Mountain Ridge’s Semisi Kinikini, heads into the tip zone for a landing as Mountain Ridge and Westlake play within the first spherical of the playoffs in Herriman on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
After dropping by the slimmest of margins to Westlake earlier within the common season, Mountain Ridge made certain it didn’t occur once more. This time, Mountain Ridge quarterback Jaxson Reiser led his workforce to a tough fought 28-25 victory over Westlake within the first spherical of the 6A state event.
After falling to Westlake 43-42 within the common season, Mountain Ridge head coach Mike Meifu made certain his workforce was on the suitable aspect of the outcome this time round.
“We mentioned pregame that you simply don’t get very many second possibilities. We have been disenchanted in how we performed them earlier within the 12 months and so to come back again and get this win feels actually good,” Mountain Ridge head coach Mike Meifu mentioned.
Mountain Ridge was led by Reiser, who was chargeable for 21 of his groups 28 factors on the night time.
“Each week has been a rising expertise for him. It’s his first 12 months being in our program so each week he retains getting higher. As we speak was actually all in regards to the offensive line. It doesn’t matter who had the ball, we have been capable of execute and see the sport out in the long run,” Meifu mentioned.
Mountain Ridge grabbed the lead first and by no means regarded again. With 7:25 left within the first quarter, working again Semisi Kinikini discovered the tip zone on a brief four-yard landing run.
Westlake tied the sport up early within the second quarter on a 14-yard reception by wideout Aiden Hammond.
Mountain Ridge would take the lead as soon as once more only a few minutes later, with Reiser throwing for his first landing of the sport by discovering receiver Payton Jones deep down the sideline on a 57-yard rating.
Westlake was capable of reduce into Mountain Ridge’s lead on a 25-yard discipline objective by Brennan Morgan with 4 minutes left earlier than halftime. Morgan had a chance to make it a one-point sport as the primary half ended, however Mountain Ridge’s particular groups have been as much as the duty, blocking the sphere objective try and went into the break with a 14-10 benefit.
For a lot of the second half, the objective for Mountain Ridge was to rely closely on their working sport to assist take as a lot day without work of the clock as attainable.
They elevated their lead halfway via the quarter when Reiser was capable of finding the tip zone on a 10-yard quarterback keeper.
Westlake saved making it uncomfortable for Mountain Ridge, nonetheless, and made it a 21-17 rating line with a 76-yard landing reception by Carter Quiring.
Mountain Ridge answered originally of the fourth when Resier discovered Jones in the long run zone for the second time on the night time, connecting on a 12-yard rating.
Westlake tried to make it attention-grabbing within the last quarter. They have been capable of make it a three-point sport with 9:40 left with a 15-yard rating by Ezra Heiner and a profitable two-point conversion.
That was all that Westlake may muster, nonetheless, and finally noticed their season come to an finish in heartbreaking style.
It doesn’t get any simpler for Mountain Ridge as they'll face off towards a powerhouse aspect in American Fork within the subsequent spherical.
“Now we have to remove the large performs. We’re going to go up towards American Fork they usually have at all times had a high-powered offense. Now we have to restrict these massive yardage performs and if we do this we’ll be in fine condition,” added Meifu.