Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.
Sandy • Alta High School put the pedal to the metal in their final game of the regular season and didn’t look back as they defeated rival Jordan 58-24.
Alta running back Anson Jaramillo scored three touchdowns to lead the way for the Hawks, who now will wait and see if they have a place in the postseason.
“Everybody played together as a family. You know the young guys got in, so we just did it for them,” Jaramillo said.
Alta finishes the regular season with a 5-4 record and finishes 2-2 in 5A Region 8 action. They will be on bye next week and will wait to see if they will make it to postseason play. Jordan will look to shake off this week’s loss as they will take on Timpview in their regular-season finale. Currently, the Beetdiggers are 2-7 overall and 0-3 in region play.
Alta opened the night’s scoring with a touchdown pass from Ethan Jackson to Kannon Matthews. Matthews was able to pull the ball in over multiple Jordan defenders for the score.
Ball security was an issue for the Beetdiggers the entirety of the game but poor exchanges between Jordan’s quarterback and center made for back-to-back fumbles on their second drive. Alta was able to jump on the second fumble and take over with 8:50 left in the first quarter. From 19-yards out on the first play of their second drive Jace Turner punched it in to extend Alta’s lead.
Alta too would have issues holding on to the ball as they muffed several punts and kicks throughout the night. After Jordan went three-and out-late in the first quarter Alta muffed the punt and the Beetdiggers recovered deep in Alta territory. They wouldn’t be able to find the back of the endzone and settled for a field goal to slightly close the gap, 14-3.
After an Alta field goal and an interception,the Anson Jaramillo show got underway. The running back scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 39-yard rush.
But Jaramillo’s most impressive play of the game was a 43-yard reception that had him switching the field multiple times and breaking countless tackles to get Alta inside the 5-yard line.
“I saw just a huge gap right there right in the middle. So I just went right there. And I just kept my feet moving,” Jaramillo said. “And you know we’re running back see that huge gap they just go so I just went.”
Jackson would punch the ball in for the touchdown a few plays later.
Jordan responded with a touchdown of their own as Jamarcus Smith would rush down the middle for a 31-yard touchdown.
But Jaramillo’s second of the night would come right after with 2:29 left in the first half as he ran it up the middle for a 15-yard touchdown. The PAT was no good, resulting in a 37-10 score at the half.
With around nine minutes left in the third quarter, Jordan quarterback Colton Austin scored from 1-yard out.
Alta would quickly respond, this time as Jackson logged another rushing score from 6 yards out.
Jaramillo’s third touchdown, a 51-yard rushing touchdown with around 2 minutes left in the third, gave the Hawks some more breathing room. According to Jaramillo, the team wanted to focus on establishing the run from the jump and it was clear they were able to do just that with how dominant they were against the Jordan front line.
Alta’s Jensen Campbell joined in on the scoring action on a 46-yard receiving touchdown.
Jordan’s Jake Miller would score the final points of the game with 2:14 left leading to a final score of 58-24.
