LAYTON—In what was one of the strangest football atmospheres of last Friday, the Bulldogs’ effort just couldn’t compete with the Eagles’ talent.
The Gunnison Valley football team suffered their first loss of the season in ugly fashion, falling 50-7 to Layton Christian Academy, in a game that not only was delayed 20 minutes by a lightning strike, but also dealt with burnt debris falling from the sky all game long due to a nearby wildfire in Farmington.
Despite LCA’s small roster, the size advantage for the Eagles was as obvious as it was dangerous, with seniors Tate Dunne and Will Wescott both exiting the game early due to injury. Junior Jon Willden was also banged up on several plays. LCA rode their physical advantage to overpower the Bulldogs in the trenches on every down, collecting a ridiculous 460 total rushing yards.
Senior quarterback Jack Hansen had zero comfort in the passing game as the Eagles swallowed up nearly everything Gunnison did. Hansen finished with a touchdown pass, but paired it with three interceptions, all to the same defender.
“We had our chances,” Coach Patrick King said. “We made mistakes, a couple interceptions, bad pass protection, a lot of those things just aren’t going to add up to success. They were a mountain of a team. They’re big.”
There was a bit of early drama before the beginning whistle as lightning struck within a few miles of the stadium mere seconds after the national anthem was sung. The ensuing lightning delay pushed the start time by about 20 minutes.
Gunnison got first possession and immediately committed to their run game as senior Dylan Anderson took the first carry six yards in his first start since returning from injury. Two plays later, Hansen completed his first pass on a long shot over the top of the Eagles’ defense. Hansen then completed a 38-yard slant pass to the outside right corner of the end zone to junior Jon Willden, drawing first blood for the Bulldog offense.
Layton Christian struggled with ball security early fumbling on their first two possessions. Better ball security proved to be the only thing the Eagles needed, as they kept the ball on the ground for every play of their ensuing drive, culminating in a touchdown run over 30 yards. Gunnison blocked the after point to keep the lead, 7-6.
It was all Eagles after that, as they scored three more times in the second quarter to take a 28-7 lead into the half.
Gunnison’s only respite on defense for the rest of the game was forcing a field goal on the Eagles’ first drive of the second half, which the Eagles nailed through the uprights and into the trees behind.
As an almost poetic ending, the final whistle of the game sounded less than 10 minutes before pouring rain touched down on the stadium.
Gunnison moved to 2-1 as they wrapped up their non-region slate. They will be hosting Parowan this Friday for the Bulldog’s Homecoming Game.
