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Nationally ranked East entered its quarterfinal showdown Friday against Timpview, a traditional power in Class 4A, as a significant favorite. But while the Thunderbirds were relaxed, playing in a rare underdog role, the Leopards were on edge.

On the first play of the game, East quarterback Ben Ford was picked off by Timpview safety Chaz Ah You. Soon enough, coughing up the ball became contagious, one turnover leading to another. Ford's interception was the first of six first-half turnovers for the Leopards, who trailed at intermission for only the second time this season.

Still, while the Thunderbirds did force a few mistakes with pressure and disguised coverages, the majority of East's miscues seemed more the result of their own mental mistakes, and, as a result, it never felt as if East truly was in trouble. Indeed, once the cobwebs dissipated, the top-ranked Leopards found a way to survive the test, 47-34, to clinch a spot in the Class 4A semifinals.

"The resilience of this team is unbelievable," said East coach Brandon Matich. "They kept their composure. It's a credit to our kids and coaches."

East running back Jaylen Warren, who came in needing 136 yards to break the 37-year-old single-season state rushing record, finished with 249 yards on 33 carries, increasing his season total to 2,675 yards. The record was broken on a 46-yard touchdown run, which closed East's deficit to 21-13 with 8:31 remaining in the first half.

It was Warren's 10th game this season in which he reached the 200-yard plateau, and his 12th 100-yard game, which is one away from tying the state record for most 100-yard games in one season.

"It feels great," said Warren, who praised his offensive line. "I wasn't really focused on it. I just wanted to win."

East, which leads the nation in rushing yards, totaled 621 yards on 56 carries, equating to an 11-yard per-rush average.

Timpview, which finished second in Region 7 after suffering two region losses for the first time in 19 years and saw its six-year streak of reaching the semifinals end, never appeared intimidated by East. After Ah You's interception, quarterback Jordan Mariteragi hit Kyle Van Leeuwen for a 16-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead.

East countered with an 80-yard run by Warren on the next play, but the Thunderbirds recaptured the advantage, 14-7, on a 40-yard pick-six by Payton Madsen, with 34.9 seconds left in the first quarter. It was East's fourth turnover.

The fifth turnover led to Alema Te'o's 16-yard rush for a 21-7 Timpview lead. It could have been worse, too, as the Thunderbirds fumbled and threw an interception at the East 2- and 1-yard lines.

The T-birds caused several fumbled exchanges with pressure from the interior, but that left them susceptible on the outside. East sophomore Charlie Vincent, who scored his first varsity touchdown in the state championship last year against Timpview, capitalized with three touchdowns and 179 yards on seven attempts.

"I wasn't expecting it at all," Vincent said of his performance.

Both programs exchanged scores for the majority of the second half, before East, leading 41-34, provided the exclamation point on a 5-yard Warren touchdown with 55.1 seconds left.

"Timpview didn't quit, they're coached very well. Those kids play their tails off," said Matich, who improved to 3-3 against the Birds, with each meeting in the postseason from 2011-16. "It's a bad matchup for a second round that one of these teams has to lose."

East will face Maple Mountain in the semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11.

Twitter: @trevorphibbs —

Storylines

R East overcomes six first-half turnovers to knock off Timpview.

• Leopards running back Jaylen Warren establishes the state record for single-season rushing yards after piling up 249 yards on 33 carries, increasing his season total to 2,675 yards.

• For the first time since 2010, Timpview fails to reach the semifinals.