Prep football: Riverton tops Lehi 71-50 in shootout

Riverton • Friday's game between Riverton and Lehi was not one for defensive purists. If scoring is your fancy, this was right up your alley.

The Silverwolves and Pioneers kept the scoreboard operator busy all game, combining for 121 points, 1,067 yards and 17 touchdowns. In the end, Riverton simply had too much offense for Lehi to handle, winning 71-50. The 71 points marked a school record and the most for the Silverwolves since losing to Copper Hills 61-60 in double overtime in 2000 — their second year of existence.

"It wasn't a matter of running things up," Riverton coach Mike Miller said. "We had to score. They had us baffled defensively. We were just fortunate to answer all the time on offense. I didn't dream it would be this high scoring of a game."

Riverton (3-1 Region 4, 6-1 overall) built a 37-20 halftime lead before Yuri Yassin returned the second-half kickoff 90 yards for a score. The game started out as a track meet and stayed that way, with both teams trading touchdowns, including eight straight possessions in the second half.

That followed scores on seven straight possessions in the first half.

"Both teams have good kinds of offense," Miller said. "The philosophy in both offenses is the same. I believe in this type of offense. [Lehi] grinds, sees things and makes it work. We just tried to control the game and keep the ball."

Five players rushed for 100 yards or more in the game, with Riverton's Cameron Christensen (121), Paden Cayias (130) and Cayden Jones (127) each topping the century mark. Lehi's Caden Calton and Ryan Absher were even better, each rushing for more than 200 yards (461 yards combined).

Christensen, who ran for four touchdowns in the first half, had just one carry in the second half. He wasn't even needed because Cayias and Alex Johnson picked up the slack. Jones rushed for two touchdowns and Cayias and Johnson apiece.

Despite the deficiencies on defense, Miller said his squad would regroup.

"We've got to watch the film and see where things occurred and go from there," he said. "I'm totally confident in them. We'll take this film and dissect it."

Lehi rushed for 437 yards and Riverton 550. The teams combined to attempt only 12 passes. Riverton failed to complete any of its three attempts.

Calton rushed for 247 yards on 41 carries with four touchdowns to lead Lehi, while Absher had 214 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns.