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Provo • Seeing wide receivers like Kyle Van Leeuwen and Chaz Ah You in Timpview's spread offense, Thunderbirds fans know the passing attack will come in waves.

But a little running jumpstart doesn't hurt.

The T-birds overcame a sluggish start, and some errors throughout the Region 7 contest, in a 38-3 victory over Provo High on Friday night as Van Leeuwen had two touchdown catches.

The flash point offensively came in Timpview's third possession, when coach Cary Whittingham opted for the running-oriented junior Jake Biggs as quarterback. Up 3-0 in the first quarter and starting at the Provo 43 after a short punt, Biggs' first play was a draw up the middle for a touchdown.

After that, the passing game for Thunderbirds quarterback Jordan Mariteragi and his receivers opened up.

"We just decided, based on what they were doing, that we could run the ball," Whittingham said. "We kind of needed to do that and change some gears."

Provo (3-2, 1-1) got within a touchdown when Braiden Lovell hit a 37-yard field goal to make the score 10-3, but that would be the last time for the Bulldogs scored.

The first touchdown pass Friday night for Timpview (3-1, 1-1) was in the second quarter, when Mariteragi found Van Leeuwen for a 69-yard play and 17-3 lead.

In the second half, the Thunderbirds twice gave Provo good field possession on a pair of turnovers. But the Bulldogs, with University of Washington-bound receiver Ty Jones sidelined by leg cramps, were unable to capitalize.

"I thought our defense played real well. We had some turnovers, but offensively we just couldn't get much going," Provo coach Tony McGeary said. "I give their defensive line credit and we didn't get the ball out quick enough — and then not having our number one receiver, we were just stymied offensively."

With 4:03 left in the third, another Mariteragi-to-Van Leeuwen connection for 47 yards boosted the Timpview lead to 24-3. Less than a minute later, Ah You — playing defensive back — picked off a pass by Provo quarterback Spencer Jorgensen and returned it for a 30-yard touchdown.

"This is our in-town rivals, so it's good to come to their school and win," Van Leeuwen said. "We had a slow first half, but we came back at the end of the third and stepped it up."

Early in the fourth quarter, Mariteragi found Amoni Tuha for a 12-yard touchdown pass for the final margin. —

Storylines

• Timpview quarterback Jordan Mariteragi throws three touchdowns, two to receiver Kyle Van Leeuwen.

• Provo plays almost the entire second half without standout wide receiver Ty Jones, who stayed on the sidelines with a hurt leg.