No. 19 Provo Takes Advantage Of Turnovers, Defeats Cedar Valley

Aug 27, 2021, 9:36 PM | Updated: Aug 28, 2021, 3:05 pm

BY TREVOR ALLEN AND KYLE IRELAND, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

PROVO, Utah – The No. 19 Provo Bulldogs forced multiple turnovers and turned them into points and a win over the Cedar Valley Aviators.

The Bulldogs were able to score a touchdown on their first drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter. Cedar Valley was able to get into the red zone but missed a field goal attempt.

Provo broke away for a very long run and as the running back reached the five yard line, Tanner Evans of Cedar Valley stripped the ball and took it the other way.

At the end of the first quarter:

Provo 7
Cedar Valley 0#KSLGameNight #GameNightLive pic.twitter.com/fuCvc1jiD6

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 28, 2021

Early in the second quarter, Lucas Peck caught a long ball and took it to the four-yard line. The Aviators scored after DL So’i Saaga ran in a one-yard TD to tie the game at seven with just over 11 minutes left in the first half.

On the counter for Provo, Feitagai Lesa ran in the touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 13-7 lead with 9:17 remaining in the first half. Shortly into Cedar Valley’s next drive, quarterback Payton Weber suffered a severe injury and didn’t return to the game as he was carted off. Easton Schank took over at quarterback.

The Aviators responded to the adversity of losing their starting quarterback by Joe Lomu running in a touchdown and the game was tied at 13 with 4:21 left until halftime. Provo responded with Jace Welsch connecting with Tomasi Hifo for a 57-yard TD to give the Bulldogs a 20-13 lead with 3:06 left in the half.

On third and goal, Welsch found Rockwell Magleby for a five-yard touchdown and Provo’s lead was 27-13 with 37 seconds remaining in the first half.

HALFTIME

Provo 27
Cedar Valley 13#KSLGameNight #GameNightLive pic.twitter.com/BnqrRqtIIr

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 28, 2021

The Aviators opened the second half with an impressive drive. Cedar Valley marched down the middle of the field and capped off the drive with a Lomu touchdown run to cut Provo’s lead to 27-20.

Following the touchdown, the Aviators stepped up on defense and forced a Provo fumble.

Unfortunately for Cedar Valley and luckily for Provo, the Bulldogs returned the favor and forced a fumble on the subsequent play by the Aviators’ offense.

The Bulldogs capitalized on the second chance. Provo’s Welsch took a quarterback sneak across the goal line and into the end zone. The score stretched Provo’s lead to 34-20.

Touchdown Provo

Provo 34
Cedar Valley 20#KSLGameNight #GameNightLive pic.twitter.com/KkWhWStgwJ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 28, 2021

Provo’s defense followed the score by forcing a three-and-out. The Bulldogs received the ball and a short field, but we unable to take advantage of the opportunity.

However, Cedar Valley gave the ball back to Provo when Magleby ripped the ball away for an impressive interception. Again, the Bulldogs were unable to turn the turnover into points and the Aviators forced a Provo punt.

Cedar Valley’s offense couldn’t get going and Provo got the ball back.

The Bulldogs dodge a turnover, a near interception by the Aviators, and score their second touchdown of the half. Lesa ran the ball into the end zone to give the Bulldogs a three-score advantage, 41-20.

In the final 90 seconds of play, Provo intercepted Cedar Valley to seal its victory.