In a terrific performance, Lone Peak upset two-time defending state champion, Bingham. The Knights dominated Bingham in the semifinals of the UHSAA Class 5A State Championship, snapping the Miners’ 36 in-state win streak.
Bingham, at 12-1, came into the contest with on 10-game win streak ranking 22nd in the DigitalSports National Football Rankings and 1st in Utah. Entering undefeated, Lone Peak ranked 79th in the country and 2nd in the state. Coming into the game, the two teams seemed fairly even, but that was not the case.
The game started slowly. Bingham scored the only points of the first quarter with a field goal. In the second quarter, Lone Peak to control of the game, breaking out to a 17-point advantage with three unanswered touchdowns.
Picking up where they left off, the Knights added on another TD in the third quarter. Bingham managed the only six points of the fourth; however Lone Peak’s 26-9 lead was too much to come back from.
Talmage Gunther was involved in all four of the Knights’ touchdowns. The senior quarterback completed 11-of-18 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Gunther also rushed the ball 17 times, gaining 77 yards and another score.
His favorite targets were Jon Christensen and Jackson McChesney. Christensen reeled in five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. McChesney gained 159 yards and two scores on his three catches.
Moving on to the championship game, Lone Peak prepares to face Herriman in the finals on November 20. The Mustangs have breezed through the playoffs thus far with their powerful offense and solid defense. Kickoff is at 2:30pm.
