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SALT LAKE CITY — The Orem Tigers were heavy favorites over the Pine View Panthers and they lived up to the hype and went on to win the game 62-20.
The Tigers jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game and never looked back.
“I challenged our team," Orem head coach Jeremy Hille said. "I said we want to get up by three touchdowns early; that’s exactly what we did.”
Orem received the ball first and wasted no time scoring a touchdown off a 33-yard scamper by junior running back Noah Sewell just over two minutes into the game. On the ensuing drive, Orem blocked a punt and recovered the ball on their own 20-yard line and then scored a touvhdown on a couple plays later on a 2-yard rush by junior running back Buju Tuisavura.
On the ensuing kickoff, Pine View fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Tigers. Sewell again found pay dirt on the next play with a 15-yard touchdown, giving Orem their 21-0 lead with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter.
Coming into the game, both teams averaged more than 60 points in the playoffs. But Orem played well on both sides of the ball, scoring 62 points on offense and holding Pine View well below their playoff average.
Much of the offense for the game came from Sewell who rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns on only seven attempts. He averaged an astounding 26.7 yards per carry.
Tigers wide receiver and USC commit Puka Nacua had five receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown in the win. With his five receptions Friday, Nacua tied the single-season record for receptions in the state of Utah.
“We are very aware of (the record) and we will try to get that one next week and break it.” Hill said of Nacua tying the record tonight.
Next week will be Nacua’s last chance to break the record. The senior is then expected to continue his football career at USC.
Orem will play Dixie in the 4A championship game Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
