RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Alta defenders celebrate a touchdown after blocking and recovering a punt during a high school football game hosted by Alta against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
It took a year, but Alta got its revenge on Springville for the one-score defeat the Red Devils handed the Hawks in last season’s opener, winning 38-35 Friday night in Sandy in a choppy contest.
“My initial thoughts (are) we got a lot to clean up,” Alta head coach Blake Burdette said following his team’s victory. “We had … things we can control that we need to do, but I’m proud of the fight of the boys.”
Burdette’s boys were down 35-24 entering the fourth quarter before a 9-yard touchdown run from senior running back Lucas Pagel brought the game within one score with 9:36 to play.
Moments later, an interception by Alta junior defensive back Bronson Schriever put the Hawks back on the attack.
“That was awesome,” Burdette said of Schriever’s timely turnover. “Our goal this year is (to) win the turnover margin every game, and we did that today.”
Alta defenders celebrate a fumble recovery during a high school football game against Springville at Alta High School on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Springville’s Wesley Yearsley (4) is swarmed by Alta defenders during a high school football game at Alta High School in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta’s Xavier Cocci (16) passes the ball during a high school football game against Springville at Alta High School on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta defenders celebrate a fumble recovery during a high school football game against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta defenders celebrate a touchdown after blocking and recovering a punt during a high school football game hosted by Alta against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta’s Xavier Cocci (16) tries to avoid a tackle by Springville’s Treyton Harris (28) during a high school football game in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Springville football players watch as a referee completes a coin toss during a high school football game against Alta in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta team captains walk to center field for the coin toss during a high school football game against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Springville’s Phoenix Marks (16) kicks a PAT during a high school football game against Alta in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Children sit on the Alta letters during a high school football game against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta’s Madden McAllister (15) kicks a PAT during a football game against Springville at Alta High School on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Springville’s Damian Baby Tupou (3) checks to make sure he is onside during a high school football game against Alta at Alta High School on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Springville’s Beckett Burton (15) hands the ball off to his teammate Wesley Yearsley (4) during a high school football game against Alta at Alta High School on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta’s Treven Cooke (7) runs the ball during a high school football game against Springville at Alta High School on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Springville’s Sioasi Toki (6) runs the ball during a high school football game against Alta at Alta High School in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta’s Xavier Cocci (16) passes the ball during a high school football game hosted by Alta against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Springville’s Bradley Miller (11) passes the ball during a high school football game hosted by Alta against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta’s Breck Warren (2) catches the ball and runs for a touchdown during a high school football game hosted by Alta against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Alta’s Maximus Cocci (4) runs the ball as Springville’s Cooper Creer (2) closes in during a high school football game hosted by Alta against Springville in Sandy on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
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Lukas Katilius, Deseret News
Following the interception, Alta ground away the 37 yards it needed to score a touchdown, running the ball seven times and passing it just once on what became the game-winning drive.
The Hawks found the end zone on a 6-yard rush from senior running back Treven Cooke with just under three-and-a-half minutes to go.
The Red Devils were unable to score in that limited time, turning the ball over on downs before Alta ran the clock out.
The Hawks never trailed in the first half, taking a 17-7 lead to the locker room. Alta held the advantage thanks to a blocked punt that led to a special teams touchdown and a fumble recovery that saw the Sandy squad punch in its first score of the season on a 22-yard pass from senior quarterback Xavier Cocci to senior wideout Breck Warren.
However, reminiscent of the teams’ August 2025 meeting, the Hawks saw things change in a hurry in one quarter.
In last year’s season opener, Springville scored three of its four total touchdowns in the second quarter to pick up the victory. This year, the Red Devils’ big quarter came in the third as Springville exploded for 28 points in the frame, all while keeping Alta’s offense off the field for much of that time.
The visitors secured two interceptions and recovered a live ball on a kickoff, taking over the contest in a blink of an eye.
However, this time around it did not doom the Hawks, who ultimately...
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