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WEST VALLEY CITY — No. 10 West had two goals coming into its final game of region play Wednesday night against Granger: stay healthy and win.
Head coach Olosaa Solovi said the team was able to come out of the evening healthy and his players — mainly the defense — took care of the winning part with a 42-0 victory over the Lancers to clinch Region 2 with a 6-0 record in region play.
"I think the guys are really starting to buy in," Solovi said. "They're all starting to click."
Solovi credited his defensive coordinator with putting together a great plan against Granger. The plan paid off and the Panthers allowed 0 points and forcing four turnovers on the night.
Every time Granger got any momentum on offense, a big play by the Panthers' defense sucked the energy right out of their chances. Two promising Lancer drives in the second quarter both ended in interceptions, including a pick six that was called back and another pick in the end zone on Granger's only red zone visit of the night at the end of the first half.
Granger down 21-0 to West and gets to the goal line for the first time all night with under a minute to go until halftime with some help from a muffed punt recovery.
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) October 13, 2022
This is what happened next… pic.twitter.com/r7OHmvp45n
The Panthers led 21-0 at the break and went on to double their lead in the final two quarters, thanks in large part to two fumble recoveries on special teams.
The Granger punters were forced to get creative after the offense was unable to get anything going, and one fake punt run paid off in the third quarter when Matt Jones got the first down.
However, the risk taking also resulted in a fumble by Jones earlier in the quarter, which gave West the ball in the end zone — as if the team needed any more help. The final fumble came on a Granger muffed punt early in the fourth quarter.
On the offensive side of the ball, five different Panthers players scored a touchdown, all inside the Granger 5-yard line.
The away crowd from West began its "Region Champs!" chants in the fourth quarter as the game reached its merciful end.
West High School Region 2 champs with a 42-0 win over Granger. pic.twitter.com/v7X0SdVoan
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) October 13, 2022
"You always want to try to get a win in your last game," Solovi said. "We're just excited for the opportunity to get to the playoffs, and hopefully we can make a deep run."
The postseason begins on Oct. 21.
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