was able to get to Angus for another long sack on third down and the Wildcats were forced to punt once again. The half ended with the Braves holding on to their 21-0 lead, and the Wildcats suffered an even bigger setback on the second to last play of the half when Angus was tackled while trying to scramble for extra yardage and was lost for the game with a leg injury.
Any ideas the Wildcats had of making a second half comeback were squashed on the opening kickoff when Wood, after already throwing and catching a touchdown, found a hole in the Wildcat kickoff coverage and flew up the sideline 95 yards to lengthen the lead to 28-0. After the loss of Angus, the Wildcat offense seemed even more helpless against the relentless Bountiful defense in the second half, and the Braves were able to score twice more; with a 22-yard run by Magalei, and in the beginning of the fourth quarter a 30- yard pass from Freckleton to Holmes. The game ended with the Braves ahead 41-0 and the Wildcats forced to wait till next year for another shot at their nemesis.
After the game Bountiful Coach Larry Wall said he was happy with the progress his team had made.
"We finished third place in region last year," said Wall, "I think we're closer now to being where we need to be."
Wall also talked about the great play of Wood for the Braves, who not only had three touchdowns but also contributed seven tackles on defense.
"His leadership has been awesome the second half of the year," said Wall, "He's a guy who doesn't come off the field for us and always plays hard."
The Braves' offense was also led by Magalei, who had 118 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries, and defensively Nick Binks had four sacks to lead the Bountiful attack. The Braves (5-5) will next visit Orem (6-4) Friday at 4:00 in the first round of the state playoffs as they begin their title defense.
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