By Steve Pimper
MaxPreps.com
The high-flying Thunderbirds of Timpview High School racked up their 26th straight victory Friday night by thumping cross-county rival Lone Peak in a 28-3 route.
The two-time defending 4A state champions had no trouble disposing of their bigger 5A rivals to the north as quarterback Casey Rumsey threw two touchdown passes and running back Levi Te’o also accounted for two scores in the Thunderbird easy win.
The 26-game consecutive winning streak is now the second longest such mark in Utah prep football history, trailing only the 28-game streak by the Rich Rebels back in the early 1990s.
The Thunderbirds have a bye week and then tackle Payson (0-3) and Mountain View (1-2) in their quest to tie the all-time state record before squaring off against Tooele (2-1) on Oct. 3 in what could be the record setting No. 29. The only other team on Timpview’s schedule with a current winning record is Orem (2-1, Oct. 10).
Head coach Louis Wong’s teams have picked up the nickname of “Timpview University” during the run not only for the ease in which they have been steamrolling opponents, but also because of the number of college players they are turning out each year.
This year is no different as at least four players – seniors Xavier Su’a Filo (OL), Craig Bills (DB), Tui Crichton and junior Bronson Kaufusi (DE) – are on the radar screens of major college football programs.
Elsewhere across the Beehive State there were 34 teams beginning Friday night action with unblemished records but 18 of those squads tasted defeat for the first time this season.
Highlighting the battles of unbeatens was Cottonwood’s disposal of Pine View in a 52-23 rout that saw Colt quarterback Steve Romero account for five touchdowns. Teammate Isi Sofele tallied two more, one from 73 yards out on a nifty punt return for the winners.
Alta, Class 5A’s No. 1 team, shutout Kearns 28-0 in another showdown of undefeated teams.
Cache Valley’s big game of the weeks featured Sky View and Logan. Sky View sacked Logan’s All-State field general Jeff Manning three times and intercepted him four more times to post a 28-7 victory. Kyler Carlsen scored three times while Brayden Crompton returned an interception 40 yards for the other Bobcat touchdown.
In milestone outings new Springville head coach and former NFL quarterback Scott Mitchell got his initial win as the Red Devils’ leader, cruising past Wasatch 31-7. In the 88th meeting of county rivals Bear River and Box Elder, the Bears overcame a 16-0 deficit to take back the Golden Spike Trophy with a 20-16 come-from-behind win.
Copper Hills posted the school’s first ever 3-0 start as Josh Soter passed for 285 yards and four touchdowns. Chandler Allen grabbed nine receptions for 142 yards and two trips to the end zone as the Grizzlies mauled Hillcrest 33-10.
Syracuse, after enduring an 0-10 season last year, is 3-0 this season after surprising Mountain View 35-6. Skyline fell from the undefeated ranks as Highland scored twice in the final five minutes to upset the Eagles 13-9. Juan Diego crushed Cyprus 33-0 while Northridge knocked Mountain Crest from the ranks of the unbeatens by a 35-21 score.
Other teams remaining perfect on the year include;
* Manti, a 45-21 winner over Kanab
* South Summit with a 20-0 whitewashing of Grand County
* Hurricane getting by Moapa Valley, Nev., 28-13
* The Broncos of San Juan throttling Monticello 33-6
* Delta dumping Grantsville 23-0
* North Summit overpowering Duchesne 40-14
* Juab humbling North Sevier 33-14
* The Jaguars of West Jordan upending Olympus 35 to 28
Finally, preseason No. 2-ranked Bingham got its first win by rolling Fremont 49-21. Bountiful made it two straight over Viewmont as Joe Lake’s second half, 25-yard field goal provided the margin of victory in the Braves 17-14 win.
