Boyer Valley too much for East Mills on homecoming
Jhalil Reed returns an interception in East Mills’ loss to Boyer Valley on Homecoming Friday in Malvern.
Homecoming was a night to celebrate at East Mills, but the Wolverines’ return to their home field came with a difficult result as Boyer Valley scored the game’s first 57 points on its way to a 57-8 victory in Malvern Friday.
The Bulldogs (5-1) outscored the Wolverines (4-4) 24-0 in the first quarter and took a 50-0 lead into halftime after finding the endzone on four of five offensive possessions, an interception for a touchdown and two punt return TDs.
“At one time this season Boyer Valley was state ranked, and we could definitely see they were advertised as that,” said East Mills coach Trenton Turney. “They had quick athletes. Their defensive line was fast and got off the line quick. Our special teams let punts go for touchdowns and we had some key injuries that we will have to hopefully get better by this Friday for Glidden-Ralston. We had some young kids step up and gain some varsity experience which was a bright spot for us.”
The biggest of those injuries was to Landon Gibbs, the Wolverines’ leading tackler and rusher on the season. Gibbs went down in the first quarter with an ankle sprain and did not return.
The loss of Gibbs changed the East Mills’ game plan on both sides of the ball and Boyer Valley took full advantage.
The Bulldogs tallied 233 yards of total offense – 156 of it coming on the ground – while holding East Mills to 84 total yards and forcing two turnovers.
Quarterback Khayden Poorker hooked up with Jhalil Reed on three-yard TD pass for the Wolverines’ touchdown.
Boyer Valley quarterback Brody Koski threw two TD passes and added 49 yards rushing. Jerich Ingram scored touchdowns on both of his rush attempts and return two punts for touchdowns in the first half. Braxton Donscheski added a 50-yard punt return for the Bulldogs’ lone second half score.
Reed led the Wolverines defense with 5.5 tackles and an interception.
The Wolverines are back in action Friday on the road at Glidden-Ralston (2-4). Turney said Gibbs’s availability will be a game time decision.
“It’s a pretty bad sprain and twist,” he said. “Will have to see how he progresses this week but him getting out of the game early Friday changed our whole offense and defense.”