5A football: Bingham's final drive before halftime swings game's momentum (with video)

Football can be a simple game — measured in plays, seconds and yards.

It sometimes is better measured by emotional swings.

That's why two plays covering 60 yards in 26 seconds right before the first half ended may have enabled Bingham to win the state Class 5A football title against Lone Peak on Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The Miners, so used to being dominant all season, were on their heels. They were trailing 10-0 to a team that ended their season in last year's semifinals.

But that changed in almost an instant.

Bingham quarterback Matt Degn found Dax Milne streaking down the east sideline for 38 yards. On the next play, he caught Brayden Cosper in the end zone for 22 yards.

Suddenly, with 30 seconds left in the half, Bingham was back in it.

The players and Bingham coach John Lambourne all knew they needed something big to happen.

"We knew we had adversity," said Cosper, whose team still trailed 10-7 at halftime and would not lead until late in the third quarter. "It didn't feel like we were down in the locker room. We were confident and excited."

"It looked bleak for us the majority of the game until the end," said Lambourne who got his first state title as a head coach in a long and distinguished career. "What really got us back in the game were two streak plays.

"Dax Milne got himself open and Degn was on the money. The other one was a better catch and better throw. It came at an opportune time. Going down two scores against a great team at halftime would have been a problem. It was awful tough, but there was a lot of courage on the part of our kids. They didn't panic and kept their composure."

Milne said he knew that his team needed a spark.

"Coach gave me a chance to make a play and I made a play," he said. "We know that if we listen to coach and trust each other, we will come out on top."

Cosper said the Miners knew what they had to do in that situation and said praised Degn for making two good throws.

Bingham would need some great offensive and defensive plays from Daniel Loua in the second half but, ultimately, it might have been two plays, 60 yards and 23 seconds right before the half that gave the Miners their title.

wharton@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tribtomwharton —

Storylines

R Bingham's offense is held in check for most of the first half, as the team is held scoreless until 30 seconds before halftime.

• The Miners go 60 yards in two plays and 23 seconds right before the half to get back into the game with Lone Peak.

• QB Matt Degn hits Dax Milne for 38 yards and then finds Brayden Cosper for 22 yards to move the Miners back within three points right before the half.