Desert Hills defense strikes a thunderous 3 interceptions, 4 sacks to take 4A state football title

ST. GEORGE — The football team from Desert Hills High School made some memories that will last a lifetime Friday night.

Desert Hills and Crimson Cliffs in the 4A state football championship game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 11, 2022 | Photo by Aaron Crane, St. George News

The Thunder sacked Crimson Cliffs quarterback Steele Barben four times, intercepted him three times and Cyrus Polu broke the game open with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as Desert Hills beat the Mustangs, 30-14, and won the Utah 4A state championship.

Thunder head coach Rick Berry told St. George News after the win at Greater Zion Stadium that he has been on a state championship-winning team as a player and as a coach.

“There’s nothing greater as a coach, because I know the memories these kids are going to have for a lifetime,” Berry said. “They’ll be talking about this in 10, 20, 30, 40 years, they’ll still be talking about it. And the brotherhood that they’re going to have together, priceless.”

The Thunder set the tone on its first drive of the game. Tyden Morris barreled into Mustangs territory with an 11-yard burst. Two plays later, quarterback Noah Fuailetolo found Lincoln Holmes for an 8-yard touchdown pass.

A bad snap led to a missed extra point, but Desert Hills led 6-0 less than three minutes into the game. Xander Jones tacked on a 33-yard field goal and the Thunder took a 9-0 lead into halftime.

Desert Hills and Crimson Cliffs in the 4A state football championship game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 11, 2022 | Photo by Aaron Crane, St. George News

Morris, the senior running back who delivered punishing blows to defenders who attempted to tackle him, had 16 first-half touches for 84 yards. 

“Very important,” Morris said about the Thunder’s strong early start. “Sometimes, we come out a little bit slow and get a little behind. But today, we came out strong and that’s the way we should come out, and that’s the way it happened.”

Beau Wall capped a long Desert Hills drive in the third quarter with a 1-yard scoring run, and Jones booted the extra point and Desert Hills led 16-0.

But then, Crimson Cliffs responded with a scoring drive of its own — running seven plays for 85 yards. Mason Topalian’s 10-yard run to the house swung all the momentum to Crimson’s sideline and cut the Thunder lead to 16-6 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The Thunder jerked back the momentum in nine seconds after Polu took the ensuing kickoff 90-yards to the end zone for a game-clinching touchdown.

“I think we needed something to change the momentum for us,” Polu said. “I think that sealed the deal for us. I just hit the hole and do what I can do.”

Crimson Cliffs could not get back into the game as the Thunder used a turnover to get field position and scored in two plays after Morris scored on a 3-yard run to bump the Desert Hills lead to 30-6 with 9:12 remaining.

Morris finished the game with 113 rushing yards and a score and also led the team with 39 reception yards.

Tyden Morris runs for Desert Hills in the 4A state football championship game, St. George, Utah, Nov. 11, 2022 | Photo by Aaron Crane, St. George News

“Feels amazing,” Morris said. “No better feeling in the world.”

Barben threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Boston Adamson, and Konner Kell caught the 2-point conversion pass for the Mustangs to provide the final margin with 4:38 left in the contest.

Sophomore lineman and captain Stewart Taufa said the Thunder’s defense was highly motivated.

“I think it was just the containment. We had to keep the QB in,” Taufa said. “Steele is such a good scrambling quarterback so I think we just had to do our best to keep him under control.”

Sophomore defensive lineman Keala Loo was part of the 4-3 defense that held Crimson Cliffs to a total of 89 yards.

Taufa, Loo, Tamatasi Sauta and Ocean Taufa controlled the line of scrimmage and left linebackers Polu and Kena Crowell plenty of space to make plays.

“Day in and day out, we really put in our work,” Loo said. “Defensively and offensively, we really worked as a group.”

Crimson Cliffs coach Wayne Alofipo said the disappointing loss did not take away from the Mustangs’ outstanding season.

“With this young team, like I’ve said, no one expected us to be here,” Alofipo said. “We competed and played well to the end. Desert Hills is a great program. They’re a great team, well coached and congrats to them.”

Berry congratulated the Mustangs on their season as well, and he also wanted to talk about his senior quarterback.

Noah Fuailetolo suffered a knee injury exactly three months ago in the Thunder’s first game against Brighton.

After missing some games, including the 21-14 loss to Crimson Cliffs at home on Sept. 2, Fuailetolo returned to lead the team through the playoffs.

Fuailetolo finished with 110 passing yards off of 13-for-20 completions and a touchdown in the state championship game.

“He’s a warrior, and the kids responded to him,” Berry said. “They saw that he sacrificed himself, really, for the team. He put his name on the line and what an unbelievable job.”

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