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LEHI — Davis traveled down I-15 to take on Lehi for the first game of the high school football season, but the home Pioneers used a 28-point first half to blow past the Darts 38-14.
Junior running back Devaughn Eka was a powerhouse for the Pioneers, finding the end zone three times, rushing for over 170 yards along with a 62-yard rushing touchdown.
Both offenses struggled early in the game with a botched snap by Davis, allowing the Pioneers to take over in Davis territory. It was to no avail as junior defensive back Isaac Morrison made an impressive one-handed interception to shut out the Pioneers on the 2-yard line.
Davis started one of its two scoring drives of the day with a 45-yard reception by Tyson Baggett. The Darts capped off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown reception by Bode Sparrow to take an early 7-0 lead.
But it didn't take long for the Pioneers to answer back.
Eka's 62-yard touchdown came on just the third play of the drive and knotted the score up.
After a three-and-out by Davis, Lehi got the ball back on the Darts side of the field, setting up Eka for his second rushing touchdown of the game.
"Devaughn is a dog. The future is bright for him," senior wideout Mays Madsen said. "You have to credit our offensive line, as well. That was just a good overall team win. Devaughn just did his thing, and it will be like that all season."
After Lehi got the ball back after a Davis punt to their 42-yard line, Eka escaped again for a score on an 18-yard rushing touchdown to give the Pioneers a 21-7 lead with just over two minutes left in the second quarter.
Eka finds paint AGAIN. 3rd touchdown in the half. This time it's 19 yards and he broke 3 tackles to get there
— Nathan Dunn (@NateDunnKSL) August 17, 2024
"When Devaughn does what he does, it is unbelievable," head coach Ed Larson said. "He carried us until we got things rolling and we settled down. It took us a couple of drives to figure them out."
Davis turned the ball over on downs with 57 seconds left in the half, which allowed Lehi one more chance at a score before the break. With four seconds left in the half, Lehi scored on a 2-yard reception by Madsen, giving Lehi a 28-7 lead.
Madsen followed up his end-of-half score with a 72-yard explosion down the field in the first minute of the third quarter, and capping off the drive with a 4-yard reception in the end zone to seal his second touchdown of the game.
"Credit our defense for the day they had holding them to 14 points," Madsen said. "But put the ball in my hands and good things are going to happen."
The Darts found the end zone in the fourth quarter when junior quarterback Tradon Bessinger found Sparrow again for his second touchdown of the evening. But the Pioneers added on a field goal in the final minutes, sealing a decisive first victory of the season.
"I was very proud of our offensive line," Larson said. "Five new starters this year and the way they protect, and the way they ran block tonight was fantastic."
Larson, who has led the Pioneers to three state championships, announced in early August that the 2024 season would be his last.
"I will be real honest: If I don't sit down pregame, halftime, my night sucks," he said. "I will be hurting all night and I just can't do that anymore. But the win makes it a heck of a lot better. The field is the part that I am going to miss the most."
Larson and the Pioneers will travel to St. George to take on Desert Hills, while the Darts will host Copper Hills on Friday, Aug. 23.
