Prep football: Mustangs romp into semifinals

This second half pass was just out of the reach of Highland's Christopher Lloyd (21) as Mountain Crest's Brennan Archibald defends. Mountain Crest crushed Highland High 48-7 in the Class 4A quarterfinal football game at Highland. (Scott Sommerdorf / Salt Lake Tribune)

For a good half of football Friday afternoon, Highland did everything it could to take the steam out of the locomotive that was Mountain Crest's explosive offense.

Ball control was the name of the game for the Rams, at home in this 4A quarterfinal playoff game. Unfortunately, turnovers then fatigue spoiled all their good work.

Given a reprieve, the Mustangs sprang to life in the second half and galloped away to a 48-7 victory at Highland.

Mountain Crest, now set to play Timpview next week at Rice-Eccles Stadium, scored 38 second-half points behind the strong right arm of quarterback Alex Kuresa.

It turned a close game into a rout.

"They're a good football team," Kuresa said of Highland. "They're

Kuresa did a bit more than step up his game. The junior quarterback threw for more than 400 yards as well as four scores. He also carried for a fifth.

"We just caught fire in the second half," said receiver Nate Rigby, whose 82-yard catch and run in the third play of the second half put the Rams in a hole they could not recover. Rigby bobbled the ball three times on the run before he tucked it in and raced for home.

"We came out a little flat," Rigby continued. "Maybe a little overconfident."

It is difficult to blame Mountain Crest (10-1) for its overconfidence. The Mustangs throttled the Rams (8-4) in the season

But Highland opened Friday's game determined to play tough and physical. There was even some verbal back-and-forth between the two teams in the north end zone prior to kick off, and few extracurricular activities at the bottom of a few piles.

The Rams used the legs of back Toi Taufa to control the game early. He gained 105 yards in the first half, and even the score with a 14-yard run to daylight in the second quarter.

However, other Rams were not so sure handed, coughing up the ball three times, halting what looked to be promising drives. Forced to play catch up, Highland was not effective.

"That hurt us a lot," Highland coach Brody Benson said. "If we just take care of the football, we take away a couple of their scores.

"You can speculate, 'What if,' but they're a good team. They executed well. I wish them luck."

Kuresa completed passes to six different receivers. Nine receptions went for 18 or more yards. Rigby caught six for 130 and two scores, while Alex Knowles hauled in nine for 154 and a touchdown.

Kuresa also took several hits.

"That's football," he said.

martyr@sltrib.com