Call it a series of uncharacteristic flukes. Call it buckling under pressure. Call it being outplayed.

Whatever the reason, Alta failed to capitalize on multiple opportunities during its semifinal matchup against Bingham at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Friday.

The result? A 28-19 loss to the Miners in what many considered to be the true state final game -- and many more unanswered questions.

But none of the Hawks' missteps were more inexplicable than kicker Vance Bingham's two botched field goals in the first half. Given his stellar regular-season record -- Bingham had converted on 12 of 15 attempts before Friday's game -- it was easy to forgive his first missed field goal from 33 yards out.

Another miss late in the first half -- this time from 20 yards out -- was cause for concern.

When the Miners' defensive line effectively stuffed Alta's run game on three consecutive trips to the red zone to end the first half, concern had turned to calamity.

"We've converted on those chances all year," said Alta coach Les Hamilton. "If everything had gone our way, maybe the result would have been different. But that's the biggest, best Bingham team we've ever faced. Everything that didn't go our way was because of them."

The Miners salted the wound as they rallied for four consecutive scoring drives, culminating in Stephan Cantwell's 9-yard run late in the third quarter.

Things didn't get much better for the wounded Hawks in the second half. Zach Liston's 9-yard touchdown reception brought the Hawks back within nine points, but Bingham's extra point attempt was blocked. With time running out, Harvey Langi's 34-yard touchdown run was the final dagger in the Hawks' state title hopes.

And according to Hamilton, Bingham's kicking missteps were an unfortunate ending to an otherwise stellar high school career.

"You don't say anything to him. He's won so many big games for us," said Hamilton. "I think maybe he just tried a little too hard today."

Vance Bingham missed two field goals as the Hawks' failed to capitalize on three trips to the red zone in the first half.