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Kaysville • The words "Jordan football" and "defense" haven't been uttered together much this season. The Beetdiggers and record-setting quarterback Austin Kafentzis usually win with offense. Their defense has given up 78, 58, 52 and 42 points in recent games.
But, in earning an impressive 41-29 victory at Davis Friday afternoon, it was the Jordan defense that came up big.
While Kafentzis made huge plays as usual, passing for four touchdowns and running for a fifth, he also lost two fumbles and tossed an interception.
But Jordan took advantage of interceptions by Jeffrey Timothy and Tayler Johnson and a fumble recovery to break open a game that was 13-13 at halftime. Only two touchdown passes by Davis quarterback Parker Christiansen in the final 4:02 of the game kept the score respectable.
"Our defense played really well today," said Jordan coach Eric Kjar. "Our defense has been battling all year long and just trying to get better. They played great. I was really happy with our defense. I thought they stepped up. This was a lot about our defense getting us in good spots and field position."
Kafentzis, who wasn't happy with his first-half performance, offered similar sentiments about his team's defense.
"They did a good job getting the ball when we needed it, stopping a good team with a good offense and getting us back in good field position," said the senior quarterback who holds nearly every Utah career offensive football record."
He attributed his slow start to nerves.
"We started to fall back on our confidence and playing with swagger," said Kafentzis. "I had a bad first half with a lot of turnovers. I just wasn't hitting my receivers. You can't try to do too much. You just have to stick to the basics. … You don't want to give the defense a short field. We need to work on that and doing a better job of taking care of the ball."
In a tense first half, Davis scored first on an 11-yard run by Mason White. Then Kafentzis went to work, hitting Josh Villamore on a 76-yard pass play. Jordan took the lead on a 13-yard run by David Loua.
But, with turnovers hurting Jordan, and a stiff breeze helping, Davis kicker Chase Clampitt booted 45- and 51-yard field goals to tie it with 25.8 seconds left in the half.
Then Jordan began to dominate as Kjar successfully gambled on some fourth down plays and Davis began turning the ball over. Kafentzis hit Villamore on touchdown passes of 13 and 16 yards, ran four yards for another score and then found Jed Roundy on a 43-yard pass play with 4:36 to give the Diggers a 41-13 lead.
The Darts got two late touchdowns, but it was too little too late.
Jordan will play the winner of Saturday's American Fork-Hillcrest game in next week's quarterfinals.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Jordan 41, Davis 29
O The Jordan defense comes up big in the second half, getting two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
• Beetdiggers quarterback Austin Kafentzis throws four touchdown passes and runs for another score.
• Davis' Chase Clampitt kicks field goals of 45 and 51 yards.