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Cedar City • It doesn't normally seem like much, but when any team worth its salt scores in the closing moments of the first half, it usually provides a jolt of confidence.

Ryan Javines and the Pine View Panthers rode a tidal wave of momentum all the way to Rice-Eccles Stadium for another shot at a 3AA championship.

Javines ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first half, then threw three long scoring passes in the third quarter as Pine View beat the Dixie Flyers, 35-14, on Friday night at Eccles Coliseum on the Southern Utah University campus.

"We had to chip and be patient," Pine View coach Ray Horner said. "Once we started working and they started coming up, we could go over the top."

Once the Panthers (10-2) turned over a short field and Javines scored his touchdown to close out the first half, it inspired the defense to shut down the Flyers (7-4) in the second.

After the junior connected with Lance Mandriques on a 71-yard score to tie the game at 14-14 just three plays into the third quarter, Dixie was forced to punt after going three-and-out.

When Javines found Mandriques again on a 69-yard touchdown, the Panthers had all the momentum on their side of the field.

"I'm proud of our defense. They played their tails off," Horner said. "Young kids making big plays in big games. That makes it pretty special."

Javines completed his passing touchdown trifecta near the end of the period on a 49-yarder to Connor Clark, then he scored again on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

"We knew we had the momentum and we had to take advantage of it," Javines said. "Dixie's a great team. When you get an opportunity like that, you have to make the most of it."

Dixie scored its touchdowns on a 4-yard run from Ammon Ah Quin in the first quarter, and sophomore quarterback Nate Mahi connected with Josh Topham on a 34-yard pass play in the second.

The Flyers had their best chance to score in the second half when they drove to the Panther 8-yard line, but Mahi was sacked on fourth down with five minutes left. Pine View was able to run the clock out from there and secure its trip to the final. —

Storylines

R Pine View quarterback Ryan Javines has a hand in all five touchdowns — three passes, two runs — as the Panthers wipe out a 14-0 second-quarter deficit.

• The Panthers will face Desert Hills for the 3AA championship next Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It will be a rematch of the 2013 title game won by the Thunder (27-21).

• Desert Hills won the regular-season matchup over Pine View, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter for a 36-19 victory Oct. 7.