Game Night Live, Week 5: Sky View defense holds off Mountain Crest to snap 3-game slide

SMITHFIELD — Sky View entered its homecoming game against Cache Valley rival Mountain Crest with a three-game losing skid, but the past two losses came by a combined 6 points.

The Bobcats’ defense made sure to put it to bed for Good Friday night.

Will Alder had one of three first-half interceptions, and the Bobcats forced four takeaways and two more turnovers on downs to hold off the Mustangs, 20-14 in KSL’s Game Night Live game of the week.

“This was a big win,” Alder admitted. “It also gives us good momentum going into a big game next week against Green Canyon. This just gives us some momentum, for next week and for the rest of the season.”

Sky View (2-3, 1-1 Region 11) struck a defensive tone in the first half, picking off Mountain Crest quarterback Brady Muir three times including Alder’s interception in the end zone that set up Tucker Stokes’ 56-yard touchdown to Rad Sparrow to take a 10-0 halftime.

“That’s a game-changing play right there,” Alder said of his takeaway. “I just saw people coming from the side, and I tried to get in the middle because I had a blown coverage. Then I saw the ball, and went up and got it.”

Tucker Stokes hits Rad Sparrow for a 56-yard Sky View touchdown.

The Bobcats lead cross-valley rival @mcMustangsFB 10-0 at halftime of the Game Night Live Game of the Week.

🤝: @utahcommunitycu | @SkinScienceInst pic.twitter.com/Ba03VdvpFD

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 12, 2026

Dracen Shepard and Gustavo Gonzales also recorded interceptions for the Bobcats, who almost got another pick from cornerback Brett Carling as well.

Sky View cashed in on another turnover — a high snap on a punt — with Peyton Palmer’s short touchdown with 1:26 left in the third quarter, and Jordan Hoyt stretched the lead to 20-0 with his second field goal of the game with 7:35 remaining.

“We came to ball,” Alder said. “We’ve been practicing all week, trying to be killers. We get turnovers, and we make the offense on the other team struggle.”

Sky View’s defense was on attack, holding the Mustangs out of the end zone until the middle of the fourth quarter.

But Mountain Crest (3-2, 0-2 Region 11) rallied.

The Mustangs, who started 3-0 before last week’s 42-14 loss to Ridgeline, pulled one back when Muir found Mason Bradford for a 19-yard TD with 6:05 remaining.

Muir connected with Kael Olsen from 14 yards out on the next drive, and Mountain Crest was within a touchdown with 2:03 remaining.

.@mcMustangsFB is still alive after Bady Muir finds Kael Olsen for the second touchdown of the 4th quarter.

MC trails Sky View 20-14 with 2:03 left in the Game Night Live Game of the Week.

🤝: @utahcommunitycu | @SkinScienceInst pic.twitter.com/kJxAISEie0

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 12, 2026

But the Bobcats’ defense held one last time, forcing an incompletion with 13 seconds remaining to clinch their first win since the Aug. 14 season opener against Park City.

“I was a little nervous then,” Alder said. “But I knew we’d get the job done.”

The Bobcats travel to Green Canyon next Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. MT, while Mountain Crest travels to Region 11 co-leader Stansbury.