Iron Horse: Ogden bolsters playoff hopes with 56-8 rout of Ben Lomond
Tigers improve odds for a home postseason berth
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- Ogden lineman Eduardo Contreras (75) runs with the football as Ben Lomond’s Kaden Lopez (51) attempts a tackle during the Iron Horse Game on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond’s Chris Zavala, center, rushes the football as Ogden’s Harrison Hoskins (21) closes for a tackle during the Iron Horse Game on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Cy Arnold (10) tries to break the tackle of Ben Lomond’s Kaden Lopez (51) during the Iron Horse Game on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond quarterback Eddie Zavala (9) rears back to throw the football as Alexander Gutierrez (6) blocks against Ogden during the Iron Horse Game on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ogden teammates celebrate with Synic Harvey (5) after he returned a punt for a touchdown during the Iron Horse Game against Ben Lomond on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond player Alexander Gutierrez (6) questions a flag during the Iron Horse Game against Ogden on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ben Lomond head football coach Lyndon Johnson gestures during the Iron Horse Game against Ogden on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Nash Bockwoldt, left, and Max Wilson celebrate during the Iron Horse Game against Ben Lomond on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Nash Bockwoldt runs with the football against Ben Lomond during the Iron Horse Game on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Jackson Turner (22) eyes an incoming football as Ben Lomond’s Amir Odeh (19) defends during the Iron Horse Game on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Nash Bockwoldt hauls in a pass for what became a touchdown against Ben Lomond during the Iron Horse Game on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
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- Ogden’s Eduardo Contreras (75) celebrates with teammate Jarron Kearney during the Iron Horse Game against Ben Lomond on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Ogden.
OGDEN — There will be little debate over this year’s Iron Horse game.
It took as little as nine minutes for Ogden to mount a four-score lead on crosstown foe Ben Lomond on the way to a convincing 56-8 win in Thursday’s regular-season finale at Conroy Stadium.
The Tigers (6-3, 2-3 Region 1) seemingly found an outlet for frustrations stemming from a 62-point shutout at Morgan the week prior, as Ogden outplayed the Scots (0-10, 0-5) from the game’s second snap — the first nearly resulting in a fumble recovered by BL in Ogden territory.
But a loose ball on the game’s first play became arguably the Scots’ lone highlight of the first half, with three turnovers and four punts catalyzing a 50-0 start by the Tigers.
With a six-win Tigers team for the first time since 2020, Ogden head coach Erik Thompson now looks ahead anxiously to the release of the 3A football playoff brackets Saturday morning. Ogden’s odds for a home berth strengthen slightly with Thursday’s win.
More importantly, Thompson was pleased with how motivated his group looked this week during practice in anticipation of bringing the Iron Horse back to Ogden High.
“These guys really wanted to get it back,” Thompson said. “They were focused this week right up to the start of the game … Everyone contributed and you’ve got to give it to the (BL) kids that worked really hard. (BL coach Lyndon Johnson) always has his kids playing hard.”
Vinnie Apodaca, back in the Ogden lineup a week after missing action due to concussion protocol, made it clear he was feeling himself again with three uninterrupted first-down completions on the game’s opening drive.
Cy Arnold carried in a 15-yard touchdown run to complete the drive, with Eduardo Contreras capitalizing on a last-second, two-point attempt made tempting by a BL offside penalty. With the wheels turning, the Tiger defense promptly forced a quick three-and-out from the Scots and Synic Harvey raced home a 40-yard punt return for six more points.
Contreras recovered a botched handoff by Eddie Zavala, bringing the Ogden offense back out at the Scots’ 14-yard line. Kale Flint did the honors for the third score of the night, charging 4 yards into paydirt to make it a 22-0 lead with 6:51 left in the first quarter.
Asked about his role in the first half, Contreras said identifying missing links between the quarterback and running back was one of the defense’s main bullet points this week.
“We’ve been practicing that all week, so I think that was pretty cool,” Contreras said.
Another stop by the Tigers led to a 55-yard touchdown connection between Apodaca and sophomore tight end Nash Bockwoldt. With the first quarter winding down, Ogden’s Gavin Shreve blocked and recovered a Ben Lomond punt in the end zone with 27 seconds to go.
The 36-0 Ogden advantage grew larger with a second defensive takeaway by the Tigers, this time on a pick-six returned by sophomore linebacker Blake Weston. Weston scored again, pulling down a 24-yard touchdown pass from Apodaca with 8:12 left in the half.
Zavala completed an 8-yard pass late in the second quarter to move the sticks, but the Scots couldn’t capitalize.
With the clock moving, Ben Lomond managed possession for the entirety of the third quarter and closed its longest drive with a 5-yard Zavala touchdown run and a two-point conversion successfully drawn by Kaden Lopez.
Ogden had the final say when freshman Elijah Gastelum picked up a large chunk on the ground to set the Tigers up inside the BL 5-yard line. Sophomore Anderson Curry profited on Gastelum’s big gain with a short touchdown rush in the waning minutes.
It’s no secret the season’s been a far cry from what Scots head coach Lyndon Johnson wanted for his team, but the seasoned coach tipped his cap to the seniors and leaders who stepped up each week and weathered the storm.
“It’s not easy to do what they did,” Johnson said. “I’m proud that they did that. They just hung in. We’ve talked about how you’ve got to hang in in life and they stayed right with us.”
The UHSAA is set to release playoff brackets for all classifications at 10 a.m. Saturday.
MORGAN 72, UNION 0
ROOSEVELT — Morgan finished its undefeated regular season with yet another rout of a region opponent, ultimately outscoring Region 13 foes 297-3 in five games and averaging 4.3 points allowed per game for the season.
Beck Sheffield led Morgan (10-0, 5-0 Region 13) with three touchdown passes, all three going to Boston Zack. Lincoln Gilson scored two rushing touchdowns and one more on a punt return. Drew Korth tallied a rushing touchdown, while Luke Bauerle (fumble return) and Tate Steel (interception return) each ran in defensive touchdowns.
Cade Randall threw a touchdown pass to Eli Mortensen and Carter Gorham booted a 41-yard field goal.
BEAR RIVER 50, LOGAN 8
LOGAN — Jaxson Theurer passed for three touchdowns and Bear River ended the regular season with a thumping of Logan (2-8, 0-6 Region 11) on the road in the rain.
Tydon Jones returned an interception 64 yards for a pick-six to open the scoring for Bear River (3-7, 2-4). Logan responded with a touchdown and led 8-6 before the Bears scored seven unanswered touchdowns.
Theurer tossed a 33-yard scoring strike to Eli Braegger, then Brecken Haynes returned a blocked field goal 80 yards for a touchdown as the first-half clock expired. Including nightlong PAT misadventures, BR led 18-8 at the half.
Gladen Behrens scores the next two touchdowns: a 4-yard scamper and a 68-yard screen pass from Theurer. Late in the third quarter, Kash Avery scored on a 29-yard double-reverse, flea-flicker pass from Theurer for a 36-8 lead.
Reggie Hess scored on a 17-yard run early in the fourth quarter, and Preston Wilkinson capped the scoring with a 58-yard bomb to Dalton Williams with 14 seconds left in the game.
Brett Hein and Justin Johnson contributed to score reports.
IRON HORSE BOX SCORE
Ben Lomond 0 0 0 8 – 8
Ogden High 36 14 0 6 – 56
FIRST QUARTER
8:59 – Ogden touchdown: C. Arnold 15-yard run. Two-point attempt good. (8-0)
7:46 – Ogden touchdown: Harvey 40-yard punt return. PAT good. (15-0)
6:51 – Ogden touchdown: Flint 4-yard run. PAT good. (22-0)
3:00 – Ogden touchdown: Bockwoldt 55-yard pass from Apodaca. PAT good. (29-0)
0:27 – Ogden touchdown: Shreve punt block and recovery. PAT good. (36-0)
SECOND QUARTER
10:59 – Ogden touchdown: Weston interception return. PAT good. (43-0)
8:12 – Ogden touchdown: Weston 24-yard pass from Apodaca. PAT good. (50-0)
FOURTH QUARTER
9:48 – Ben Lomond touchdown: E. Zavala 5-yard run. Two-point attempt good. (50-8)
3:55 – Ogden touchdown: Curry 5-yard run. PAT no good. (56-8)
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
