Maple Mountain Tops Wasatch In Region 8 Play-in Game

HEBER, Utah – Everything was on the line for Maple Mountain and Wasatch Tuesday night as the Region 8 foes played for a berth to the 5A State football tournament. With stakes like that on the line, it’s no surprise that the game came down to the final minute, with the Golden Eagles beating the Wasps, 34-31.

Trailing 31-28 with just over one minute left in the game, Maple Mountain quarterback Tyler Nelson rolled out right and found Cameron Dorny in the flat. Dorny sped past several Wasp defenders and stretched for the end zone, but was called down one-yard short of the end zone. Jesse Harness would punch it in the next play.

With one minute left in the game, the Wasatch offense took over.

After incompletions on first and second down, Parker eyed tight end Ethan Wood for a third down completion, but Maple Mountain safety Stevie Degala picked off the pass ending all hopes of a comeback for Wasatch.

“Our quarterback, receivers, and defense made plays down the stretch when they needed to be made,” said Maple Mountain head coach Brad Burtenshaw. “This time of year, everyone wants to play one more game and I think that’s the motivation for every team.”

The Golden Eagles dug deep to find that motivation after surrendering an 21-10 lead in the third quarter. Wasatch, led by quarterback Parker Quinton scored three second half touchdowns to go up 31-21. Maple Mountain answered by scoring 13-points in the final six minutes.

Quinton found himself thrust into the role as the starting quarterback for the Wasps two weeks ago when Brock Cloward suffered a season-ending knee injury against Provo. Cloward led the Wasps to a 6-2 start including a win against Maple Mountain in week eight. After his injury, the Wasps lost their final two regular season games and finished region play 2-3 forcing Tuesday night’s plan-in match.

Maple Mountain used that loss against Wasatch as an opportunity to turn its season around – with a 1-3 record in region play entering the final week of the season, the Golden Eagles won its week 10 contest against Timpanogos in comeback fashion scoring a touchdown on the final play of the game giving Maple Mountain an opportunity to face Wasatch in a rematch with the season on the line.

With the win, Maple Mountain faces region 5 champion, Roy, on Saturday at 12 p.m. in the first round of the state tournament.