Herriman Needs Comeback to Beat tough Olympus

03.20.2023HS Boys

losi brown herriman v olympus 2023 adriane watson

Herriman defeated Olympus 33-19 in a tense, competitive early-season matchup in Utah.

Leading the way for Herriman were the two current seniors who played in their team's 2021 National Championship team. Both players are co-captains. Josiah Dunn is coming off his first season in football in which he was All-Region as a punter and wide receiver. He is also a state champion in DECA academic competitions, winning in Business and Operations Management. Dunn also convinced his friend Carson Grundy, a captain in football, wrestling, and baseball at Herriman, to try rugby.

Brown is the team's emotional leader who runs the team's community service activities—he's also the student body president.

This group of players along with new-to-rugby senior Ed Vanisi helped lead Herriman to a comeback victory in a game against Olympus that featured a little bit of everything.

The Titans, in contrast to the young Mustangs, came in with a very experienced side made up of almost all seniors. Olympus is also the more seasoned on the year, showing well in the Storer Classic and getting several games under their belt early, and their timing and precision gave them an advantage early in the contest. Using the strong wind at their backs, Olympus was able to to keep Herriman pinned down and unable to get clear.

Herriman played tough defense for much of the half, but did not do a great job holding on to the ball. Drops, knock-ons, or slowness in support gave Olympus turnovers. The heavy snows in Utah have reduced practice times and it showed in Herriman's accuracy.

Olympus, meanwhile, looked a little but more polished and did well to force turnovers and keep possession, leading to two tries. Olympus looked like a team that was comfortable with each other and where where each other would be and they thoroughly deserved their 12-0 lead.

Grundy did give Herriman a bit of a boost going in to halftime with a crushing tackle on his opposite number that gave some life to the hosts as well as the hardy fans on the sideline.

Whatever was said in the Herriman huddle at halftime seemed to have sparked things as the Mustangs started the second period with plenty of energy. Caleb Sanchez chased down the restart and got awarded a penalty for his efforts, which was tapped to Brown. The big prop thundered through the Olympus defense, carrying four defenders with within 10 meters to the tryline. Wide ball saw Grundy almost get over, and after a series of infringements by Olympus, scrumhalf Eli McQueen tapped and spun the ball out to Dunn, who beat his man to the corner to score.

Dunn converted from the sideline and it was 12-7.

The try further energized Herriman, who got a booming clear from Dunn on the ensuing kickoff that was chased down expertly by lock Jaron Watson. His open-field tackle led to a not-releasing penalty and a Herriman lineout inside the Olympus 22. Eventually another penalty saw Dunn go for posts. His kick hit the upright. Two players went for the ball; Sanchez tried to avoid hitting his opponent but was unable to get out of the way and collided with the Olympus player, who was in the air. From a point-scoring chance to a red card for Sanchez, the momentum had shifted quickly.

Down to 14 players Herriman kept up the pressure. Defensive work by Kite Afeaki and Fisi’ipeau paved the way for a turnover by lock Henry Ashton. Stopped just short of the line, and Herriman finally made the pressure pay off with a quick tap and pass to Brown to tie the game.

Herriman flipped the field right away after the restart with strong running from Heston Egelund and Bryce Baddell, to go along with Dunn’s boot. Watson stole a lineout in Olympus territory and Dunn hit a gap before offloading to Eli McQueen in support. Dunn was good on the conversion and Herriman now had the lead at 19-12.

Grundy, Afeaki, and Fisi’ipeau set Herriman up for another chance, and McQueen fed Grundy, who sprinted into a gap. Dunn converted and it was 26-12.

Herriman had been controlling territory and possession but Olympus surged back, returning to their secure phase play and scoring to inch within a try at 26-19.

But Herriman's defense would clamp down after that while Watson was able to force another turnover, leading to Remington Wood racing down the field. Dunn finished off the movement with a sidestep and run under the posts. His conversion was good and that sealed it 33-19.

"Olympus is a team that you always have to be prepared for, because they will punish sloppy play and take advantage of any opening that you give them," said Herriman Program Director Jeff Wilson. "Their experience showed in the first half, while our inexperience did the same. Brad Anderson runs a great program, they play the game the right way and it’s always a pleasure to compete against an Olympus side."

Herriman responded well to the red card, added Wilson. "With only four players who saw significant Varsity minutes last year, but with a great work ethic from this group, I’ve felt that this will be a team that will really put its hand up the second half of the season when we are more cohesive."

Herriman, Olympus, Utah Youth Rugby

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