Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Westlake High School hosted the Herriman Mustangs for the first time this season on its home field. Eager to bounce back from its 24-6 loss against Skyline last weekend, Westlake implemented strong preparations, leading to a 21-7 victory Friday night against Herriman High School.
“We came out with the mentality that this is a do or die game for us,” Westlake head coach Jason Walker said. “Our guys stepped up to the challenge.”
As Herriman received the first possession of the ball, running back Canyon Hansen took off with a 29-yard run. However, Westlake's defense was able to hold Herriman at the 68-yard line until the Mustangs were forced to kick.
The first touchdown was from Westlake after quarterback Joshua Sorenson ran the ball to the 4-yard line following a false-start penalty against Westlake. The run set the team at first and goal, eventually leading to a touchdown and a missed field goal attempt to put the score at 6-0
Herriman made its mark on the scoreboard after running back Francis Bernard ran the ball to the 7-yard line, setting up quarterback Tueni Lupeamanu to later pass to Alex Tuinei for a touchdown.
Westlake's offense was the key to its victory. Sorenson implemented clear passes and successfully ran the ball. The last touchdown for Westlake came from a run by Sorenson.
“If our whole team is on, is in sync and gets their blocks, it's easy,” Sorenson said. “I trust our offensive linemen, I trust our receivers, I trust the whole team.”
Despite the loss, Herriman never let Westlake get large runs. The Mustangs' defense remained a challenge for Westlake until the final seconds. Herriman continued to execute strong plays and make passes, especially in the second half as Westlake's defense held strong.
“One thing about our team is that we play physical,” Walker said. “Our guys play hard from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.”
Herriman will now practice in preparation for Wednesday’s game against Clearfield High School.
