ST. GEORGE — Dixie’s defense has played in the shadow of its offense for a number of years, but not Friday night at Pine View.

The Flyers D forced five turnovers and allowed just 206 yards in Dixie’s 38-7 trouncing of Pine View at Panther Stadium.

Sophomore Ammon Ah Quin rushed for 153 yards and Hobbs Nyberg scored twice, but it was the defense that stole the show.

“What you saw tonight is what we see in our kids,” DHS coach Andy Stokes said. “We’ve been saying since the preseason started that our defense was off the chain. They showed up today.”

What most experts across the state predicted would be a close game between crosstown rivals was anything but. Dixie dominated from the first series, forcing Pine View into a three-and-out to start the game.

The Flyers then went 75 yards in 13 plays to take the early 7-0 lead. Jacob Barben hit Nyberg with a 5-yard flare pass for the opening score, capping a drive that took more than five minutes off the clock.

The Panthers were able to respond with a decent drive on the ensuing possession, but came away empty when a Connor Brooksby field goal try doinked off the left upright. It would be a portent of things to come for Pine View.

The two teams exchanged interceptions before Dixie punched it in again, this time Nyberg taking a handoff from Barben for a 9-yard TD early in the second quarter to make it 14-0.

By halftime, Ah Quin had 68 of his yards and Dixie had pushed its lead to 21-0.

Any comeback thoughts by the Panthers were quashed early in the third quarter when Dixie took the opening possession of the second half and marched 85 yards in eight plays to push the lead to 28-0. Ah Quin got his first touchdown of the night to end the drive by taking a shovel pass on fourth-and-2 into the end zone.

Thayne Reid’s field goal pushed it to 31-0 and a Barben-to-Josh Topham 39-yard TD pass made it 38-0.

Pine View finally got on the board in the fourth quarter on a halfback pass from Michael Moten to Carson Clark. The 61-yard play accounted for all but 16 of the Panthers second-half yards.

The Flyers, now 1-0 in region and 2-3 overall, outgained the Panthers 352-206 in the game, and Dixie was an impressive 11 for 19 on third and fourth downs.

Dixie plays at Cedar next Friday night.

Pine View, 4-1 overall and 0-1 in region, got a nice game from receiver Clark, who had six catches for 113 yards. The Panthers will try and bounce back next week with a home game vs. Snow Canyon.

Stats: dixpv91616

For more on this game and the rest of the 3AA South Friday night lights, including photos, quotes, stats and insight, go to Saturday Breakdown on St. George News.

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