Sandy » Moments after top-ranked Juan Diego wrapped up the Region 11 championship Friday night with a convincing 34-0 win over Morgan, coach John Colosimo was already thinking ahead to the state playoffs.
"That's been our goal," Colosimo said. "We wanted to win the region and get a good seed in the playoffs, especially with the way it worked out with some really good teams on the other side [of the bracket]. So I think we got a good road to the tournament."
Against Morgan, Tana Vea ran for two touchdowns, Cody Stevenson threw for one score and ran for another and the Soaring Eagle defense forced four turnovers.
Keegan Anderson also had a big night with a touchdown reception and two interceptions as Juan Diego improved its record to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the Region.
The Soaring Eagle never trailed after Anderson's first interception set up Lars Gunderson's 12-yard touchdown run 61/2 minutes into the game.
"We knew we had to stop them, then try to score some points and make them do some things they don't like to do," Colosimo said. "It's not an offense that's conducive to coming back from a 14- or 21-point deficit."
In the second quarter, Juan Diego needed only four plays to drive 85 yards for its second score. Stevenson hit Anderson with a 46-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0.
The Soaring Eagle failed to score on two other trips into the red zone, leaving Colosimo "... a little mad at halftime. But the effort to come out and play well in the second half, I was happy with that."
Bruce Nix returned the second-half kickoff to the Morgan 23, setting up a Vea's 10-yard touchdown.
After a three-and-out by the defense, Juan Diego broke the game open when Stevenson capped a seven-play, 58-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
Juan Diego wraps up an 8-1 regular season with a 34-0 win over Morgan.
» The Soaring Eagle win Region 11 by outscoring their five opponents 142-26.
» Morgan commits four turnovers in the game, including three in the first half.
