Weber Warriors Hang On Against Roy, Escape With First Win
Aug 29, 2025, 9:49 PM
The Weber Warriors captains enter the field before facing the Roy Royals in the Week 3 Game Night Live Game of the Week. (Photo courtesy Jordan Dowdle)
(Photo courtesy Jordan Dowdle)
SALT LAKE CITY – Big plays ruled the day as the Weber Warriors and Roy Royals combined for six touchdowns in a 27-19 Weber win.
The Weber Warriors (1-2) hosted the Roy Royals (0-3) in the Week 3 Game Night Live Game of the Week in Pleasant View, Utah, on Friday, August 29.
Carter Payne ➡️ Brock Dean@WarriorsWeber lead Roy 14-0 in the Game Night Live Game of the Week. pic.twitter.com/AFbfHupGyB
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 30, 2025
The night came down to the final play and an interception that gave Weber its first win of the season.
First Quarter
Weber took the opening kickoff and used a quick-strike passing game to advance into scoring territory.
After a tackle for a loss on third down, the Warriors were forced to attempt a 34-yard field goal. The kick was blocked by Roy, giving the Royals the first taste of momentum.
Roy was forced to punt late in the quarter after a sack on third down cost them several yards of field position. The punt rolled all the way to the one-yard line, putting Weber in a difficult spot on first down.
Weber punted after a three-and-out drive. Roy took possession at Weber’s 35-yard line.
More defensive pressure forced Roy to give the football back with 36 seconds left in the period on a turnover on downs.
Second Quarter
Weber’s Dyson Parker started the scoring on the first play of the second period. Parker caught a screen pass and sprinted untouched along the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Dyson Parker goes 56 yards to give @WarriorsWeber a 7-0 lead in the Game Night Live Game of the Week. @utahcommunitycu pic.twitter.com/TEznAMFGSn
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 30, 2025
Roy gave the football back after a short drive.
Parker looked to have a second TD, but a holding penalty against Weber brought the ball back near the 20-yard line. Deterred but not defeated, Weber extended the drive before QB Carter Payne threw a dart to Brock Dean in the center of the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
The Royals responded with a drive into Weber’s red zone. On 3rd-&-1, a sack cost Roy 14 yards of field position. It didn’t matter as Bo Williams split the uprights with a 42-yard attempt.
Weber answered right back on their next play from scrimmage.
A reverse handoff broke Josh Hamblin free down the Weber sideline. Hamblin cut the ball back near midfield, avoiding a defender and clearing the way for an 80-yard TD.
Josh Hamblin shows off his 🛞🛞 on an 80-yard @WarriorsWeber TD.
Warrior lead the @RoyHighFootball 21-3 late in the second quarter. @utahcommunitycu pic.twitter.com/kny2XEqep8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 30, 2025
Roy was able to find some success in the running game late in the period. The Royals had first-and-goal with less than a minute left.
Weber’s defense bowed up, forcing Roy to settle for a field goal.
The Warriors led 21-6 at the half.
Third Quarter
Roy opened the second half with an exclamation point touchdown from Drayden Esplin on a long catch and run. Esplin pulled down the catch over the middle, broke a tackle, and then sprinted to the end zone with ease.
@RoyHighFootball's Drayden Esplin scores the Royals' first TD of the night, cutting Weber's lead to 21-13.@utahcommunitycu pic.twitter.com/hTUXviUSuV
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 30, 2025
Weber’s Creed DeVries answered with a long touchdown catch on a perfect pass from Payne.
The Warriors missed the extra point, leaving the score 27-13 with 8:53 left in the period.
The @WarriorsWeber and @RoyHighFootball going back and forth in the Game Night Live Game of the Week. @utahcommunitycu pic.twitter.com/Dq1QlJE0pW
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 30, 2025
After a punt, Roy got the football back on an interception and drove into Weber’s end of the field. The Royals appeared to have entered the red zone on a big play, but an unsportsmanlike penalty cost them 15 yards.
On the next play, Ryker Cordero got wide open for a long TD pass from Rock Speredon. A bad snap cost Roy a chance to cut the deficit to seven.
Ryker Cordero for 6️⃣ as @RoyHighFootball cuts the deficit to 8@utahcommunitycu pic.twitter.com/218Ek9QVxu
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 30, 2025
Roy trailed 27-19 after three quarters.
Fourth Quarter
Roy’s first possession of the final period would have ended with a punt near midfield, but defensive holding kept the drive alive.
Roy kept draining the clock as they methodically matriculated into Weber territory. Penalties on both sides slowed the game down, with Roy finally attempting a field goal from 40 yards out. The attempt sailed wide left, thrilling the home crowd.
Weber took over but couldn’t pick up a first down to end the game. The Royals forced a punt and took over with 1:17 left in Weber territory.
The night ended with Weber’s first interception of the night to seal the 27-19 win.
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Game Night Live travels south on I-15 to Las Vegas, Nevada, next week, when the Lone Peak Knights take on national power Bishop Gorman on Friday, September 5. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. MT.
The Gaels enter the matchup as the top-ranked team in Nevada and the No. 3 team in the country.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
