CEDAR CITY — For the second week in a row, the Hurricane Tigers played from behind for nearly the entire game. But this time, they finished the job in a 20-16 rally win at Canyon View Friday night.
Hurricane would take its first and only lead of the game on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Josh Parker to Riley Ballard with just 3:34 showing on the clock. Parker had to make several plays for the Tigers to keep them in the game.
“We had to use Josh a lot more than we wanted to,” said Hurricane head coach Steve Pearson. “Canyon View played well against us defensively and took away some things we like to do with our rushing offense. Josh threw well tonight.”
Parker completed 12 of 22 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, both to Ballard. Ballard caught seven passes for 135 yards and also scored the Tigers third touchdown on the ground.
“This is not only Riley’s second varsity game,” said Pearson. “It is his second football game (ever). He is definitely a nice weapon to have on the field.”
The Falcons outgained Hurricane on the ground 253-160. But Parker’s dominant performance swung the total offense in the Tigers favor as they gained 142 more yards in the air.
Canyon View got on the board in the first with a one-yard keeper from quarterback Stockton Rigby. The two-point conversion run from Isaiah Shearer put the Falcons up 8-0. The Tigers matched the score in the second when Parker hit Ballard with a 10-yard strike. The two connected again for the two-point conversion to tie the score 8-8 before halftime.
In the third, Canyon View got a big run play from Shearer for 97 yards. Shearer then scored the two-point conversion and the Falcons led 16-8. Three minutes later, Ballard scored on a run from 12 yards out. However the pass fell incomplete on the two-point conversion and the Tigers still trailed 16-14 setting up the final moments in the fourth.
The win moves Hurricane to 1-1 on the season. The Tigers will play at Moapa Valley, Nev., next week.
Canyon View, 0-2, got 216 yards on 16 carries from Shearer. The Falcons will take on rival Cedar High next Friday at Redmen Stadium.
For more stats, quotes and photos, see Saturday Breakdown on STGNews.com.
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