Pierce scores four times as Farmington rallies past Alma

Farmington 57, Alma 46

ALMA — Jett Pierce rushed for four touchdowns, and Farmington scored the final 22 points to overcome an 11-point second-half deficit and defeat Alma 57-46 Friday night at Citizens Bank Field at Airedale Stadium.

Brenner Watkins added two rushing touchdowns for the Cardinals, who improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the 5A-West. Alma, which led 39-35 at halftime and 46-35 early in the third quarter, fell to 3-2 and 1-1.

The Airedales scored on their first offensive play when Jay Lemieux found Dylan Jackson for an 81-yard touchdown with 9:43 left in the first quarter. Farmington recovered a muffed punt and answered with Pierce’s one-yard run. Brayden Conran’s kick put the Cardinals ahead 7-6 at 5:57.

Dallas Perkins scored from a yard out to restore Alma’s lead, but Watkins broke a 38-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Cash Kilpatrick intercepted Lemieux on the next possession, and Slade Norwood converted the opportunity with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Stoltz. Farmington led 21-12 with 8:40 left in the half.

Alma responded immediately. Jackson’s 42-yard reception set up Perkins’ 17-yard touchdown run, though a failed two-point attempt kept the score 21-18. Pierce broke a 23-yard scoring run at 5:55, and Jackson answered with an 80-yard touchdown reception. Pierce’s five-yard score pushed Farmington’s lead back to 35-25 with 2:58 remaining.

The Airedales closed the half with two touchdowns in the final 61 seconds. Lemieux found Jackson for an eight-yard score, then Blanden Lowrance recovered a muffed kickoff to give Alma another possession at Farmington’s 22. Lemieux rolled left and found Maddox Caldwell for a nine-yard touchdown with nine seconds left. Cade Moore’s kick made it 39-35.

Perkins broke a 42-yard run on the opening possession of the second half, and Lemieux finished the drive with a touchdown run. Moore’s extra point extended Alma’s advantage to 46-35 with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Farmington began its comeback after stopping a fake punt at the Alma 33. Norwood threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Steinbeck, and Stoltz caught the two-point pass to narrow the gap to 46-43.

Alma retained that lead after a missed 50-yard field-goal attempt, but another failed fourth-down pass gave Farmington the ball at its 38. Norwood moved the Cardinals into scoring position, and Watkins ran 14 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 24 seconds left in the third quarter. Conran’s kick made it 50-46.

A defensive holding penalty on fourth down extended Farmington’s next scoring drive. Pierce supplied an 11-yard run and finished with a short touchdown at the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter. Conran added his seventh extra point.

Alma’s final possession ended on an incomplete fourth-down pass intended for Jackson. Pierce added a late first down, and Farmington ran out the clock.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

Alma — Dylan Jackson 81-yard pass from Jay Lemieux (Cade Moore kick failed). Alma 6, Farmington 0. 9:43.

Farmington — Jett Pierce one-yard run (Brayden Conran kick). Farmington 7, Alma 6. 5:57.

Alma — Dallas Perkins one-yard run (two-point pass incomplete). Alma 12, Farmington 7. 2:41.

Second Quarter

Farmington — Brenner Watkins 38-yard run (Conran kick). Farmington 14, Alma 12. 11:39.

Farmington — Cooper Stoltz 16-yard pass from Slade Norwood (Conran kick). Farmington 21, Alma 12. 8:40.

Alma — Perkins 17-yard run (two-point run failed). Farmington 21, Alma 18. 8:06.

Farmington — Pierce 23-yard run (Conran kick). Farmington 28, Alma 18. 5:55.

Alma — Jackson 80-yard pass from Lemieux (Moore kick). Farmington 28, Alma 25.

Farmington — Pierce five-yard run (Conran kick). Farmington 35, Alma 25. 2:58.

Alma — Jackson eight-yard pass from Lemieux (Moore kick). Farmington 35, Alma 32. 1:01.

Alma — Maddox Caldwell nine-yard pass from Lemieux (Moore kick). Alma 39, Farmington 35. 0:09.

Third Quarter

Alma — Lemieux touchdown run (Moore kick). Alma 46, Farmington 35. 10:00.

Farmington — Anthony Steinbeck 16-yard pass from Norwood (Stoltz two-point reception). Alma 46, Farmington 43. 6:14.

Farmington — Watkins 14-yard run (Conran kick). Farmington 50, Alma 46. 0:24.

Fourth Quarter

Farmington — Pierce touchdown run (Conran kick). Farmington 57, Alma 46. 6:20.

Players Who Stood Out

Jett Pierce, Farmington — Scored four rushing touchdowns, including three in the first half and the final score with 6:20 remaining. His 23-yard second-quarter touchdown and late first-down runs helped Farmington finish possessions.

Brenner Watkins, Farmington — Scored on runs of 38 and 14 yards. The second put Farmington ahead for good late in the third quarter.

Slade Norwood, Farmington — Threw touchdown passes to Cooper Stoltz and Anthony Steinbeck, both covering 16 yards. Directed the Cardinals’ three second-half touchdown drives.

Cooper Stoltz, Farmington — Caught a 16-yard touchdown pass and a third-quarter two-point conversion. Added a 15-yard reception on the drive that cut Alma’s lead to three.

Cash Kilpatrick, Farmington — Intercepted a second-quarter pass to set up Stoltz’s touchdown reception.

Dylan Jackson, Alma — Caught three first-half touchdown passes, including scores of 81 and 80 yards as called by the broadcast. Exceeded 200 receiving yards and added a fourth-down catch on Alma’s final possession.

Jay Lemieux, Alma — Threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score. His nine-yard touchdown pass to Maddox Caldwell gave Alma the halftime lead.

Dallas Perkins, Alma — Scored on runs of one and 17 yards and broke a 42-yard run to set up Alma’s third-quarter touchdown. Surpassed 100 rushing yards during the third quarter.

Blanden Lowrance, Alma — Recovered a muffed kickoff in the final minute of the first half, setting up the touchdown that gave the Airedales a 39-35 lead.