Highland • If defense wins championships, fifth-ranked Lone Peak might be ready for the state playoffs.

The Knights controlled high-powered Riverton on Wednesday night during their 17-13 Region 4 victory.

Lone Peak improved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the region by bouncing back from last week's 26-24 loss to Pleasant Grove.

"We're just glad to get a win after that last game with P.G.," said coach Tony McGeary. "It's good to be back on the winning track. My hat's off to these guys. They played a great game."

Junior quarterback Baron Gajkowski threw two touchdown passes and Michael Smith drilled a 58-yard field goal to spark Lone Peak.

"Our offense sputtered a litttle bit," McGeary said, "but ... the defensive boys did a great job."

Lone Peak took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter when Zach Buhrley took a swing pass from Gajkowski and ran 10 yards for a touchdown. The play capped a 10-play, 94-yard drive.

Riverton used a fumbled snap on a Lone Peak punt to get outstanding field position and tie the score with 6:28 left in the half.

After taking over at the Knights' 40-yard line, Gavin Sargent ran two yards for a touchdown on third-and-goal.

Lone Peak quickly responded, however, with a 62-yard drive to regain the lead.

Gajkowski got things going with a 23-yard run, helping the Knights move to the Riverton 10. But three plays gained only 9 yards, leaving Lone Peak with a fourth-and-goal from the one.

After a timeout, Gajkowski faked a handoff into the middle of the line, rolled out to his left and headed for the corner of the end zone.

Riverton's defense looked well-positioned to stop the play but, just before he was hit, Gajkowski suddenly pulled up. He passed to Zachary Mortensen for the go-ahead touchdown.

Trailing 14-7 at halftime, Riverton cut into the Lone Peak lead with 5:49 left in the third quarter, when Brayden Mahoney raced 86 yards for a touchdown.

But the Silverwolves missed the extra point, and the Knights bumped their lead to 17-13 on the next possession when Smith kicked his cannon-like 58-yard field goal.

"How about that?" said McGeary. —

Prep football scores, schedule

Wednesday's games

• Bingham 49, Lehi 0

• Orem 39, Maple Mountain 19

• Spanish Fork 28, North Sanpete 6

• Lone Peak 17, Riverton 13

• Salem Hills 10, Mountain View 3

• Timpview 48, Springville 20

Thursday's games

Class 5A

Note • All game at 7 p.m.

• West Jordan at Alta

• West at Granger

• Hunter at Taylorsville

• Kearns at Viewmont

Class 3A

• Bear River at Pine View*

• Can. View at Cedar City

• Desert Hills at Hurricane

• Dixie at Snow Canyon

• Ben Lomond at Tooele

• Wasatch at Union

*Game is at 3 p.m.