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Show OCTOBER 14, 1986 hero for sure By KEITH DUNCAN Its BOUNTIFUL all in the name. Jason Burninghams place at Viewmont High becomes quite evident when you are shopping at nearby J.C. Penneys and football-craze- d youngsters ask for a blue the name of McMahon with jersey on the back, get rejected, then use their second choice with anything with a Bumingham printed on it. The present day quarterback of the Vikings has had plenty of time to build a reputation, and a name, which is all for the good among youth in the area. But the youth arent the only ones who like the strong-arme- d QB who has now started in 21 consecutive Viewmont games spanning an era of three seasons. Viewmont faithful, young and old, adore the quiet confidence portrayed by the Viking senior. Those same fans will be hoping Buminghams magic is flowing this Thursday evening when the Vikings take on Bountiful in a 7:30 p.m. Region Four contest, a key match-u- p for both clubs. Ironically Burninghams first THE QUIET CONFIDENCE of Viewmonts Jason Burning-hahas helped the Vikings through thick and thin. The Viking QB has emerged as a hero among many youth in the Centerville-Bountifarea. This Thursday hell lead his Viewmont team against the Bountiful Braves. m ul start as a signal-calle- r came against the Braves two years ago as a sophomore, an evening neither he nor his followers will forget where he racked up 300 yards passing and more importantly helped his club to a victory. Warren Hatch, the congruent fourth year coach, has had as much to do with Burninghams capacity at the school as anyone. The two hold to a basic, but compact relationship. Hatch, while taking time to ponder some thoughts on his only third-yea- r varsity player, stated, Jason in many ways reflects the growth of our program here. "As a sophomore he wound up being our No. 1 quarterback and had a pretty respectable finish, just as the team did. His junior year was average, at least in the way he and I look at it, and likewise our team performance was disappointing or average. This year the program is on a definite upswing, despite the record And Jason has a big part of the current progress. Were not average this year, but are a very good football team. (2-4- ). Viewmont doesnt have any- thing to hang their head over, having lost three of their four losses by just 14 points and being in every- TOM HARALDSEN Senior fullBOUNTIFUL back Sid Smith rushed for 213 yards, including an 80 yard touchdown on the games opening play, to lead Bountiful to a convincing 21-- 6 victory over Clearfield in a encounter Wednesday evening. Smith, finally feeling fully recovered from a shoulder separation non-leag- As time has gone by, Burning-hahas increased his accuracy percentage and as Hatch says, "very rarely misses when he has the time to throw. Burningham himself, is anticipating a hard fought ending to the current season. We may have lost a tough one to Davis, but 1 think were still hungry to get after Bountiful and Woods Cross and try to make the playoffs. I feel that way because of the intensity we still have in practice. These guys really want it and its great to be out there with them, said Bumingham. Jason, who is also a fine asset on the basketball court and the baseball field, is really quite confident about the remainder of the season. Our breaks will come. Were getting better and better, he said. team captains (Tyrone Hess and Jason Wersland) were riding in a car behind me. All heard were comments from the kids along the parade route who said things like, Is that Jason Burningham? or Wow, I hope Im that good someday.' There were comments like that made about all of the three cap1 tains, but it was sure nice to hear youth saying positive things like that. Bumingham, along with a few other kids in our program, are heroes in my book, said Hatch. event Still another hero-typ- e that is so characteristic of Burning-ham- , took place just moments after 9 defeat to Davis. the tough As Jason began his trek across the field, a youth from Farmington who will someday attend Davis High, boldly asked the QB a ques22-1- About Hatch, Burningham tion on technique. Most high school seniors after suffering through a heartbreaking loss like that, would have continued their walk and ignored any questions. But Bumingham stopped, with a smile on his face, and offered what he could. Its nice to have a player you can depend upon, said Hatch. Times haven't always been rosy around here during the past two years and Jason and I have agreed with each other that when things get rough, one or the other of us year is Burninghams leadership will keep each other going. Somecharacteristics. times a coach needs someone to Its difficult often for a junior to lean upon and it's great to have a be a leader, but this season Jason player of Jasons quality and caliand four or five other kids have ber to do that with. been the kind of leaders any coach . Bumingham came to Viewmont, would want. as mentioned before, with a ton of In our weight rooi-- i there is a athletic ability. Of the things hes banner which reads, Be Somehad to learn, Hatch said hes been bodys Hero, a simple thing that one of those kids that it took only Jason has accomplished. I wish a once to show, and he had it down. lot of folks could have been with With the quick transfer from his me when I was riding in the car head to his body, Bumingham developed quickly and has been an ace for coaches to work with. Bumingham had to learn quickly as Viewmont went with him m their battle against 1984 arch-rivBountiful. As a sophomore he step- one of those games. If the breaks fall our way in the next couple of games, Jason could be heard from in a big kind of way. After all, hes done some great things on both sides of the football in our previous games but some bad breaks have hurt us all, continued Hatch. Hatch has always been regaled by Burninghams athletic ability, but what satisfies him most this al Smiths wound heals quickly, but inflicts one on Falcons By during our homecoming parade. Jason, along with our other two ped into that pressure-packe- d situation and succeeded with yards and a victory. 300-plu- s The next week in the playoffs, Bumingham still connected on 190 yards against Box Elder, not bad as a sophomore. talked with the kind of words a kid might describe his own father. The senior noted the two had spent many hours conversing about everything from coping with the pressure as a sophomore to future things in life. Though Burningham didnt say, Hatch has been like a father over the past three years, especially since the formers own father died when he was but four years of age. Burningham appears well rounded too. He was one of four Vikings who attended Boys State last summer and he gets a big kick out of choir during school. When it comes to comparing a cocky athlete to one with quiet confidence, Bumingham preferred to say he was the latter. A few years ago I read something that Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants) said. He said he could will anything to happen on the football field. Well, I feel the same way. When Im out there, I feel confident that I can make just about anything happen, continued Burningham. Bumingham isnt built like the three brothers who have played at Viewmont before him, Todd, Chris and Randy. They were stocky and built like horses, said Jason. But I can tell you something Ive got that they had too. Thats heart, as he pointed to his chest with conviction. Athletics have been a big part of our family. My mother has supported all of us all of the way . Its been a tribute to her. suffered in a preseason game against Weber, took the opening handoff from quarterback Joe Covey and raced over right tackle. He juked the Falcon safety, then ran 80 yards for the opening score. Kent Listons PAT made it 0 for Bountiful just 20 seconds into the game. Meanwhile, the Braves defense completely shut down the Falcon ground game, forcing Clearfield quarterback Tim Gardner to throw more than he normally might. Bountiful increased its lead to 14-- 0 midway through the second quarter, as Covey culminated a long drive with a one yard run. Clearfields only real scoring threat ended when junior Ryan Jacobs picked off the first of his two interceptions of Gardner passes. By halftime, the Braves had already amassed 279 total yards, to just 77 for Clearfield. But the unpredictable Falcons 7-- started the third period strong, marching 74 yards in 12 plays, as Gardner began hitting some short passes. Halfback Monte Geertgens d finally broke through with a run to make the score one-yar14-- 6 Bountiful with 7:41 left in the third quarter. But the Falcons faked the kick on the conversion, and a pass for two points fell incomplete. Bountiful scored its third touchdown following Jacobs second interception at midfield. Smith and Brett Parkinson moved the ball from the Falcon 48 to the 30, from where Covey hit Jacobs on a perfectly timed pass play for the TD. BOUNTIFULS SID SMITH breaks open in this run for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Clearfield Falcons. For the night he rushed for over 200 yards. Box Scor 0 7 Clearfield 0 Bountiful 7 0-- 6 0 1 run (pass Covey hit seven of 16 passes for yards, one TD and no intercep- pass from Covey (Liston kick) Bountiful Clearfield 1st downs Rushing yards 17 299 11 58 Passing Passing yards 124 10-31- -2 -0 This week... HASKETT CLEARFIELDS MONTE GEERTGENS (16) gets crunched lost 21-- 6 to by,Bountifuls Mike Rushton (69). The Falcons go 4 for the year. 3-- story. 131 30 PHOTOSJIM showing the form that made him an back this year and propelled Bountiful into the state quarterfinals. He gained 2 13 yards on 21 carries. But he was just part of the all-sta- te failed) All for the Vikings. Smith was truly magnificent, 6 80 run (Liston kick) 1 run (Liston kick) 1 DURING ACTION AGAINST Davis two weeks ago Burningham closes in on the Darts Mike Clark. Burningham has distinguished himself both offensively and defensively Bonneville at Clearfield Davis at Highland Roy at Layton 131 tions. And Parkinson gained 67 yards on nine carries before taking a breather. The Braves defense held Clearfield to just 38 yards rushing on 24 attempts, and Gardner finished with 10 of 31 passes completed for 124 yards, with the two interceptions by Jacobs. Bountiful, now prepares for a big crosstown showdown with 5-- 2, Viewmont at Viewmont this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Vikings did not play Wednesday, as their opponent, Mountain Crest of Logan, cancelled the game several but weeks ago. Viewmont is has looked very good in three of its 2-- 4, v 'sses. The wt...ier of that game has a good chance to finish at least second in Region. Clearfield, now 4 overall, will host unbeaten Bonneville Thursday at 7:30 p.m. 3-- MONTE GEERTGENS TRIES to turn up field against the Braves. The Clearfield back enjoyed some fair moments against the Braves, but saw his team lose 21-- I 6. |