Second quarter lifts Dutch Fork over Westwood
Dutch Fork got off to a slow start Friday night, but exploded for 34 points in the second quarter to ease past Westwood 47-14 at Dutch Fork Stadium.
The Silver Foxes (5-0) fell behind 7-6 when Westwood (2-3) quarterback Elijah Heatley found Cortez Braham for a 24-yard TD pass with 1:29 late in the first quarter.
The second quarter opened when the Silver Foxes recovered a Redhawks fumble at the Westwood 11-yard line. Ron Hoff ran in from 6 yards out to give the Silver Foxes a 13-7 lead at the 9:30 mark.
The Silver Foxes and Redhawks exchanged scores on kickoff returns over the next 30 seconds. Dutch Fork held a 20-14 lead before scoring three touchdowns late in the second quarter.
Bobby Irby caught a 45-yard TD pass from Reese Nichols. Nichols rushed in from 8 yards out, and Austin Connor caught a 12-yard pass from Ward Hacklen – all within the last 3:14 of the half. The final two scores were set up when Irby returned a punt 33 yards to the Westwood 16, and when Westwood fumbled on a kickoff return.
In the second half, which was played with the clock running, Josue Paredes rushed in from 12 yards in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
TURNING POINT
The game pivoted from a competition to a rout within 30 seconds in the second quarter. After Hoff’s score, Westwood kickoff returner Bradlee Nelson ran 85 yards for a 14-13 lead with 9:17 left. The Silver Foxes responded with Irby’s 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at the 9:02 mark. From that point, it was all Dutch Fork.
KEY PERFORMERS
Austin Connor: The Dutch Fork wide receiver had three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Bobby Irby: The Silver Foxes athlete returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown, returned a punt 33 yards to set up another score, and caught a 45-yard touchdown pass.
KEY NUMBERS
39: Yards rushing by Westwood.
5: Sacks by the Silver Foxes.
THEY SAID IT
“That (Bobby Irby’s kickoff return for a score) was big. I was telling all these college coaches that Bobby Irby is a D-1 guy. I guess I don’t know what I’ve been talking about, but he sure has been dynamic for us in all five games.” – Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts
“They’re a great team, but we gave them some extra opportunities and some turnovers, and you know Coach Knotts is going to have a team that’s going to take advantage of that. We gave up two big returns, one for a score, and those two fumbles, but we were right there (behind 20-14) about to go in with it close at halftime, but that last three minutes blew up on us.” – Westwood coach Dustin Curtis
HOW THEY SCORED
1st Quarter
D – Bryson Cannon 20 pass from Reese Nichols (kick failed) 4:49
W – Cortez Braham 24 pass from Elijah Heatley (D.J. Fields kick) 1:29
2nd Quarter
D – Ron Hoff 6 run (Ford Williams kick)
W – Bradlee Nelson 85 kickoff return (Fields kick) 9:17
D – Bobby Irby 84 kickoff return (Williams kick) 9:02
D – Irby 45 pass from Nichols (Williams kick) 3:14
D – Nichols 8 run (Williams kick) :51
D – Austin Connor 12 pass from Hacklen (kick failed) :31
4th Quarter
D – Josue Paredes 12 run (Williams kick) 4:46
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Westwood – Rashawn Greene 11-23, Bradlee Nelson 2-23, Joshua Heyward 10-22, Jalen Briggman 1-3, Cortez Braham 1-(-10), Elijah Heatley 4-(-16). Dutch Fork – Ron Hoff 7-59, Josue Paredes 7-38, Austin Conner 2-37, Reese Nichols 6-6, Jesse Ragin 2-2.
Passing: Westwood – Elijah Heatley 14-10-0, Rashawn Greene 3-0-0, D.J. Fields 1-1. Dutch Fork – Reese Nichols 20-11-0, Graeson Underwood 3-1-0, Ward Hacklen 1-1-0.
Receiving: Westwood – Cortez Braham 3-69, Trinni Feggett 2-37, Tyler Hosey 2-33, Bradlee Nelson 1-39, Victor Smith 1-4, Joshua Heyward 1-4, Kaden Briggs 1-(-4). Dutch Fork – Austin Connor 3-73, Bryson Cannon 3-42, Ward Hacklen 3-41, Bobby Irby 2-63, Jesse Ragin 1-4, Ron Hoff 1-(-1).