- Orem defeated Springville 17-14, ending a two-game losing streak for the Tigers.
- Tayden Ka'awa's two touchdown passes and Kaue Akana's score were pivotal for Orem.
- Despite victory, Orem coach Lance Reynolds stressed the need for improvement and focus.
OREM — After back-to-back losses to high-level teams from both Utah and Idaho, Orem football wasn't going to begrudge any win, no matter ease or fashion in its return home for the first time since Aug. 15.
But the Tigers know they have plenty of work left after Friday night's 17-14 slugfest against previously unbeaten Springville.
Tayden Ka'awa threw a pair of touchdown passes, and a 17-0 run capped by Kaue Akana's 15-yard score proved to be the difference as the Tigers (2-2) handed the Red Devils their first loss of the season.
"I think every week, we'll just get a little better," said Orem coach Lance Reynolds, clearly exasperated after the game.
Akana echoed many of the frustrations of his coach.
"We're far from where we should be," the senior, who is a converted soccer player, said. "I think the game shouldn't have been that close. We've just got to get to work, learn for our team. We battled, and the offense was driving well. We just couldn't finish.
"It's headed on the right track, but this is only the beginning of what you're going to see from Orem at the end of the season."
Zachary Henderson scored with a 95-yard blitz on the opening kickoff for Springville, then pulled the Red Devils (3-1) within three when he caught a pass from beau Halvorsen and zoomed 87 yards for pay dirt with 5:12 remaining.
In between, though, was where Orem shined. Ka'awa responded to the 7-0 deficit with a drive that ended in a 51-yard touchdown to Baylor commit Kai Wesley, and the Alabama commit found BYU commit Akana for a 15-yard score midway through the third quarter.
Ben Bradley also hit a 34-yard field goal in the first half that kept the Tigers in front, 10-7 at the break.
But with a chance to ice the game deep in their own territory with less than a minute to go, Orem fumbled the ball to give Springville one last chance to win or tie.
The Red Devils had to go the length of the field, and Akana — who plays wide receiver, defensive back and special teams (including punter) for the Tigers — helped Orem's defense do just enough to open Region 7 play at 1-0.
"That was a huge momentum shift, to go from icing the game to being in a 45-second drive on defense," Akana said. "The biggest thing was just not get beat deep ... play back like that. It's pressure, but I feel like as one of the captains, it's my job to stay composed and help calm the team."
With the benefit of hindsight, Reynolds admitted the Tigers "probably should've knelt" on the ball before the fumble.
"But I'll be honest," he added, "I told them in the huddle, the only thing we can't do is fumble the ball. I don't understand why we're reach out. It's not like we were reaching for a first down or the goal line. It was second-and-10; so what are you reaching for?
"It's stuff like that that just is not very smart."
Orem travels to Spanish Fork next Friday, while Springville will look to bounce back at home against Pleasant Grove.
