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East's football team conducted an exorcism and a séance under the lights at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Friday night.

In demolishing three-time defending 4A champion Timpview 49-14 to win their first football title since 1996, the Leopards rid themselves of the demons of doubt that came with losses to the Thunderbirds the past three years.

And, pausing a moment in the midst of a raucous celebration, East coach Brandon Matich thought about the spirit of his grandfather Grant Martin, who coached East to three of its now-17 state titles.

"My grandfather is here somewhere," said Matich. "No question. I think about him every day."

East handed Timpview its worst loss since that 1996 title game when the Leopards won 37-0. They also ended Thunderbirds coach Cary Whittingham's magical 15-game state tournament winning streak that included the last three 4A titles.

"Oh my goodness, this feels good," said Matich. who suffered the pain of state title game losses to Logan in 2011 and Timpview in 2013. "These kids deserved this. They have worked so hard and overcame so much over the last four or five years with the adversity we had to endure in this program. I didn't imagine it would feel this good."

East did its damage on the ground, rushing for 504 yards, the second-most in Utah state football championship history. Jaylen Warren rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns, quarterback Johnnie Lang had 199 yards and three touchdowns, and Charlie Vincent had 50 yards and two touchdowns.

Lang, who transferred from Florida for his senior season, said that while the Leopard backfield had the speed, it was the blocking up front that made the difference.

"We deserved to be here," said the senior, who finished third all-time for season yards per carry with 12.7. "We deserved this win. It means a lot. We put in hard work over the summer and we did everything as a team."

This was anybody's game going into the second half. East, which has lost close ones to Timpview before, was clinging to a 21-14 lead.

The Thunderbirds were playing well, having got scores on a 3-yard Kahi Neves run and a 1-yard dive by Saia Folaumahina, as well as some great catches by Samson Nacua. And they started the second half getting a fumble on the first play from scrimmage.

But the East defense shut out the Thunderbirds in the final half, and the Leopards just kept getting big run after big run.

Matich sensed a victory when he saw his players Friday morning.

"These young men had great leadership," he said. "It was the character of the team. I saw them this morning in school. They were focused and ready to go. I sensed something different about these kids."

And he had praise for his vanquished foe.

"This absolutely couldn't come against a better team," said the East coach. "Timpview brought out the best in us. There is no question."

And so, in its 102nd season of football, East exorcised losses to Timpview in the recent past while honoring the spirit of the 16 Leopards championship teams that came before.

wharton@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tribtomwharton —

East 49, Timpview 14

R East, playing football for the 102nd season, won its 17th state title, which is second only to West's 21.

• East hands Timpview its worst loss since 1996, when the Leopards beat the Thunderbirds 37-0 for the state title.

• The Leopards rush for 504 yards, second-most in state championship game history, and seven touchdowns.