ST. GEORGE – The pounding you may have heard coming from Desert Hills High School tonight came courtesy of
Thunder running back Mike Needham. The pounding was coming from the final nails he was putting in the coffin of the Snow Canyon Warriors as they fell to the Thunder 31-14.

With 10:00 remaining in the game, Thunder quarterback Porter Harris kept calling Needhams number, and Needham just kept gaining yards. By the time the drive ended in a Chase Webster field goal the time was nearly gone and so were any hopes that the Warriors had of a comeback.

It was as if Needham had picked up the replica of Thors Hammer that the Thunder carry into the stadium before games and sealed the Warriors fate.
 

The halftime score was knotted at 14 and it appeared that the Warriors may have had the upper hand as far as momentum. That would change in a big way. With 5:13 remaining in the third period, Harris scrambled for a touchdown on 4th and goal from the 3 yard line to put the Thunder up 21-14. On the Warriors next play from scrimmage quarterback Brayden Linde missed his target and instead found Desert Hills linebacker Riley Ferwerda.

Ferwerda returned the interception to the Warriors 26 yard line. The Thunder would then score on a soft pass from Harris to tight end Corbin Fitzgerald. Harris floated the ball with a nice touch just over the outstretched hand of the defender to find Fitzgerald and seize momentum of the game.
 

The highlight of the night for the Warriors came in the second period when receiver Elliot Knox got behind the defense and caught a pass from Linde for a 55 yard touchdown. That made the score 14-7 Thunder. The Warriors would add another touchdown on Lindes 5 yard scramble with seconds remaining in the first half.
 

Robert is a professional sports photographer and freelance writer. You can see more photos from this game
and other local sporting events at his website www.ASPpix.com. You can also see more of his work at his blog
www.stgsportsblog.com. Contact him at [email protected].

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