Prep football: Red Devils hold off the Wildcats in the fourth

Springville » After three fourth-quarter defensive stops, what's one more?

Thomas Day's pick on the final play of the game symbolized Springville's preserving a one-touchdown lead as the Red Devils dispatched Woods Cross 16-12 in the second round of the 4A playoffs Friday afternoon.

The Wildcats dominated the final 18 minutes of play, but were denied on three trips inside the Springville 21-yard line with a defensive effort that even offensive-minded coach Scott Mitchell could appreciate.

"It's fun to watch, actually, even though my heart is killing me," Mitchell said. "Sometimes on offense you're not in sync and it's good to have the defense come up with enough big plays to win."

After the Red Devils (10-1) took a 16-3 lead on Steve Bate's 22-yarder to Taylor Baker midway through the third quarter, Springville's offense didn't register a first down the rest of the way.

Woods Cross closed to 16-10 on C.J. Corry's 2-yard run with 1:22 remaining in the period and Corry's running helped the Wildcats (7-4) maintain momentum ... until the Springville defense registered these stops:

» The Wildcats advanced to the Springville 13, but a Steven Sperry field goal went wide left.

» On the next possession, Woods Cross got to the Red Devil 4. A Tyler Parson to Tanner Johnson touchdown was called back for offensive pass interference, and Jeff Gueck and Brody Swanson

sacked Parson of fourth down to end the threat.

» Springville's third stop was a Baker pick with less than a minute remaining after a fourth-down defensive holding call kept a Wildcat drive alive.

Day's pick was the result of a time management bobble. The Red Devils planned to take a safety following the Baker pick, but still left five seconds on the clock. After a Springville pick, Parson threw it up for grabs.