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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.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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OGDEN — It took Ogden 3 minutes and 57 seconds to take the lead in a 3A first-round high school football playoff game Friday against Union — only because the Cougars had the ball first.

When Ogden’s defense stopped Union on fourth down deep in their own territory, the Tigers had the ball at the 18 for their initial play from scrimmage.

Senior running back Cy Arnold took a pitch out wide, swung around the left end, cut upfield and raced untouched 82 yards for a touchdown with 8:03 on the clock. The rout was underway.

“I thought, you know what, I’m ready to break one big, ready to get some big yards here; show them who’s boss,” Arnold said. “It’s a C-gap run, and Blake (Weston), bless his soul, he got a good block on that corner, so I bounced it outside, got to the sideline and I’m gone.”

For the second time this season, No. 6 Ogden blew out No. 11 Union, by almost the exact same score, and advanced to the quarterfinals at No. 3 Grantsville with a dominant, 42-6 victory.

“We remembered Ben Lomond had a really good team last year … and (Union) came in and beat them,” Arnold said. “That was our big focus; don’t disrespect these guys. If we don’t lock in, they can blow past us. Make sure we move on to Grantsville.”

Arnold rushed for two first-quarter touchdowns and the Tigers (7-3) put their first 28 points up on the board via the ground game.

“We ran on these guys last time and thought we could run it hard on them again and pick up some big yards,” Arnold said. “I was determined to have a big game. My line, they’re the best. They do everything for me. I need to treat them to pancakes or something.

“Pound it early. Bully them and it will open up our passing game,” Arnold added.

Which it did, as senior quarterback Vinnie Apodaca threw a pair of 28-yard touchdown passes in the third quarter, which started a running clock.

“I feel like the time was great. Coach (Erik) Thompson trusts me and asked what I wanted to do and I told him let me air the ball out. I’m always ready,” Apodaca said. “We’ve been together since my sophomore year and we have a brain alike. He’s my best friend and we have a bond I’ve never had with any other coach.”

Ogden only took 1 minute and 11 seconds into the third quarter to put up that fourth rushing touchdown, this one a 7-yarder by Keen Crowther, making it 28-6.

“We did play a little down to their level in the first half; didn’t play how I know Ogden can,” Apodaca said. “Our coach told us we’re the best team in the state right now. That’s how we feel. We can’t sit down and lay low. It’s time to go, no more waiting around.”

Apodaca then threw his two 28-yard touchdown passes, one to sophomore receiver Jack Thompson and the other to sophomore Nash Bockwoldt, who made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch.

“Here at Ogden, we don’t play favorites. We have the people for it and go one by one and see who’s the best. Everyone is good,” Apodaca said.

Arnold had the two TDs in the first quarter, following up his 82-yarder with an 8-yard plow through the middle on Ogden’s second possession, capping a nine-play drive for a 14-0 lead at the 1:23 mark of the period.

After an exchange of punts, the Tigers again scored on a nine-play march, finalized by Kale Flint’s 3-yard touchdown run midway through the second stanza.

Union (2-9) scored late in the quarter on a 30-yard pass from Dylan Watahomigie to JD Mojado for the 21-6 margin at the break.

The quarterfinal at Grantsville (8-2) on Friday, Nov. 1, is a rematch of a Sept. 27 region game in which no touchdowns were scored and Grantsville won 17-0.

Apodaca, who suffered a concussion earlier this season, is raring to go.

“I’m 100%. I’m ready to go take down Grantsville next week. I’ve been waiting for this rematch since Week 6,” Apodaca said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play this game still. A lot of people are sitting at home. I’m playing for another game in my senior season.”