Skyridge quarterback Jagger Fountaine threw three first-half touchdowns Friday, Sept. 4, lifting the Falcons past the Liberty Patriots 24-20 in Henderson, Nevada.

The win came after the team bus broke down on the road to Las Vegas, stranding players in the heat. A replacement bus got the Falcons to Liberty High School, but their warm-up routine was cut short.

None of that showed once the game started.

Liberty opened the scoring with a 29-yard field goal. Fountaine answered with 31 seconds left in the first quarter, hitting junior running back Beckham Bennett on a one-yard touchdown pass. Junior kicker Evan Kopp added the extra point.

Fountaine kept firing in the second quarter. He connected with sophomore receiver Malosi Shepard for a five-yard score, then launched a 35-yard strike to junior receiver Steeler Wesley. Skyridge led 21-10 at halftime.

"I was proud of the way our guys continued to compete and found a way to finish the game on the road," head coach Justin Hemm told Lehi Free Press.

Liberty clawed back in the second half, scoring in the third quarter to pull within 21-17. Kopp answered with a field goal to push the lead to 24-17. A late fourth-quarter Patriots field goal made it 24-20 and set up a tense finish.

The Falcon defense held. Senior linebacker Sa Tanuvasa led all tacklers with eight, including three solo. Senior linebacker Rex Caswell, junior linebacker Jackson Horsley and senior tackle Latu Moeai each added five. Senior defensive lineman Sua Ripley recorded three hurries.

Fountaine finished 25-of-40 for 270 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 22 rushing yards on four carries. Wesley led all receivers with seven catches for 106 yards, and junior Koa Wallwork added seven receptions for 84 yards. Bennett paced the ground game with 18 carries for 57 yards.

The victory moved Skyridge to 3-1.

Skyridge hosts the Skyline Eagles for Homecoming on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m.