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Foothill gets rolled by Desert Hills

Football coaches know their teams won’t win many games if it commit turnovers.

Marty Redmond saw this firsthand Friday, as Foothill became turnover prone against defending Utah 3A state champion Desert Hills.

The Falcons turned the ball over five times, including three during a four-minute span in the second quarter, and the Thunder took full advantage as they rolled to a 41-0 victory.

In the second quarter, Desert Hills turned two fumbles and an interception into 20 points. The Thunder took complete control of the game after, leading 27-0 at halftime. In the opening half, Desert Hills held Foothill’s high-powered aerial attack to just 11 yards.

“No doubt about it, we got whipped in every facet of the game,” Redmond said. “It’s certainly disappointing to turn in a performance like this in the home opener. But we played a very talented football team, and we got whipped.”

Desert Hills rushed for 208 yards, and was led by Cowdin Bridger’s 148 on 18 carries. By contrast, Foothill managed just 37 yards on the ground on 27 carries.

Desert Hills quarterback Nick Warmsley threw for 132 yards and three scores and ran for another. Warmsley completed passes to eight different receivers.

Foothill’s Devon Mueller and Nick Gardner split time at quarterback, and the two combined to go 10-of-24 passing for just 67 yards.

Throw in a 13-yard punt, two missed field goals and six total first downs and it wasn’t the way Foothill wanted to open the season.

“Once we got the three straight turnovers, the wind certainly left our sail,” Redmond said. “Make no mistake about it, (Desert Hills) simply took it to us, and never let the foot off the gas pedal.”

Desert Hills, leading 7-0, cashed in on a pair of Justice Jackson fumbles for touchdowns, and Nephi Sewell intercepted a pass and went 36 yards untouched for another Thunder touchdown.

Foothill came close to scoring in the fourth quarter when it got to the Thunder 13-yard line, but was stopped on fourth-and-2 as Desert Hills preserved the shutout.

Warmsley threw a nine-yard TD pass to Zak Fuchs, and an 18-yard strike to Mason Palmer for the other Thunder scores.

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