Faith Lutheran’s magical run ends in 5A football state title game — PHOTOS
The Faith Lutheran football team’s magical playoff run came to an end in a 42-23 loss to Northern Region champion Spanish Springs in the Class 5A football state championship game Tuesday at Allegiant Stadium.
Cougars quarterback Tyson McNeil led the way, completing 20 of his 31 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns to help his team complete a 13-0 season and win the first football state title in program history.
Crusaders coach Jay Staggs said his squad, which lost six of its first seven games before catching fire, was aware of McNeil’s abilities and had developed a strategy to slow him.
“We felt we had a plan,” Staggs said. “But we didn’t execute that plan. They have a very good offense and McNeil is a very talented player.”
Spanish Springs wasted no time in seizing momentum, capping a seven-play opening drive with a 44-yard touchdown pass from McNeil to Jackson Sundeen to go ahead 7-0.
The Crusaders (6-8) cut the deficit to 7-3 when Liam Radke nailed a 33-yard field goal on their first possession, but the Cougars were just getting started. Brady Hummel scored on a 41-yard pass from McNeil late in the first quarter to extend the lead to 14-3. The first of three Faith Lutheran turnovers moments later resulted in a 12-yard rushing score for Hummel.
A 1-yard pass from McNeil to Hummel with eight seconds remaining in the second quarter put Spanish Springs up 28-3 at halftime.
Staggs, whose squad overcame a 28-0 second-half deficit to rally for a 31-28 win over Centennial in the state semifinals, said Spanish Springs balanced its effective passing game with a steady dose of running plays in the second half.
“You kind of have to pick your poison,” said Staggs, who added he thought his team could pull off another comeback. “But we just weren’t getting the stops we needed.”
Spanish Springs coach Rob Hummel said his team felt confident coming in that it could exploit weaknesses in Faith Lutheran’s defense.
“We felt like we could create some situations where we could get some good matchups,” Hummel said. “We planned to take whatever they’d give us.”
Spanish Springs’ JJ Stewart carried for a score and Cooper Milligan caught McNeil’s final touchdown pass late in the third quarter to put his team ahead 42-10.
Faith Lutheran quarterback Dominick Folino, who completed his first 10 passes, ran for a late touchdown and threw one to Eli Gordon on the game’s final play.
Aipa Kuloloia had five receptions for 75 yards to help the Crusaders, while teammate Jaden Mason caught six passes for 72 yards.
Brady Hummel had 11 receptions for 178 yards for the Cougars.
Faith Lutheran had won its last four games and was appearing in its third straight state title game. The Crusaders were looking for their second state title and first since 2013.
Contact Jeff Wollard at jwollard@reviewjournal.com.
