Estimated read time: 3-4 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY — Herriman scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to upset an undefeated Sky View team 23-17 in the 5A semifinals game Friday afternoon.
Trailing 7-3 after the half, Herriman's Noah Vaea picked off Sky View quarterback Garrison Beach on the 18-yard line and returned it for a touchdown to give the Mustangs their first lead of the game in the third quarter. The interception was followed up by Vaea recovering a stripped fumble by Peniamina Mobley on the ensuing kickoff return.
"I just tried my best to get in the right place and make the right play," Vaea said. "It felt great. I can't explain (my emotions).
"I felt like we got a lot of momentum going our way and then everyone got pumped up," Vaea added. "We then went on a roll and didn't stop."
After the recovered fumble, Herriman quarterback Hayden Reynolds then found University of Utah commit Leki Fotu for a 24-yard touchdown pass to give the Mustangs an 11-point lead.
"To be honest, I was nervous. It's my first time being in this stadium and playing, but I just kept my composure and credit to the line and the quarterback throwing the pass," Fotu said. "I'm speechless. It feels great."
In the fourth quarter, Herriman running back Jake "The Jet" Jutkins, as his coach calls him, broke off for a 10-yard rushing touchdown to seal the win for the Mustang and to give the Bobcats their first loss of the season.
Jutkins battled with some injuries in the game, but finished with 175 rushing yards and one touchdown on 32 carries. Kaden Strasters added 92 rushing yards on 18 carries.
"We've had a couple of injuries and he's had to do some extraordinary things and Jake's risen to the occasion," head coach Dustin Pearce said of Jutkins. "He's a great student, he's a great kid. He's got great morale all the time."
Sky View scored only once in the game on an 18-yard touchdown pass by Beach to Breygan Holbrook just before the first quarter concluded.
While not taking credit away from his team's offensive performance, Pearce credited his defense and special teams with the win.
"The only way to beat a good team like that is taking care of the football and limiting mistakes," Pearce said. "And fortunately, today our kids played really well. I said it before, and I'll say it again, I think we're playing our best football right now."
The Mustangs were led on defense by Mobley, who finished the game with six total tackles, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and 0.5 tackles for loss.
The Mustangs will await the winner of the Lone Peak-Bingham game in Herriman's first ever championship appearance in school history.
"I'm just happy for these kids," Pearce said, fighting back his emotions. "There's nothing else I can say. It's a great feeling. I'm numb, I'm emotional. What a wonderful feeling, what can I say?"
The program will likely once again be an underdog to either team in the championship game. Two of Herriman's three losses on the season were to Bingham (6-0) and Lone Peak (30-0).
"We've been an underdog all year," Pearce said. "We're used to that and we'll be the underdog again because these two teams playing after us tonight are great football teams and they both beat us. All we can do is line up, game plan and enjoy this for a minute and come back again Monday."
