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Cedar City • Judge might have been expected to successfully defend its Class 3A state football title Friday night at SUU.
But who could have expected the Bulldogs' total domination of outmanned Juab?
Judge used a blistering running attack to beat Juab 63-14 in one of the most lopsided state championship games in memory.
How dominant were the Bulldogs?
Judge led 49-0 at halftime, and Judge rushed for 421 yards. The Bulldogs' defense forced three interceptions and recovered two fumbles. Quarterback Ayden Auer did not complete a pass and threw only one in the entire game. Only 10 other teams have won state title games with no passing yards, but according to Utah football stats expert George Felt, most of those games were played in the 1940s.
Sixty-three points is the second-most ever scored in a Utah championship football game. The record? East scored 79 and shut out Payson in 1919. Judge had 63 at the end of three quarters.
"They are a good team," Judge coach James Cordova said about Juab. "Things went in our favor real fast. We got up real quick, and that's a tough situation to be in in a state game."
This was Judge's 11th championship in 88 years of football. It's doubtful any were more convincing, as the Bulldogs carried the ball 54 times for 536 yards, a state championship record.
"Our guys were ready to play," said Cordova. "This was the most they have been ready to play all season. It's amazing to win back-to-back titles. You don't get this opportunity."
Max Barnett scored touchdowns on runs of 21, 1, 30 and two yards. Auer added scoring runs of 9, 4 and 8 yards. And Michael Kearns ran for 62- and 12-yard touchdowns.
The key sequence may have come on the first series. Judge drove to the Juab 1-yard line, but, on fourth down, fumbled. The Wasps came up with what looked like a huge stop.
But Judge's Braden Pelly recovered a Juab fumble 10 seconds later, and, after a penalty and a loss of yards, Barnett went 21 yards for the first score.
Barnett played most of the season with a high ankle sprain sustained in Judge's only loss of the year, at Woods Cross.
"That was so much fun," Barnett said. "That was the most fun I have had in my life, right here on the field. Adrenaline helps [with the ankle injury]. I had problems with it all season. But you have got to keep playing. It's a state game."
Kearns said the team's offensive chemistry has been developing for years.
"We've been playing since little league," he said. "We know how to play with each other and know how to run this offense. There is not one single star on this team. It's all of us making a play."
Auer looked surprised when asked if he thought his team could put up 63 points without completing a pass.
"There are so many weapons in the backfield, it's crazy," said the Judge quarterback. "Max will pound them, and Michael will use lightning speed. I hope I can get the ball to them. They will make plays and make touchdowns. All I have to do is get it into their hands. They are all so smart."
Juab's fine quarterback, Nick Robbins, saw some long passes dropped in the first three quarters. He finally found Nolan Nielsen on an 81-yard scoring play in the fourth quarter and then found Payton Bowring on an 11-yard scoring play.
But Juab left Cedar City still looking for its first state football title.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Judge 63, Juab 14
O Judge's 63 points, scored in the first three quarters, were the second-most ever in a Utah championship football game.
• Judge's 536 rushing yards are the most in a state title game. The Bulldogs did not complete a pass.
• Max Barnett rushes for four touchdowns, Ayden Auer for three and Michael Kearns for two to lead Judge's dominant ground game.