Bingham football uses explosive plays to advance in 6A playoffs

South Jordan • For at least one night, the Bingham Miners were one-play wonders — in a good way.

The Miners on Friday scored five touchdowns in their 37-7 home win over the West Jordan Jaguars, and three of them came after just one snap in their respective drives. The win allowed Bingham to advance to the quarterfinals of the 6A playoffs after getting a bye week in the first round.

“I just think we’ve got some explosive players,” Miners coach Dave Peck said.

The biggest play of the game for Bingham was a 74-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Dallen Martinez. It came in the second quarter after the Miners forced West Jordan into a turnover on downs, and Martinez broke through from the 26-yard line and took it to the end zone himself.

Senior running back Saia Lomu punched in a 53-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, while junior running back Havea Fotu’s first of two scores was a 52-yarder on a run play of his own. Fotu also had a 20-yard rushing TD that was executed on the first play of that drive.

Martinez scored on a 19-yard rushing touchdown late in the game to give him two on the evening.

“I feel like we came out strong,” Martinez said, later admitting he felt the team could have played better.

The Miners only allowed the Jaguars one touchdown, which came in the third quarter. West Jordan freshman quarterback Dameon Crosby threw to senior wide receiver Carter Baldwin for a 42-yard reception. Crosby had replaced senior Boston Farmer, who appeared to injure himself in the first half and did not return after halftime.

Miners senior kicker Nathan Chamberlain converted a 26-yard field goal midway through the first quarter for the team’s first points of the game.

Bingham played West Jordan three weeks ago in a regular season game and won, 42-0. Martinez said for this game, the offense wanted to run the ball much more than it did previously.

The Miners next week will play the winner of Herriman-Lone Peak. While they executed a dominant performance, the team still thinks there is room for plenty of improvement.

“We definitely have to work on our pass defense mostly,” Bingham junior safety Cameron Mamalis said.

The Miners changed their offense this season and ended with a 6-4 record, but are hoping to make some noise in the 6A playoffs. Friday’s win was a start, and Peck hopes it’s just the beginning.

“I feel like we have a team that, on a given day, I think we can beat anybody if all the pieces fall in place,” Peck said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly named the West Jordan quarterback that entered the game for Boston Farmer.