SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – The question really wasn’t if Orem was going to win the 4A state championship, but rather, by how much.
The answer — 47 points.
The Tigers, who averaged 62 points per game in the playoffs, won their second straight 4A state championship, dominating Dixie in the title game, 60-13.
Cooper Legas completed 24 of 31 passes for 333 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also rushing for 77 yards and another score as Orem rolled to the state title.
“People have talked all year long that Orem is just good because they’re 4A,” Legas said. “But that’s all we have the chance to do is play 4A teams in the playoffs and in state. So all we can do is just destroy them to show how good we really are.”
Puka Nacua caught 9 passes for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns, and set the all-time single season state record for touchdown catches in a season with 26.
“I just can’t explain the excitement of high school football, and just football in general for me has been absolutely amazing,” Nacua said. “Winning back-to-back is tingling. It gives me the chills to think about it.”
Orem built a 20-0 halftime lead behind a 14-yard touchdown run by Legas, and touchdown passes to Nacua and Brinton Paulson.
After Dixie cut the lead to 20-6 on a scoring pass from Reggie Graff to Joshua Cazier, the Tigers then scored 34 unanswered points to blow the game wide open.
Buju Tuisavura had an interception return for a touchdown and a 49-yard touchdown run to make it 40-6.
Noah Sewell added 76 yards rushing and a touchdown for Orem. Jakob Robinson blocked a punt and returned it 2 yards for another Orem touchdown.
“I think we’re the best team playing today,” said head coach Jeremy Hill. “We can’t control the classification we’re in. We tried two years ago when they realigned to go up 5A, but we were declined. So, I thought the boys came out and played their game and that’s why the score is a little lopsided.”
