Class 2A football semifinals: Davis capitalizes on turnovers, defense blanks high-powered Vian

Davis' quarterback, Alec Hetherington, rushed 23 times for 61 yards and a touchdown and completed 3-of-6 passes for 54 yards, including a nifty 30-yard jump pass for a touchdown to Michael Nowden. On defense, Hetherington had two interceptions, as did Dedrien Nowden.

“We knew we had to play forward,” Weber said. “We had to play aggressive. … We just had to play our game the entire game and not sit back on our heels and let them get going.”

Dedrien Nowden's interception on Vian's second offensive play and returned it to the Vian 32. From there, the Wolves twice converted on fourth down before scoring on a 2-yard keeper by Hetherington with 4:45 left in the first quarter.

The Wolverines stopped Davis on downs at the Vian 15 early in the second quarter, but they couldn't move the football. Vian's best chance to score came after a Davis punt that went for minus-2 yards and set the Wolverines up at their own 45. They reached the Davis 34 before Eric Casey fumbled and Chase Taliaferro recovered for the Wolves.

Davis went three-and-out, but on the first play after the punt, Hetherington, playing defensive back, intercepted Decker and returned it to the Vian 30. On the next play, Hetherington did his best Tim Tebow imitation with the jump pass to Michael Nowden, who cruised into the end zone 54 seconds before halftime. Hetherington and Nowden connected again on a 2-point conversion pass.

Decker almost single-handedly marched Vian down to the Davis 13 to start the second half, but Dedrien Nowden ended that threat with an interception at the Davis 7. The Wolves then put together a 14-play scoring drive, capped by a 28-yard touchdown run by Blake Summers.

The Wolves played most of the game without leading rusher Deaundre' Carr, who was injured in the first half and didn't return after carrying once for one yard.