Wright throws 4 TDs in Manti’s loss to Juab

NEPHI—Manti kept finding the end zone. Juab just kept finding it more.

The Templars put together a determined offensive effort last Friday night, with Kingston Wright throwing four touchdown passes and Manti scoring 29 points, but an explosive Juab offense built too large a lead to overcome in a 58-29 loss.

Manti struck first when Wright connected with Isaiah Wright on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 6:46 left in the first quarter. Tyler Steinfeldt’s extra point gave the Templars a 7-0 lead.

Juab answered with two touchdowns in less than two minutes, as Price Armstrong found Brady Gempeler for a 32-yard score and Quentin Robinson for a 27-yard touchdown to put the Wasps ahead 14-7.

Manti continued to battle in the second quarter.

Steinfeldt kicked a 20-yard field goal with 10:36 left in the half, cutting the deficit to 14-10.

Juab responded with three more touchdowns before halftime. Will Armstrong broke loose for a 68-yard touchdown run, Gage Vance caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Price Armstrong, and Armstrong added a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

Still, Manti had one more answer before the half.

With 1 second remaining in the second quarter, Kingston Wright found Tyson Buchanan for a 39-yard touchdown. Steinfeldt’s extra point cut the deficit to 35-17 heading into halftime.

Juab’s defense tightened in the third quarter, keeping the Templars off the scoreboard while the Wasps added 10 points.

Robinson returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown with 10:44 left in the quarter, and Armstrong added a 30-yard field goal less than two minutes later.

Manti continued to fight in the fourth quarter.

Wright connected with Stetson Thomson for a 23-yard touchdown with 11:10 remaining, cutting into the Juab lead. The Templars went for two but were unsuccessful.

Wright and Thomson connected again with 7:43 left, this time on a 19-yard touchdown pass. Another two-point attempt failed.

The two scoring strikes gave Thomson two touchdown receptions in the fourth quarter and accounted for the final two Manti touchdowns.

Juab answered both scores, with Armstrong running for a 4-yard touchdown and then finding Robinson for an 87-yard touchdown pass to put the game away.

For Manti, Wright’s four touchdown passes provided the centerpiece of an offensive performance that produced 29 points against a Juab team that scored 58.

Isaiah Wright, Buchanan and Thomson each caught touchdown passes from Wright, with Thomson accounting for two of Manti’s four passing scores.

The loss drops Manti to 1-3 on the season. The Templars will host Cedar (2-2) this Friday night, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.