Game of the Week: West Side, senior running back Crew Sage, overcome early deficit to top Firth
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FIRTH — Coming off a dominant 45-0 Week 0 win over New Plymouth, the Firth Cougars got off to a strong start against reigning 2A state champs West Side Friday night at Firth.
Behind a pair of explosive plays from senior running back Fisher Arnold, the Cougars snatched an early 13-0 lead and had the ball following a successful onside kick. But the Pirates, who have won four state titles in the past five years, showed the grit and determination of a champion, slowing the Cougar offense long enough for senior running back Crew Sage and the offense to take over for a 33-19 victory.
“They showed a lot of toughness — mental toughness,” West Side head coach Tyson Moser said after the game. “(Firth is) a dang good football team. … That game could have very easily snowballed on us — I mean, we could have lost that game 40-6. But these kids, they’ve just got a lot of heart.”
After forcing a punt on the Pirates’ first possession, Firth went the length of the field for a touchdown and the game’s first points. The nine-play, 90-yard drive was highlighted by a 68-yard run off the right end by Arnold.
Before the game, Firth head coach Rigo Vasquez said that the key to beating West Side was establishing a strong run game.
“Offensively, we need to have a good, strong line — get a good push and maintain our blocks. If we continue to do that, I think we’ll be successful,” he said.
The Cougars forced a turnover on downs on the ensuing possession and added six more on a six-yard scamper by senior quarterback Darrell Vasquez.
Firth got the ball right back on a successful onside kick, and had all the momentum to go with their 13-0 lead.
Moser said that Firth may have had an advantage early, having already played a game and gotten their early-season jitters out.
“I think we got shellshocked right off the bat,” he said. “They came out and really smacked us early.”
Having already been punched in the mouth, the Pirate defense responded, forcing Firth off the field on downs. And West Side, who had already gotten Sage involved, let the tailback take control of the game.
Sage carried the ball on second, third and fourth down — the last on a fake punt — then caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trayce Stone for West Side’s first points of the young season.
The excitement on the West Side sideline was short-lived, however, as Arnold returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown and 19-7 Firth lead.
From there, though, it was all Pirates, who scored 26 unanswered.
The immediate response came after a West Side punt, giving the Cougars the ball with just under two minutes remaining in the first half. Looking to add to their lead, Firth instead saw West Side scoop a fumble and take it to the endzone.
Still, Firth had another shot at a first-half score and got into the Pirate red zone before Vasquez was intercepted by Sage — playing cornerback while also leading the offense.
West Side scored on its second possession of the second half to take a 20-19 lead. Sage added two more scores — one rushing and one receiving — to ice Firth, which found nothing in the second half.
Sage finished the game with 34 yards receiving and 161 yards rushing — on 23 carries.
“I thought he might have had 40 carries,” said Moser, who noted that Sage was forced into a heavier workload due to some injuries suffered this week. “He was our horse tonight. … He stepped up and had a huge night.”
Sage, who came out for short stint in the third quarter due to cramps, added:
“We started out pretty slow, but we came together, fought hard and came back. It was fun.”
Moser said he was proud of how his team “refused to let (the game) get out of hand” and hung on long enough to wear the Cougars down. He credited Firth for their play, but noted that some mental mistakes from his squad did not help their situation.
Firth (1-1) will play next week at Soda Springs (0-2), who lost to Ririe, 50-6, Friday. West Side (1-0) will open their home schedule, facing South Fremont (1-1), coming off a 41-13 loss at Marsh Valley.
Asked how his team can carry the second-half momentum into next week and beyond, Sage said the key will be not getting too high or too low — or falling into another early deficit.
“We’ve just got to take it week by week and improve,” he said. … “We’ve got to start out stronger next week.”