For much of the very first half of Friday’s season opener, it appeared like Davis’ offense was playing in a 7-on-7 game.With really little pressure on Davis quarterback Tradon Bessinger, the returning first string all-stater torched Brighton’s defense with short passes below and deep balls as well, leading his team to an emphatic 56-21 success on the opening Thursday night of the 2025 high school football season.Bessinger’s last state line: 31 of 38 (81%)for 384 yards and
five goals.”As Tradon goes we go, and I believe you saw his radiance tonight,”said Davis coach Scott Peery. “I’m fortunate, I get to see it every day at practice. I simply sit there and like, he’s an excellent football player. So fortunate to be able to coach him.”![]()
Davis Darts running back Cameron Mason(87 ), center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal versus the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Brighton Bengals run onto the field before completing versus the Davis Darts in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Brighton Bengals run onto the field before contending versus the Davis Darts in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Ashley Robbins, 16, center, cheers for the Davis Darts before they complete versus the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Davis Darts cornerback Makaio Byrd(0)runs the ball while defended by Brighton Bengals linebacker Caleb Faaootoa(48) in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Davis Darts defensive back Isaac Morrison(8)runs for the ball against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Ella Redd, 17, center, cheers for the Davis Darts before they complete against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Davis Darts pass receiver Jaxton Itaaehau(88)scores a touchdown against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Brighton Bengals cheer after the very first quarter where the Davis Darts contend against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Davis Darts cornerback Makaio Byrd(0)is pulled to the ground by Brighton Bengals linebacker Trey Harper(23)in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Brighton Bengals outside linebacker William Little(21)puts pressure on Davis Darts wide receiver Tyson Baggett(1)as he runs down the field in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Davis Darts contend versus the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Spectators see as the Davis Darts contend against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Davis Darts contend against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Davis Darts complete versus the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Brighton Bengals cheerleaders spectate from the sidelines as the Davis Darts complete against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Brighton Bengals cheerleaders celebrate after Brighton scored a touchdown in a football game against the Davis Darts at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Brighton Bengals quarterback Ryce Palepoi(0)prepares to throw a pass during a football game against the Davis Darts at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Brighton Bengals warm up after halftime in a football game against the Davis Darts at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Brighton Bengals wide receiver Mason Lynton(1)celebrates after scoring a goal versus the Davis Darts in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Davis Darts contend against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Brighton Bengals warm up after halftime in a football game versus the Davis Darts at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 .|Tess Crowley, Deseret News![]()
Brighton Bengals pass receiver Mason Lynton (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Davis Darts in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Davis Darts’Isaac Morrison(8)works to keep possession of the ball versus the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News The Brighton Bengals warm up after halftime in a football game versus the Davis Darts at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News![]()
The Davis Darts commemorate after winning versus the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Davis Darts quarterback Tradon Bessinger(4)celebrates with colleagues after scoring a touchdown against the Brighton Bengals in a football game at Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.|Tess Crowley, Deseret News Davis entered into the season ranked 4th in 6A and it leapt out quickly Thursday, scoring on its
very first four drives in the very first half to develop a 28-0 lead. It also tacked on a defensive rating and a special teams score in a completely controling road success.”Fortunate, due to the fact that if we played Brighton again, I believe it’s a various story, so we were just lucky on unique groups, defense and offense to make some huge plays to sort of pull away, “stated Peery.”However once again, it’s Week 1. It’s a wild card game. I believe anything can occur there, so thankfully we made some plays get on them
. Eagerly anticipating Week 2. “Davis will look to keep the momentum breaking previous area opponent Fremont in Week 2, while Brighton hosts Weber next week.Brighton’s viewed strength entering the season remained in the trenches both offensively and defensively, whereas the reverse was the case for Davis. Dart players heard the murmurs in the offseason that the linemen would be their Achilles’heel, and Peery was thankful to see a few of that rumbling put to rest for one week a minimum of.”We wished to see where we accumulated
with an excellent group. Brighton’s a terrific group. All of us understand that. There’s a lot of question marks with Davis in particular areas, and they’re not totally responded to yet, however I believe that’s a great start for us,” said Peery.A huge chunk of that success and after that the resulting confidence was developed on the opening drive of the season. Davis ‘offense took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in 3:01 as Bessinger finished 10 of 11 passes– none longer than 22 yards– and capped the scoring drive with a 1-yard TD pass to Jaxton Itaaheau.All those brief passes set up the deep balls on Davis ‘next two first-quarter belongings. Bessinger his Isaac Morrison on a 49-yard TD pass at the 5:17 mark of the very first quarter, and then Bode Sparrow on a 50-yard pass with 1:34 remaining.Seemingly in a blink,
the hyped match in between top 5 teams in 6A and 5A was rapidly developing into a blowout.In the 2nd quarter, Itaaheau took another TD from Bessinger to make it 28-0, and after that senior Cameron Mason returned a tipped punt 69 backyards for a rating for the 35-0 lead.
“It was what we anticipated. It’s what we planned for. It’s what we wanted, a minimum of,” Bessinger said.
“Who wouldn’t desire that right there? It’s all the guys though. Our O line, they have actually been questioned a lot this offseason, and they simply proved everyone incorrect.
“Brighton lastly got on the board with 3:17 left in the very first half as Mason Lynton captured a 9-yard TD pass from Ryce Palepoi.The Darts, nevertheless, scored two times more before halftime. The very first score began a Tyson Baggett 26-yard TD reception from Bessinger, and then Sparrow sent Davis into the half leading 49-7 after returning an interception 78 backyards for the seventh goal of the first half.With a running clock in the second half, Davis
put things into cruise control for the season-opening win. Brighton, on the other hand, found a little bit of rhythm offensively as Palepoi tossed another goal to Lynton and then another to Slade Taylor to conclude the scoring. The Bengals’ running game also discovered a bit
of a trigger in the 2nd half with Staton Gutierrez, as he carried on 10 times for 96 yards.Correction: In an earlier version of this story, Trey Harper was misidentified in the image caption.
