Springville's Marcus Case couldn't even watch near the end of the Red Devils' 29-21 win over Dixie in the Class 4A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday.

The Red Devils led for most of the game, but Dixie built some momentum with a score early in the fourth quarter. With about two minutes left, it looked as if the Flyers had a chance to pull off a comeback.

"Everybody in the stadium on our side was a little worried," said Case, the team's leading rusher. "I had to look away. There's nothing you can do."

As a running back, Case felt helpless on the sideline. But when he finally looked up, he saw Zach Gardanier intercept a pass intended for Dixie's Garrett Christensen. For about two minutes, the Red Devils were on edge but when Gardanier pulled off the interception, they knew it as over.

"The O-line was making their quarterback scramble," said Gardanier. "I broke up on it and pulled it in. It was a relief."

It was an exciting way to end a game that looked like it was on its way to a blowout.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Springville had a 29-0 lead. Dixie struggled to get anything going on offense while the Red Devils put points up on the board with balance.

Case racked up 53 rushing yards on 16 carries and Alema Key had 27 yards on seven carries. Jordan Sumsion finished with 77 yards on five catches and Todd Gillies had three receptions for 61 yards. Sophomore quarterback Steven Bate completed 15 of 24 passes for 140 yards.

"When we're at our best, we're balanced," Springville coach Scott Mitchell said. "But we still haven't played our best offensive game."

Until that happens, the Red Devils can rely on their defense, just as they've done all season long. Springville held Dixie scoreless in the first three quarters. In the first half, quarterback Mike Sharp completed just 3 of 16 passes for 20 yards.

But all that changed in the fourth quarter. Sharp scored on an 18-yard run in the first minute of the fourth and then scored back-to-back touchdowns in about a one-minute span.

Fumbles led to both of those scores and Springville's lead was cut to 29-21. When the Flyers got the ball back with 1:40 remaining, the Red Devils felt the pressure -- up until Gardanier's interception.

And after two short seasons with Mitchell at the helm, the Red Devils have turned around the program and made it farther in the postseason than any other team has in the past decade.

"I never had a timetable when I took over the program," Mitchell said. "I expected to play for a state championship but I didn't know when. The kids have believed in what we're trying to do. This is tremendous."

mthach@sltrib.com