The Sky View Bobcats did a decent job of containing the passing offense of the Brighton High Bengals Friday night. However, the Bobcats couldn’t cage the Bengals running game giving up over 200 yards on the ground. Falling 3-28 Sky View moves to 1-3 on the season heading opening up region play next week against the valley rival Mountain Crest Mustangs.

If you look at the stats everything but the final score would indicate that Sky View was able to hang with Brighton High School. Some of those stats were things like time of possession where Brighton had a slight edge in that battle with around 27 minutes to Sky View’s 21. Brighton also just won in the first downs category picking up 19 to Sky View’s 13. Sky View didn’t have the horsepower on the ground that they demonstrated last week against Olympus, but put up some decent numbers in the air. Sky View had just 72 yards rushing and what they couldn’t get rolling on offense they couldn’t stop on defense. Sky View gave up over 200 yards to the Brighton ground game. However, in the passing game Sky View doubled up Brighton’s numbers racking up 168 yards in the air to Brighton’s 89. At the end of the night the difference in total yardage was only 51 yards, but that number was about equal to Brighton’s final scoring drive that culminated with a 47 yard touchdown run.

Sky View had its chances as they moved the ball with the help of a penalty or two down to the Brighton 2 yard line. They were not able to capitalize with a few errant passes and a bad snap that set them back a ways. The Bobcats turned the ball over on downs when the scoring drive ended as Corbin Lee was unable to reign in Nick Carver’s pass in the end zone.

Sky View did put a few points on the board on the reliable leg of Josh Egbert, who was money from 38 yards out. Egbert’s kick split the uprights and put the only 3 points on the board that Sky View would score for the night.

An unfortunate turn of events took place near the end of the game when Yabitse Wells took a kickoff return, that he originally bobbled. Wells scampered through defenders, and behind good blocking, turned on the afterburners; with just the kicker to beat and three lead blockers he went 92 yards for a touchdown. But indicative of the way the night went for Sky View that was called back to about the 25 yard line where the yellow flag was dropped signaling an apparent illegal block.

Still with good field position and an opportunity to put up some numbers late in the game, Carver was flushed from the pocket and throwing on the run tossed his second interception of the night. Brighton was able to run out the clock when their offense took the field and just like that this game was in the books.

Sky View won the penalty battle, coming off a week against Olympus where they were penalized sixteen times for 131 yards. In this game they were only hit six times for 45 yards. Brighton got flagged thirteen times for 71 yards.

Another problem area for Sky View was in the turnover category. Brandon Burger originally caught a ball and ran for a much needed first down, before being sandwiched between a couple of Bengal defenders and the ball launched out and was recovered by Brighton. Coupled with Carver’s two interceptions Sky View turned the ball over three times.

The Bobcats have been without the services of one of their key offensive and defensive weapons in senior Corey Jensen. Suffering from a damaged rib Jensen looks to be back in action next Friday against Mountain Crest. Jensen’s return comes none too soon as Zach Allen was banged up in the contest at Brighton High. Stretched out on a pass over the middle, Allen was hit hard and may have to miss a game or two pending the prognosis of his injuries.

Offensively the Bobcats 72 rushing yards came on twenty carries, while in the passing game their 168 receiving yards from Carver who was 13-of-32 in the air. On the ground Alex Watts carried the ball nine times for 39 yards, followed by Sean Gero with four carries for 19 yards. Carver coming off a 150 yard night against Olympus last week kept the ball seven times but just managed 14 yards.

Mitchell Larsen lead the receiving corps with four catches for 46 yards followed by Gero who picked up 41 yards on a pair of catches. Corbin Lee caught three balls for 36 yards. Joining Gero with a couple catches each were Mitchell Berryhill who added 31 yards, while Brandon Burger’s catches netted another 14 yards.

Defensively Sky View had twenty six solo tackles and teamed up for forty more to total sixty six on the night. Conner Chambers was the lone Bobcat to register a sack for the evening; that tackle went for a 5 yard loss. That sack was just one in the busy resume of Chambers who had six solo tackles and teamed up for five more. Tre’ Hansen was busy with four solo tackles, and seven assists, followed by Cole Bangerter who had two solo takles and helped out on eight more.

On special teams Yabitse Wells racked up 120 yards in kickoff returns, and Konnor Christensen added five more on a punt return. Carver punted twice, one was blocked and the other went 17 yards. Josh Egbert punted four times for 158 yard averaging 39.5 yards per kick.

The Bobcats will be looking to turn things around next week when North meets South an annual rivalry game when Smithfield’s Sky View hosts Hyrum’s Mountain Crest Mustangs. That game is scheduled to be played next Friday night September 16th; kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Offensive Stats

Game Summary

Scoring

First Quarter
Brighton (4:42) — Brayden El-Bakari 10 yd TD Run (#62 PAT)
Brighton (2:17) — Andy Jones to Mark Brewster 20 yd TD Pass (#62 PAT) 

Second Quarter
Sky View (10:01) — Josh Egbert 38 yd FG

Third Quarter
Brighton (2:29) — Andy Jones to Zach Wertz 18 yd TD Pass (#62 PAT)

Fourth Quarter
Brighton (1:55) — Elias Fairman 47 yd TD Run (#62 PAT)