
By Tom Zulewski
Iron County Today
The Cedar Redmen were able to stay on even terms with the Stansbury Stallions in its first-round matchup in the 4A playoffs, but too many turnovers – and too much Tavita Gagnier – proved to be the undoing.
Gagnier scored three touchdowns, including a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter, to lead the Region 11 champion Stallions to a 28-20 victory over Cedar, ending the Redmen season with a 4-6 overall record.
Cedar never led in the game, but was able to answer every Stansbury score throughout the night. Quarterback Jaxon Garrett ran for two touchdowns and Kobe Lata added a 30-yard interception return for the other score for the Redmen.
Gagnier got the Stallions (7-3) going early in the first quarter when he caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mitch Lindsay, but Garrett’s 4-yard run later in the period knotted the score at 7-7.
Gagnier caught a 16-yard scoring pass from Lindsay for the only points of the second quarter that put Stansbury up 14-7 at the break. Lata came up with his big play for the defense that tied the score again in the third quarter, but Lindsay found Connor McKay for a 90-yard score that put the Stallions back in front.
Garrett would find the end zone again on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter that cut the lead to 21-20, but the extra point from Adam Rogers was blocked. Gagnier would seal the win for Stansbury in the waning minutes with a 4-yard touchdown run.
Cedar finished the season with a three-game losing streak, but all four of its wins came on the road.
STANSBURY 28, CEDAR 20
Cedar 7 0 7 6 — 20
Stansbury 7 7 7 7 — 28
First quarter
S – Gagnier 32 pass from Lindsay (Mackay kick)
C – Garrett 4 run (Rogers kick)
Second quarter
S – Gagnier 16 pass from Lindsay (Mackay kick)
Third quarter
C – Lata 30 interception return (Rogers kick)
S – McKay 90 pass from Lindsay (Mackay kick)
Fourth quarter
C – Garrett 3 run (kick blocked)
S – Gagnier 4 run (Mackay kick)