Sloan Canyon football dominates SLAM! Nevada in 4A region semifinal — PHOTOS

Friday’s game between Sloan Canyon and SLAM! Nevada ended with a running clock, but the Pirates set the tone defensively on the game’s first possession.

The visiting Bulls had picked up a first down and moved the ball near midfield when they chose to go for it on fourth-and-1.

Freshman Elijah Tuilaepa was having none of it, stuffing SLAM! Nevada’s Anthony Edwards for a 2-yard loss. That set up Sloan Canyon’s first scoring drive, and the Pirates allowed only two more first downs as they rolled to a 42-7 victory in the Class 4A Southern Region semifinals.

“I’m proud of our defense,” Sloan Canyon coach Nate Oishi said. “They had a great week of preparation that took it one day at a time. We talk about if they score on us, they’re scoring on our 11, and they were swarming tonight. So I’m proud of their effort. They took it one play at a time and played disciplined football.”

Sloan Canyon (8-2) will play at Mater East (8-3) for the title on Nov. 13. The Knights defeated Sloan Canyon 27-19 on Sept. 17, but had to forfeit the victory because of what they called an “administrative oversight” error with the team’s game roster.

The Pirates defense was dominant throughout on Friday, limiting the Bulls to 67 yards of offense. SLAM! Nevada’s only touchdown came after a 54-yard kickoff return set up a short field.

“They did a great job of film study all week long, studying formations and they played smart football tonight,” Oishi said of his defense. “They had a a great week of practice and they were excited to play this game.”

Offensively, the Pirates showed off plenty of weapons. Quarterbacks Cade Hoshino and Derek Backman each threw two touchdown passes. Three receivers scored touchdowns, and running back Jermaine Wilson added a rushing TD.

“Offense works hard,” Oishi said. “They voluntarily come together on Sundays to work. So they all deserve recognition. And from the front to the running backs to the receivers they do a great job of executing.”

Wilson’s 7-yard scoring run capped a 44-yard drive after Tuilaepa’s big stop to give Sloan Canyon a 7-0 lead with 4:34 to go in the first quarter.

Hoshino then hit Kaiden Hunn with a 46-yard scoring pass to make it 14-0 with 11:46 to go in the half. Coen MaKinney had a 55-yard punt return for a score to make it 21-0, and Backman’s 12-yard TD pass to Brandon Quaglio made it 28-0 with 5:04 left in the half.

Backman then hit Hunn with a 22-yard scoring strike to make it 35-0 with 2:11 left in the first half, triggering the running clock.

Hoshino added a 6-yard TD pass to Talon Wittlief in the third quarter to close out the team’s scoring.

Hoshino completed 5 of 8 passes for 118 yards, and Backman was 6 of 9 for 120 yards.

Quaglio had three catches for 51 yards, and Brendan Koch hauled in two passes for 81 yards for Sloan Canyon.

Edwards rushed for 45 yards and a TD on 12 carries to lead SLAM! Nevada (4-6).