Taylor-made title for Eagle in 5A championship game

Tough guys wearing green were reduced to tears, only this time they were the good kind for Eagle High.

The Mustangs shocked previously unbeaten Capital with a 2-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to escape Bronco Stadium with a 22-21 victory Friday night in the 5A football state championship game.

Eagle, which also won state championships in 1998 (4A) and 2001 (5A), finishes 11-1 for the second consecutive season.

The victory erased sad memories of a championship loss last fall against Highland - a game standout quarterback Taylor Kelly missed because of injury.

"Last year, I couldn't do anything on the sideline and it felt horrible," said Kelly, who has verbally committed to Nevada. "É I feel amazing right now. We've been working so hard since May. We've been dreaming, believing. It's just awesome."

The senior made up for last year's missed opportunity with an MVP-worthy performance against Capital (11-1). He completed 15-of-21 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown, and ran for a game-high 103 yards and two TDs, including a 26-yard scoring run with 2 minutes, 39 seconds remaining to pull his team within a point.

"Capital's defense was tough and Taylor was able to make just enough plays," Eagle coach Paul Peterson said. "That's why Taylor Kelly is signed, sealed and delivered for the next level. He's different than the rest of the kids out here."

After Kelly's run, Eagle faked the point-after try and kicker Jace Johnson took a pitch around the left end to give the Mustangs their first lead in the game.

"I planned it. I knew that if we got down the field at the end of the ball game and it was tie or go for two, I was rolling the dice," Peterson said. "I didn't have a decision to make. I made it a couple days ago."

The plan paid off and Eagle's defense made sure Capital didn't spoil the party.

Capital was stopped on fourth-and-18 on the ensuing drive, then got one more chance after stopping Eagle with 11 seconds left. A desperation 60-yard field-goal attempt by senior Capital kicker Eric Niblett, however, fell short.

"One point, unfortunately, makes you feel pretty darned bad," Capital coach Todd Simis said. "É There's nothing you can say to take this pain away. Hopefully, in time, they'll look back and say, 'It's been a heck of a ride.' "

Capital got on the scoreboard first when quarterback Jeremy Powers capped a 61-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:51 remaining in the first quarter.

Eagle responded about 7 minutes later, taking advantage of a blocked punt by DJ Dean that rolled out of bounds at Capital's 24-yard line. Four plays later, Kelly dove in from 2 yards away to even the score 7-7.

Capital went back ahead with 3:35 remaining in the first half when Powers capped an 80-yard drive with a 12-yard TD pass to tight end Kyle Sosnowski for a 14-7 halftime lead.

The second half started slow, but Eagle evened the score on an 11-yard TD pass from Kelly to receiver Jordan Thompson with 1:17 left in the third quarter.

Capital bounced back and grabbed a 21-14 lead with 9:04 left in the game when offensive lineman Parker Kamps recovered a fumble by Powers in the end zone.

Eagle failed to score on its next drive, but the Mustangs took advantage of a shanked punt with 3:17 remaining in the game and took over at Capital's 46-yard line. Kelly connected with Thompson for 20 yards on the drive's first play to set up his own 26-yard TD run.

"We've been in a lot of tough battles," Peterson said. "There is no panic on our sideline."

Kelly finishes the season with 2,350 yards and 20 TDs through the air and 1,005 yards and eight TDs on the ground.

Senior running back Charlie McMartin led Capital's offense with 23 carries for 101 yards.

"I would put this on the coaches and Eagle's great effort, not on our kids, because they gave everything they had," Simis said.