HERRIMAN — Not every high school students get to play for a state title. Fewer get to do so as a junior, like Herriman's Noah Vaea. And even fewer still in just the sixth year of the program.

But Vaea is, by all accounts "a special athlete," according to his coach, Dustin Pearce, and his special attributes have helped the Mustangs to within one win of the first Class 5A football title in school history.

The Mustangs (10-3) will face region rival Lone Peak (13-0) in the 5A state championship Friday at 2:30 p.m. MST at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Mustangs are seeking their first state title in school history, while the Knights will go for their second championship all-time after both teams knocked off a pair of opponents previously unbeaten against in-state foes.

Defending 3AA champ Dixie will try to hold off challenger Logan at 11 a.m., and three-time defending 4A champ Timpview faces East on 6:30 p.m. Each of the three finals will be streamed live at live.ksl.com.

"You don't come across a Noah Vaea very often," Pearce said after wrapping up the Mustangs' final full practice of the year. "He's extremely coachable and works extremely hard. He's a good kid, a good student, and very level-headed.

"Everything that Noah has, Noah has earned. He's a special kid, for sure."

Vaea's impact starts on defense, where he has 78 tackles and a state-high 12 interceptions on the season. But it doesn't stop there. He's also the team's No. 3 rusher, averaging 5.88 yards per carry for 329 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

More than any of that, Vaea is a leader, bringing confidence to the Mustang defense that has allowed just 13.7 points per game during the regular season, and is coming off a 23-7 second-half thumping of previously undefeated Sky View in the state semifinals.

But that defense starts up front, with players like defensive linemen Leki Fotu, Koa Salanoa and Braxton Pearce.

"Our D-line gets pressure on the quarterback, and we stay over the top," Vaea said. "That's our bread and butter right there."

Vaea also gets it done on the offense, averaging 5.88 yards per carry for 329 yards and four touchdowns as the No. 3 rusher on the team. Jake Jutkins has just over 7 yards per carry for the Mustangs, for 1,113 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Herriman ground assault.

"It's nice. I get lost in the backfield a lot, from what I've been told," said Jutkins, a 5-foot-5 senior who is quick with a crack about his stature. "You can't find me until I pop out of a hole."

The Mustangs ended the regular season on a down note, losing 30-0 to Lone Peak to give the Knights the region title and a top seed in the playoffs. But the loss wasn't all bad, Jutkins said.

"We're more focused, especially at practice," he said. "We got a wake-up call right before the playoffs, and ever since then, we've had the mentality right where it needs to be."

The Knights have plenty of talent. But the Mustangs played the season finale with several key injuries, including starting cornerback Tanner Rosehan, who has since returned to the field.

Vaea is hopeful this next time around will be different.

"We're really motivated," he said. "We're focusing on us now, but we're pumped and so excited.

"We just have to come out with confidence. We have to know that we are better than the person in front of us, and have confidence."

Herriman was also hardened by a tough non-region schedule that gave it a 1-2 start to the season, but with losses to perennial 5A powers Brighton and Bingham. Even those two teams scored a combined 30 points against the Mustang defense, with just six of them coming from the two-time defending 5A champion Miners.

"I feel like there are good football players in our league," Pearce said. "I said in the beginning, I feel like it's the SEC of 5A — each week, there isn't a week off or a drop off. The teams that finish in the bottom improve. The teams that finish at the middle are close to the teams at the top. A couple of plays here and there, and (American Fork) could be a one-seed. The same with (Pleasant Grove). We're a couple of mistakes away from beating Lone Peak.

"It's how it is in this league. It's so competitive."

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Timpview's 'brotherhood' seeks 4th-straight 4A football title

Three-time defending 4A state champion Timpview (11-1) will look to defend its title from upstart challenger East (10-2) at 11 a.m. Friday.

The Mustangs have already proven the depth of Region 5 with their appearance in the state final. Now it's just time to play football.

"I'm just enjoying the moment, being in Utah's stadium for a state championship, and my first one," Jutkins said. "I'm just enjoying the moment."

Pearce hopes his players soak up the atmosphere and the moment of the final while also recognizing the opportunity in front of them.

"For these kids and this staff to have this opportunity, we feel very fortunate," Pearce said. "But I feel we are as deserving as anyone else in the state. These kids have worked at least as hard as anybody, and they've been more committed to each other than a lot of teams I've been a part of. It's been a unique year."

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