ST. GEORGE – The Dixie Flyers are playoff-bound with a 24-22 win over the Snow Canyon Warriors Thursday night at Dixie High School.
The game ended just before 11 p.m. because of a 30-minute delay due to a fire on the baseball field that knocked out the power in the stadium.
The Flyers started the game scoring 14 unanswered points. Flyer running back Justin Cummings started the scoring for the Flyers. Cummings scored on a 27-yard run on the first Flyer position. Later in the quarter, Flyer quarterback Blake Barney hit receiver Tallen Tipton for a 75-yard touchdown to bring the score to 14-0
Midway through the second quarter, the Warriors got on the board when quarterback Brayden Linde scored on a two-yard run.
The Flyer added a field goal on their next position making the game 17-7.
This game was won in the trenches. The Warriors had a chance to score a touchdown late in the first half, but the Flyers defense stood tall, not allowing the Warriors to score. The Warriors had four tries from the Flyer one-yard line to score but could not punch it in.
The Warriors added a field goal in the third quarter but the Flyers answered with a 19-yard touchdown run by Barney.
After the 30-minute delay to start the forth quarter, the Warriors knew they need 14 points to keep their playoff hopes alive. Linde hit tight end Kallen Webster for the first Warrior touchdown, cutting the lead to 8 points. The Warriors went for two, trying to bring the Warrior deficit to six so another Warrior touchdown would give them the win.
The two-point try was no good. Warrior coach Graft said “that was the worst call he had ever seen, that was a great catch in the end zone.”
The Warriors now trailed by eight and had to not only get a stop but also have to score and get the two-point conversion just to tie the game.
The Warriors got the stop and drove down the field scoring a touchdown with just under 3:00 remaining in the game.
The Warriors then attempted the two-point conversion. The attempt failed and the Warriors now trailed by two and only had one timeout left.
The Flyer offense ran out the clock, clinching a playoff spot.
The Flyers have next week off before starting their playoff run the following week. The Warriors take on the Pine View Panthers next Friday at 7 p.m.
Copyright 2011 St. George News. This material may not be published or rewritten without written consent.