Game of the Week: West Side, senior running back Crew Sage, overcome early deficit to top Firth

FIRTH — Coming disconnected a ascendant 45-0 Week 0 triumph complete New Plymouth, nan Firth Cougars sewage disconnected to a beardown commencement against reigning 2A authorities champs West Side Friday nighttime astatine Firth.

Behind a brace of explosive plays from elder moving backmost Fisher Arnold, nan Cougars snatched an early 13-0 lead and had nan shot pursuing a successful onside kick. But nan Pirates, who person won 4 authorities titles successful nan past 5 years, showed nan grit and determination of a champion, slowing nan Cougar discourtesy agelong capable for elder moving backmost Crew Sage and nan discourtesy to return complete for a 33-19 victory.

“They showed a batch of toughness — intelligence toughness,” West Side caput coach Tyson Moser said aft nan game. “(Firth is) a dang bully shot team. … That crippled could person very easy snowballed connected america — I mean, we could person mislaid that crippled 40-6. But these kids, they’ve conscionable sewage a batch of heart.”

Running backs Crew Sage (18) and Drake Sage (22) observe pursuing a touchdown. | Kalamd Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

After forcing a punt connected nan Pirates’ first possession, Firth went nan magnitude of nan section for a touchdown and nan game’s first points. The nine-play, 90-yard thrust was highlighted by a 68-yard tally disconnected nan correct extremity by Arnold.

Before nan game, Firth caput coach Rigo Vasquez said that nan cardinal to beating West Side was establishing a beardown tally game.

“Offensively, we request to person a good, beardown statement — get a bully push and support our blocks. If we proceed to do that, I deliberation we’ll beryllium successful,” he said.

The Cougars forced a turnover connected downs connected nan ensuing possession and added six much connected a six-yard scamper by elder backmost Darrell Vasquez.

Firth caput coach Rigo Vasquez gives a play to backmost Darrell Vasquez. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

Firth sewage nan shot correct backmost connected a successful onside kick, and had each nan momentum to spell pinch their 13-0 lead.

Moser said that Firth whitethorn person had an advantage early, having already played a crippled and gotten their early-season jitters out.

“I deliberation we sewage shellshocked correct disconnected nan bat,” he said. “They came retired and really smacked america early.”

Having already been punched successful nan rima early, nan Pirate defense responded, forcing Firth disconnected nan section connected downs. And West Side, who had already gotten Sage involved, fto nan tailback return power of nan game.

Sage carried nan shot connected second, 3rd and 4th down — nan past connected a clone punt — past caught a 14-yard touchdown walk from backmost Trayce Stone.

The excitement connected nan West Side sideline was short-lived, however, arsenic Arnold returned nan ensuing kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown and 19-7 Firth lead.

Arnold breaks distant connected a 73-yard footwear return touchdown. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

From there, though, it was each Pirates, who scored 26 unanswered.

The contiguous consequence came aft a West Side punt, giving nan Cougars nan shot pinch conscionable nether 2 minutes remaining successful nan first half. Looking to adhd to their lead, Firth alternatively saw West Side scoop a fumble and return it to nan endzone.

Still, Firth had different changeable astatine a first-half people and sewage into nan Pirate reddish area earlier Vasquez was intercepted by Sage — playing cornerback while besides starring nan offense.

West Side scored connected its 2nd possession of nan 2nd half to return a 20-19 lead. Sage added 2 much scores — 1 rushing and 1 receiving — to crystal it for Firth, which recovered thing successful nan 2nd half.

Sage vanished nan crippled pinch 34 yards receiving and 161 yards rushing — connected 23 carries.

“I thought he mightiness person had 40 carries,” said Moser, who noted that Sage was forced into a heavier workload owed to immoderate injuries suffered this week. “He was our equine tonight. … He stepped up and had a immense night.”

Sage takes a transportation from Stone and heads for nan near edge. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

Sage, who came retired for short stint successful nan 3rd 4th owed to cramps, added:

“We started retired beautiful slow, but we came together, fought difficult and came back. It was fun.”

Moser said he was proud of really his squad “refused to fto (the game) get retired of hand” and hung connected agelong capable to deterioration nan Cougars down. He credited Firth for their play, but noted that immoderate intelligence mistakes from his squad did not thief their situation.

Firth (1-1) will play adjacent week astatine Soda Springs (0-2), who mislaid to Ririe, 50-6, Friday. West Side (1-0) will unfastened their location season, facing South Fremont (1-1), coming disconnected a 41-13 nonaccomplishment astatine Marsh Valley.

Asked really his squad tin transportation nan second-half momentum into adjacent week and beyond, Sage said nan cardinal will beryllium not getting excessively precocious aliases excessively low.

“We’ve conscionable sewage to return it week by week and improve,” he said. … We’ve sewage to commencement retired stronger adjacent week.”