Firth heads to State after redemptive win over Huskies

ASHTON – Firth Cougars #3 traveled north to play the North Fremont Huskies #2 in the State’s 2A semi-final football playoffs on Saturday, November 13.

The last time the Cougars came to Kandler Field in Ashton, they lost to their conference-rival the North Fremont Huskies  21-20.  A bookend loss to an otherwise stellar season.  But, the Cougars (7-2) returned Saturday to redeem their birthright to a State Championship birth against the unbeaten Huskies (9-0) team.  And, redemption they obtained, as they largely dominated North Fremont, beating them 12 to 8. 

Firth now travels to Holt Arena this week in a final act to redeem their only other close loss this season (26 to 20 O.T.) against the Westside Pirates #1, who is now 10 and 0 on the season.  They also will seek to vindicate their loss to the Pirates in last year’s State Championship game, where Westside rolled over Firth 39 to 0. 

The 2A State Championship game is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, at 9 p.m. at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

The game against the Huskies began with Firth kicking off.  North Fremont returned the ball to the Cougar’s 46-yard line, but a facemask added another ten yards placing the Huskies on the Cougar’s 36-yard line.  (Watch the game on Sports network gamecast)

But Firth’s defensive line proved too challenging for the Huskies, who went four and out, giving the Cougars the ball on their 28-yard line. 

Then Gage Vasquez and Sam Park went to work on North Fremont’s defensive line running the ball to the Huskies’ 9-yard line, where Vasquez connected with Burton Park for a touchdown.  But, the PAT was short, giving the Cougars a 6 point lead. 

After the kickoff, the Huskies worked the ball down the field with some big plays, only to be stopped in the red zone by a defiant Cougar defense who batted down two endzone passes. 

The Cougars took over the ball and kept it on the ground, working down into Huskies’ territory.  But, an illegal formation penalty and a couple of sacks forced the Cougars to turn the ball over to North Fremont on their 38-yard line. 

The Huskies took a four and out with a false start penalty, which forced them to punt the ball deep into Cougar territory. 

Firth took the ball on their 10-yard line and advanced to the Huskies 27-yard line but stalled and turned it over after a failed trick pass. 

The Huskies began their drive with a 3-yard loss when Firth’s Kyle Jacobsen blew through the line, taking out running back A.J. Hill. The Huskies continued to falter on the next two plays before punting the ball to the Cougar’s 30-yard line.  

With 2:20 in the half, Firth took the ball and moved nowhere, but they burned time off the clock, punting a meager 8 yards to the Huskies.  With 20 seconds left on the clock, Huskies’ quarterback Jordan Lenz took the ball but fell into grave trouble as Firth’s defense pursued with Gabe Nelson taking him down for an 8-yard loss ending the first half. 

Firth received the ball in the second half, and with Parks and Jacobsen, the Cougars marched into Huskies’ territory.  However, a costly holding penalty put Firth at 3^rd and 19 on North Fremont’s 46-yard  line. 

On the ensuing play, Vasquez connected with Athan Blonquist, who made it to the Huskies’ 25-yard line, giving Firth a first down.  After several failed plays, the Cougars found themselves 4^th and 5 on the 20-yard line. Vasquez then took the ball and, while on the run, connected with Blonquist on the 9-yard line.

The Cougars then push the ball to the 1-yard line, and on 4^th and 1, Vasquez side-steps and defender and scored.  Firth then went for a 2-point conversion, which failed. The Cougars took a 12-point lead over the Huskies. 

The Firth drive not only ended with a score, but it burned 8:03 minutes off the clock, denying the Huskies access to the ball for most of the 3^rd quarter.    

After the kickoff, the Huskies took the ball and ended up in a 4^th and long situation.  The Huskies faked a punt on the ensuing play and got a 1^st down with a pass to their receiver.   However, a call brought the ball back.  It appeared to be an ineligible receiver downfield, but the referees waved it off.  The Firth coaches were very unhappy with the outcome.  But, the reversal kept the Huskies’ drive alive.  

The Huskies continued with the ball at the beginning of the 4^th quarter.   However, they found themselves 4^th and 19 after two false-start penalties.  On the next play, Lenz connected with A.J. Hill putting the Huskies on the 9-yard line.  The Cougar’s covered the play well, but A.J. Hill protected the ball as they brought him to the ground. 

The Huskies pushed the ball down to the 2-yard line, but Firth held strong bringing up 4^th and 2.  Huskies’ quarterback Lenz ran it into the endzone on the next play.  But, a flag was thrown for a chop-block, bringing the ball back to the 17-yard line.

On the next play, Huskies’ Jordan Lenz was in trouble, but he passed a high pass to A.J. Hill, who jumped high and grabbed the ball above his head, bringing it down for a touchdown.  The Huskies then went for a 2-point conversion.  Huskies Lenz rolled out and was immediately in trouble, but he passed it into the endzone, where Cougar Gage Vasquez stepped in front of the receiver intercepting the pass.  However, the referee threw and questionable flag, calling it pass interference.  On the next play, A.J. Hill carried the ball into the endzone giving the Huskies 8 points. 

After the kickoff, Firth worked into the Huskies’ territory but stalled and punted the ball.  With 4:56 on the clock, the Huskies took the ball.  But, they struggled to move it. Firth’s Burton Park swatted down a pass on the drive.  Park intercepted a pass from Lenz two plays later, giving the Cougars the ball on North Fremont’s 46-yard line with 3:52 on the clock. 

The Cougars took the ball but stalled on the drive going forth and out, but not before drawing the clock down to 1:20 in the game. 

With the ball on their 40, the Huskies took the ball four and out, leaving only 20 seconds on the clock. The Cougars took the ball and, after a kneeled play, won the football game 12 to 8.