Big-play defense rescues Eagle football from historic loss, spoils rival’s perfect season
Friday night won’t go down as the Eagle High defense’s best performance on paper. But the Mustangs have their defense to thank for a 49-21 win over Meridian.
On the ropes early, Eagle’s defense made two game-changing plays. Cortland Horton forced a fumble at the goal line, and linebacker Brett Tommasini blocked a punt on the next possession to revive a lifeless Eagle team.
“They’ve done that a lot this year,” Eagle quarterback Ben Ford said. “We’ve had to lean on them a lot. They are a great group of guys out there. It was a very impressive performance for them.”
The Mustangs’ high-flying offense took care of the rest on their way to their 14th straight win over Meridian (3-1, 3-1 5A SIC West).
No. 5-ranked Eagle (3-1, 3-1) scored 28 unanswered points after falling into a 7-0 deficit. Meridian could never pull any closer than two scores the rest of the night as Eagle racked up 461 total yards, including 330 on the ground.
Ford finished 11-of-13 with 131 yards and three TDs through the air. He also added another 144 yards on 10 carries.
Jackson Stampfli ran for 130 yards and three TDs on 16 carries, and Ethan Mikita provided the final score on a 7-yard run.
All the momentum started on the Meridian sideline as it mounted a 15-play, 68-yard touchdown drive to open the game. Ford then sailed an out route on Eagle’s first play from scrimmage, and Meridian’s Ashton Gardner made the diving interception.
Three plays later, the Warriors had first-and-goal at the 1-yard line threatening to take a commanding, 14-0 lead. But Horton and a host of Mustangs knifed into the backfield and dislodged the ball from Kross Antonnacchi’s hands. Drew Tadje recovered it.
Ford found Cannon Morgan for a 7-yard TD pass as Eagle pulled even and shook off the rust of a bye week. The defense then forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, setting the stage for Tommasini’s blocked punt.
Stampfli punched in a 4-yard TD run three plays later, and it was all Eagle the rest of the way.
“That turnover where they could have pushed it up to 14-0 was a huge turning point in the game,” Eagle coach John Hartz said. “… I really think our offense moved the ball effectively all night. It just became can our defense make stops? And they made enough, for sure.”
Ford and Eagle’s potent offense often draw all the attention. But the Mustangs’ defense entered the week allowing the second fewest points in the 5A classification (9.3 per game). That average will climb as Meridian scored twice late when the game was already out of reach. But the Mustangs’ defense will take the victory.
“I like playing beside these guys,” Tommasini said. “They’re studs. I enjoy it. I think we all work hard and just have fun.”
The win puts Eagle in the driver’s seat for a second-place finish in the 5A SIC West Division. The Mustangs can finish no worse than second with a win at Centennial (0-4, 0-4) on Oct. 16 after a bye week.
A division title and spot in the conference championship game still remains in the picture, but the Mustangs will need Meridian to upset Rocky Mountain on Oct. 16 and then hope the tiebreakers go their way.
Friday spoiled a historic start for Meridian, which was off to its best start since going undefeated and winning the 2007 state title. The Warriors snapped a 12-game losing streak to Mountain View two weeks ago but came up short of ending another losing streak to another West Ada School District foe.
Junior quarterback Malakai Martinez led Meridian, finishing 28-of-45 for 264 yards and two TDs.
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 11:13 PM.
