BOUNTIFUL — Following Viewmont’s win over previously Region 1 undefeated Layton High, Viking quarterback Ryan Workman ran over to place kicker Austin Duncan and lifted him into the air and carried him off the field and then handed him the game ball.

It seems that turn-about is fair play.

After all, on this night it was Duncan who carried Viewmont to a thrilling 9-0 victory over the state 5A’s no. 2 ranked team.

“This is kind of weird,” said Duncan, a junior. “We have a team of guys who do their jobs and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of this team.”

Duncan was perfect on field goals of 40, 42, and 25 yards. That with punter Kyle Bilbrey pinning the Lancers deep all night and the Viewmont defense kicking the powerful Layton offense in the mouth to help the Vikings keep their state playoffs very much alive.

“This was a game that showed if everyone does their job good things will happen,” said Viking coach Robbie Gunter. “Some people are linemen, some people are quarterbacks or running backs or receivers, others play special teams and others kick. No one’s job is more or less important than the next guy. This is one of those games that proved that point.”

Play on the field gave credence to Gunter’s assessment of the Viking’s success. The Lancers took the first possession of the game and drove the ball via its vaunted running attack and moved to the Viewmont 22 yardline. When the Viking defense forced Layton to attempt a field goal, it was Josh Smoot who broke through and blocked the kick sending Layton back to defense with no points.

“That was an effort play,” Gunter said. “The guys attacked and Josh did a great job of getting to the ball to get the block. That was important because it kept them without any points.”

Both teams battled with a bend-but-don’t-break defensive attitude until Matt Cahoon picked off a Layton pass with 10 seconds to play in the first half. Cahoon stood out again on defense with six tackles and a fumble recovery to go along with his timely pick. Three plays later, with only two seconds left until the break, Duncan nailed the 40 yarder.

“I think that was most important of the three kicks,” Duncan said. “It gave us some momentum going into halftime with the lead.”

“We knew we could play with them and beat them.”

Duncan’s second field goal extended the small lead to 6-0 just before the third quarter ended. Layton struggled to move the ball in the last 15 minutes and Bilbrey continued to keep the Lancers in holes with his booming punts.

Duncan’s final kick came with less than three minutes to play after the Vikings recovered a fumble. That kick and the 9-0 lead forced Layton to hurry and Viewmont’s defense slammed the door shut.

“I’m ecstatic,” Duncan said. “We have great coaches and guys on this team who just believe in each other and do everything to get the job done.”

One of the reasons for the success in the kicking and punting game goes to Viewmont assistant coach Scott Leiber, who was an All-American kicker at the University of Utah. He has watched Duncan improve on a daily basis and gave the young man all of the credit.

“Austin is the only person I’ve ever coached that does every thing I ask of him,” Leiber said. “He works extremely hard and does everything asked. He takes every part of his kicking seriously and it’s the small things that come up big.”

And sometimes it’s the little kicker that comes up big in the big game.

sschulte@davisclipper.com