Prep football: Roy’s Young, Morris put on speed clinic in 35-0 shutout of Clearfield
Royals outrun Falcons for first Region 5 win, welcome back Fred Fernandes
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- Roy senior Robert Young (5) is hoisted by senior teammate Cade Draper (65) after scoring a touchdown during a home game vs. Clearfield Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Roy.
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- Clearfield junior Landon Hittle (12) charges into a pack of Royals during a road game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Roy.
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- Roy senior Kahekili Eleneke (21) turns and burns down the sideline during a home game vs. Clearfield Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Roy.
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- Roy seniors Jaxton Scoffield (7) and Coy Tuckett (13) lead the swarm on Clearfield junior Landon Hittle (12) during a home game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Roy.
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- Clearfield senior Jordan Tovey (18) calls a huddle during a road game at Roy Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Roy.
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- Before kickoff, Roy High honors former coach and current Clearfield assistant Fred Fernandes with a commemorative plaque on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Roy.
ROY — Robert Young and Zay Morris aren’t just fast. They’re very, very fast.
The Roy skill duo made that clear, stringing together every score penciled into a 35-0 shutout over Clearfield in Friday’s Region 5 opener.
The two Royals headlined a night commemorating the return of longtime Roy coach Fred Fernandes — recognized and presented a commemorative plaque before kickoff — as Clearfield head coach Cody Caputo’s offensive coordinator and assistant coach.
Scoring plays from Young and Morris alone amassed 172 yards, with senior Dru Gardner leading the Royals (4-0) to a three-score lead on the Falcons (1-3) by the break — but the kickoff didn’t quite spell out such a scenario for Roy.
The Falcons’ special teams unit delivered arguably the strongest start head coach Cody Caputo could’ve asked for, with senior Sean Peterson scooping up a fumble by Roy senior Kahekili Eleneke on the Royals’ first play of the night.
But Clearfield’s highlight reel sputtered from there.
Stalled on fourth down at its 25-yard line, Clearfield handed the ball right back to the Roy offense and Young got to work ushering in the game’s first score with a 13-yard touchdown rush.
Clearfield junior Landon Hittle turned over the football mere moments into the Falcons’ corresponding drive, with Roy retrieving possession this time at the Clearfield 21-yard line. Gardner quickly drew up a 21-yard catch-and-go touchdown to Morris.
“We were just focused on trying to establish a run game,” Gardner said. “Over time, we just found little holes in their defense that we were able to pick apart. They’re a hardworking team, very well-coached with (Caputo and Fernandes) over there.”
Hittle seemingly repaid his debt with a large return, setting Clearfield up at the Roy 43-yard line. However, junior Tino Rader chalked up the Falcons’ third turnover of the night, fumbling the ball away near midfield.
Roy struggled to avoid the whistle throughout the second quarter with multiple penalties holding back potential third scores. Meanwhile, Clearfield senior starter Jordan Tovey could hardly catch a break from the Royals’ pass rush and the Falcons punted the ball away twice more before the end of the half.
Roy junior Carsten Engberg felt his defense emerge as a more cohesive unit Friday, citing former area star Maxx Johnson (Snow College) and the return of junior defensive end Ange Ahui to the starting lineup as key contributors to the Royals’ success.
“Practice makes perfect, that’s the best I can say,” Engberg said. “(Johnson)’s been helping me out looking at film outside of practice and stuff, and I’m happy that Ange Ahui’s back. He’s been a huge part of our D-line. I was really sad when he was out the first three weeks.”
As Engberg and the Roy defense kept making stops, Gardner and his toolkit kept making plays.
Gardner found Morris in the end zone again, this time on a 12-yard connection with 5:25 left in the half, to make it a three-score ballgame heading into the locker room.
Caputo said his group was outperformed on the line of scrimmage, even with what he considered to be some positive signs flashing inside the O-line.
“I think the big thing is physicality. I’m not sure that we matched it,” Caputo said. “That’s just something I’m going to continue to convey to the boys in our program. If we’re going to be competing with teams like (Roy), it’s all going to start in the offseason.”
Roy scored twice more in the second half: Young on a 49-yard rush and Gardner to Morris for 84 yards on a catch-and-run to trigger a running clock.
Late in the fourth quarter, Clearfield came as close to the end zone as it had all night with freshman Richard Barlow relieving Tovey on the game’s final drive. Caputo commended his group for sticking out the night and searching for an answer until the final bell.
“I wouldn’t say they backed down, but we got hit in the mouth tonight,” Caputo said. “This is the most physical team we’ve played so far and I just don’t think we were quite ready for it.”
Gardner was 11 of 14 for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Morris hauled in 147 yards and all three touchdowns, on four catches. Young rushed twice for 62 yards, both going for touchdowns, and caught four passes for 45 yards.
Logan Cella racked up 13 tackles and Ahui had three tackles for loss on his return.
Clearfield stats were not available.
Roy searches for a second Region 5 win next Thursday, Sept. 12 at Box Elder and Clearfield will look to bounce back Friday, Sept. 13 at home against Woods Cross.
BOX SCORE
Clearfield 0 0 0 0 — 0
Roy High 15 7 7 6 — 35
SCORING LOG
1ST QUARTER
7:06 – Roy touchdown: Young 13-yard run. 2-point try good. (RHS 8, CHS 0)
6:42 – Roy touchdown: Morris 21-yard pass from Gardner. PAT good. (RHS 15, CHS 0)
2ND QUARTER
5:25 – Roy touchdown: Morris 12-yard pass from Gardner. PAT good. (RHS 22, CHS 0)
3RD QUARTER
7:03 – Roy touchdown: Young 42-yard run. PAT good. (RHS 29, CHS 0)
4TH QUARTER
8:19 – Roy touchdown: Morris 84-yard catch-and-run pass from Gardner. PAT no good. (RHS 35, CHS 0).
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.