In a highly anticipated 5A semifinal matchup, Orem showcased its dominance with a commanding 34-7 victory over West. The contest, held on Thursday morning, featured two top teams with explosive offenses and solid defenses, but the game quickly turned into a one-sided affair.
From the outset, it was evident that Orem was in control. The Tigers” offensive and defensive lines overwhelmed their West counterparts, establishing a physical presence that set the tone for the game. By the end of the first quarter, Orem had jumped to a 20-0 lead, accumulating 155 total yards compared to West”s dismal minus-2.
Orem”s success was fueled by a powerful start, as defensive end Junior Moala emphasized, “We felt like we deserved the No. 1 seed, and so we wanted to come out for the rest of the state that we deserved it. All week we were talking about it, preaching about it. Let”s go out, let”s go play physical, dominant football, and that”s what we did.” The team”s physicality was evident, as they held West to just 140 yards on 61 plays, averaging only 2.3 yards per play.
Orem coach Lance Reynolds had a premonition about his team”s potential performance, noting his unfamiliarity with West”s schedule. “I kind of felt like we”re going to surprise them a little bit how good we are,” Reynolds stated. The early stages of the game validated that suspicion.
After West”s initial drive ended in a three-and-out, Orem quickly responded with a four-play, 62-yard scoring drive. This culminated in a 45-yard touchdown run by Aisa Galeai, giving Orem a 6-0 lead. West struggled again on offense, leading to another quick score by the Tigers—a 2-yard run by Easton Kojima—extending their lead to 12-0. Shortly after, a 32-yard touchdown pass from Tayden Ka”awa to Kaue Akana made it 20-0.
West coach Olosaa Solovi acknowledged his team”s shortcomings, saying, “We just didn”t make enough plays to keep ourselves in the game, which we expected we could.” With West”s quarterback Kamden Lopati exiting early due to a shoulder injury, Orem”s chances of victory solidified further.
Despite being dominant, Orem”s scoring slowed down after the initial burst. They didn”t score again until midway through the third quarter when Moala caught a 2-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 27-0. West finally managed to score late in the third quarter with a 3-yard touchdown reception by Junior Dixon, but the damage was already done.
Orem”s defense remained steadfast, even allowing Lopati to return after his injury. He managed to complete 12 of 17 passes for 102 yards, but the team”s rushing game was stifled, finishing with only 38 yards compared to their usual average of 284.8 yards per game.
Ultimately, Orem finished the game with 255 total yards, sealing a comprehensive victory that not only showcased their talent but also their determination as they advance in the playoffs.
