Prep football: Fremont uses goal-line stand to win 15-7 slugfest over Layton
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- Fremont’s Owen Simkins (20) carries the football as Layton’s Dawson Pimentel, left, and JP Garlick (13) try to make a stop on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Malu Lumpkins, right, goes to the turf as Fremont’s Brant Koford, left, grabs for the football on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Michael Marriott (2) tries to break a tackle from Fremont’s Brant Koford (49) on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Fremont’s Slade Parker (2) tries to escape the grasp of Layton’s Tobin Smith on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Fremont quarterback Manase Tuatagaloa (5) escapes the tackle attempt of Layton’s Jefferson Hunt (43) on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Michael Marriott (2) runs past Fremont’s Kamren Wolff (11) on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Boston Chavez, bottom, wraps up the legs of Fremont’s Zach Masters (6) on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Michael Marriott, right, celebrates a touchdown against Fremont on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Fremont’s Salesi Moa runs with teh football against Layton on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton’s Andrew Simmons (22) and teammates line up for a kickoff against Fremont on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Fremont’s Jace Hadley runs with a kick return as Layton’s Boston Chavez (19) pursues on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Layton quarterback Madden Sargent rears back to throw against Fremont on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
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- Fremont quarterback Manase Tuatagaloa takes a snap against Layton on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Layton.
LAYTON — Second-half comebacks have been a hallmark of the Layton Lancers this season.
So, when Fremont reeled off 15 straight points to take a 15-7 lead late in the third quarter, it figured that a Lancer rebound was inevitable.
The Silverwolves weren’t having it.
Fremont extinguished those thoughts with a goal-line stand and a turnover on downs on Layton’s final two possessions to preserve the score, spoil homecoming and give the Silverwolves a piece of first place in Region 1 after opening weekend.
“I can’t say enough about our defense,” Fremont head coach Nate Tuatagaloa said. “Our (defensive coordinator) and our whole defensive staff had them dialed in. It’s that old adage, when they say, ‘What’s better, technique or attitude?’ Today we had both after that first (Layton) drive.”
Layton’s opening possession could have broken Fremont right out of the gate.
Layton (4-2, 0-1 Region 1) — who was playing its first class 6A opponent of the season — took the opening kickoff at its own 40 and steamrolled right down the field, running 14 plays and burning nearly nine minutes of the opening period while an anxious Fremont offense remained stuck on the sideline.
After Michael Marriott scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns a week ago to help Layton overcome a 17-3 deficit to West Jordan, the senior running back finished the drive with a direct snap, 2-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
Fremont rolled out a 15-play drive on its first turn but the Silverwolves came away with no points after quarterback Manase Tuatagaloa’s pass fell incomplete on fourth-and-goal from the Layton 6.
Fremont (4-2, 1-0) came into the contest averaging 52 points per game during its three-game winning streak.
The Silverwolves kept knocking at the door but repeatedly came away empty-handed.
A fumble at the Layton 20 stymied one drive and a 42-yard field goal attempt that banged off the left post killed another.
Meanwhile, after its stumble to open the game, Fremont’s defense had the Lancers on lockdown.
Finally, with 5:08 left in the third quarter, following a couple of near misses in the end zone, Tuatagaloa and Salesi Moa put the Silverwolves on the scoreboard with a 15-yard touchdown completion.
Even though it was still relatively early, the elder Tuatagaloa didn’t hesitate to go for a two-point conversion.
Slade Parker hauled in a short pass and Fremont had an 8-7 advantage.
“I’m confident that we could make that because we do that in our sleep,” coach Tuatagaloa said. “Worst-case scenario, I knew that we could score again; best-case scenario, they’ve got to play from behind and we’re hoping that we can push their pace a little bit more.
“We want to make sure that our kids know we have full confidence in them. If we didn’t make it then we’re confident that we’re going to score again anyway, so I wasn’t worried about that.”
As it turned out, it was all the points that Fremont would need thanks to a stellar defensive effort down the stretch.
Following Moa’s touchdown, Parker made a remarkable catch to intercept Layton’s Madden Sargent and the Silverwolves were back in business at the Layton 41.
Moa again caught a touchdown from his junior quarterback, this from 8 yards out on a crossing route, to stretch the lead to 15-7 deep into the third.
The never-say-die Lancers had one last push. They answered the touchdown with a 15-play drive, moving from their own 26 to the Fremont 1 while converting a pair of fourth downs along the way.
But the Silverwolves twice shut down Marriott from the 1 before a pair of incompletions handed the ball over.
Following a short Fremont punt, the Lancers had one last shot with 5:08 to play from Fremont’s 26. But a sack sandwiched between a pair of incompletions all but ended Layton’s chances.
“Layton is a really good team. They’re ranked fifth (in RPI) for a reason,” coach Tuatagaloa said. “I’m so happy because these are the kinds of games that we need to win. We need to learn how to play like this, we need to learn how to win this way and we need to learn to trust our defense.”
For Layton, Sargent passed 15 of 30 for 159 yards and one interception. Fremont held Marriott to 26 yards on 13 carries. Teiyon Halbasch caught five passes for 52 yards. Carlos Diaz had 11 total tackles and Carter Hughes added six solo tackles.
Fremont stats were not available Friday night.
