BOUNTIFUL—Davis Darts quarterback Gage Cook rushed for 223 yards and three touchdowns while adding 98 passing yards with another touchdown as the Darts took down the Viewmont Vikings 35-7 Friday night.

The win for Davis, its first of the season, was a redeeming one for the team after dropping a tough seven-point loss to Brighton last week in its season opener.

“I felt like we didn’t respond in the second half last week,” said Darts coach Ryan Bishop. “I challenged our kids as hard as I could this week, and I’m very happy that they responded. I’m proud of them.”

Cook accounted for all but one of Davis’ touchdowns against Viewmont and proved to be the centerpiece of an offense that had 461 total yards. Cook’s rushing yards came on 21 carries to finish with an average of 10.6 yards per carry in the game.

“The holes the offensive line was opening up were huge,” said Cook. “They did everything for me. I give the credit to them because they did such a great job.”

The front five, which included tackles Jake Sessions and Wyatt Anderson, guards Sam Matina (who replaced Cooper Brown due to injury) and Ben Bracken, and center Carlisle Findlay, guided Cook to his first rushing touchdown early in the second quarter when he scampered in from one yard away to tie the game at 7-7.

The scoring drive took just three plays and 48 seconds, with Cook’s biggest run coming on a 78-yard scamper that went from Davis’ 20-yard line to Viewmont’s two-yard line. He scored two plays later.

Cook’s second touchdown got a kick-start from the special teams, who returned a punt to the Viewmont 28-yard line after forcing the Vikings to go three-and-out. Cook scored four plays later to give the Darts the lead for good.

“We have three great special teams coaches that work with the players all the time,” said Bishop. “Dave Leo has done a fantastic job along with his two assistants and (the players) went out and made a big play. That’s got to be a difference-maker for us in games.”

Gage’s third and final rushing touchdown also occurred in the second quarter as he duplicated another 78-yard run that ended with him crossing the goal line. The score gave the Darts a 21-7 lead after the first half.

“I really liked the way our offensive line played,” said Bishop. “They went out there made some holes for (Cook) and I also thought we did a great job on the defensive side of the ball. The defense afforded us those opportunities to go out and put some points on the board.”

Cook’s final touchdown came with just under 10 minutes left in the game when he found Trevor Leavitt for a 37-yard touchdown pass. It was Leavitt’s only catch.

Viewmont’s lone touchdown came in the second quarter following an interception by Mitch Dalley on defense. The team’s drive lasted six plays and ended with Max Hadlock finding Dalley for a 34-yard touchdown pass.



GAME NOTES: Ashton Reinhold scored Davis’ fourth touchdown of the game in the third quarter, a one-yard touchdown run that capped off a 14-play drive. He finished with 52 yards on 13 carries while Parker Rose rushed for 66 yards on 11 carries. Jackson Peacock led the Darts defense with four tackles and an interception. For the Vikings, Hadlock completed 14-of-25 pass attempts for 155 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions. Paul Tesina led the Vikings’ defense with 13 total tackles and a forced fumble.

Davis will play against Cottonwood at home on Thursday, Aug. 30. Viewmont will travel to Layton to take on the Lancers on Friday, Aug. 31. Both games are scheduled to kick-off at 7 p.m.

sgillet@davisclipper.com