One of Utah’s most beloved and legendary football coaches passed away last week.
Thom Budge, who spent 31 years coaching at Bonneville, died last Wednesday of an apparent heart attack. He was 65.
Budge’s entire career was a rare one-stop, including his 1975-2005 coaching stint that included the 1980 state 4A championship and 14 regional titles. He retired as a teacher following the 2006 school year. His 237 victories rank second in Utah history, behind Skyline's Roger DuPaix. Budge coached 62 of the school's 71 first-team all-staters, including MVPs Cory Sylvester and Ryan Webber.
Budge was honored at Bonneville’s victory over Ogden on Friday. Bonneville players wore "TB" stickers on their helmets, and "TB" was painted in the end zone at Wallace and Thom Budge Field.
Budge's Bonnefield players gather before a game against Clearfield in 2004.
FIle photo by Todd Shurtleff
Coaches and controversy
Jordan football coach Eric Kjar was suspended for last Friday’s 56-3 victory over Hillcrest and fined $750 by the Utah High School Activities Association for allowing a player who was previously ruled ineligible to practice with the team.
And at Ogden, school officials from that school and Bonneville are investigating allegations that Ogden assistant Ian Eyre used a racial slur against a Bonneville player in Friday’s game.
Are you ready for some Wednesday night football?
The UEA break is creating an opportunity for football fans to catch three nights of football. The full slate is Wednesday, with 26 games scheduled, including top-ranked Bingham.
Timpview-Westlake highlights Thursday’s games, and 18 games are going head-to-head with Friday’s Utah State-BYU game in Provo.
Games to watch
AMERICAN FORK (3-3) AT LONE PEAK (4-2) – American Fork needs a Region 4 victory or it’ll be the best team not in the playoffs. Lone Peak needs to rebound from losing to Alta.
JORDAN (4-2) AT PLEASANT GROVE (5-0) – Pleasant Grove was held scoreless in the first half last week and needed special teams to jump-start the offense. Still, the Vikings are making a case that it’ll be them against Bingham for the 5A championship, not Alta.
WESTLAKE (2-4) AT TIMPVIEW (3-2) – Intriguing because Westlake coach Jason Walker used to be the offensive coordinator at Timpview.
VIEWMONT (3-3) AT DAVIS (5-1) – If Viewmont wins this one, Region 1 could end up in a three-way tie.
PARK CITY (5-1) AT MORGAN (5-1) – It’s a non-region 3A game, but nonetheless interesting because both teams are on a roll. Park runs a great triple-option.
JUAN DIEGO (6-0) AT HIGHLAND, IDAHO (4-1) – Just how good are these guys?
Cross country
Park City’s girls squad has defeated everybody – including all the 4A and 5A teams, but now lead runner Gillian Gorelik can claim the top individual spot after beating Box Elder’s Kelsey Braithwaite by two seconds when the state’s top runners met Saturday at the Orem Kiwanis Cross Country Invitational.
State meet time
Saturday begins the fall state tournament slate, when the 2A tennis championships start at Liberty Park. Golf tees off next week.
Quote of the week
"This was the 75th meeting between Pleasant Grove and American Fork, and coach (Davis) Knight can probably remember 65 of them,’’ PG Dale Sampson quipped after the Vikings downed the Cavemen 21-7. "I have nothing but respect for him and his program."
