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Lehi • The Lehi football team rode the shoulders of its defense early and late against Sky View, and the Pioneers beat the Bobcats 24-14 Friday in their first playoff game in a dozen years.

The Pioneers did a great job of containing the Sky View attack most of the contest, but some untimely penalties in the fourth quarter aided the Bobcats as they scored 14 straight points to get within three points at 17-14 with 5:27 to play.

Undaunted, Lehi went back to work.

Junior Will Overstreet got things started with a nice kickoff return. On second down, junior wide receiver Kade Moore caught a short pass from junior quarterback Cammon Cooper and gained 19 yards, moving the ball near midfield.

Senior running back Grayden Hadfield then ground toward the red zone on three straight runs, with 15 yards added courtesy of a face-mask call.

Another nice grab by Moore pushed the ball to the Sky View 5-yard line, and Hadfield churned forward for the touchdown to restore the margin to seven points at 24-14 following Wyatt Mosher's PAT with 2:10 to play.

The Bobcats weren't ready to concede quite yet, however.

From the 30, Sky View junior quarterback Jackson Siddoway tossed downfield to junior Brodie Martin for a 36-yard gain.

Back-to-back penalties moved the ball to the Lehi 15, but Pioneer junior Jonah Olson came up with a huge interception at the 2-yard line and returned it 55 yards with 1:13 remaining, effectively securing the victory for his ecstatic teammates and the rocking home fans.

"Hats off to Sky View for never quitting," said Lehi coach Ed Larson. "It's a great credit to them and we certainly have some things to clean up, but I'm just happy for these kids."

Noting that his team went 0-10 just two seasons ago, Larson added, "We haven't won one of these for a long time. We just had our school split, and we're playing with a skeleton crew in the toughest region in the state.

"It's our last year in 5A and we're going to enjoy the chance to play the best," the coach said. —

Storylines

• The Pioneer defense pursued the Bobcats relentlessly and came up with multiple turnovers to help Lehi get the victory in its first state tournament appearance in 12 years.

• Lehi's Jase Andeersen and Carson Terrell made great plays on both sides of the ball to help lead the winning effort.

• The Pioneers (8-3) will meet the winner of Saturday's Hunter (6-6) at Bingham (10-0) contest in the quarterfinals on Friday.