The West Valley Warriors and Herriman HS both won state championships Saturday in Utah.

The Warriors took the HS club final 45-12 over Kay Toa to finish their season 12-0, including two wins over Kau Toa and a win over well-regarded United.

It was still a physical battle, despite the eventual lopsided scoreline. Hard-charging No. 8 Esekia Tauvao told Utah Sports Action in a video interview that the physical nature of the game was something they knew they could handle.

“It was mentally hard, said Tauvao. “I’d say this game was just kind over matter.”

West Valley has taken care of all comers all season, and it’s the togetherness that has made it happen.

“The chemistry [of the team] is what’s got us this far,” said Tauvao. “No one has the chemistry we have.”

“We had a great week of preparation and game-planning,” said Coach Epoki Mahina. “And the boys executed. We feel we are the best team in the state of Utah, and I believe in my boys, and they believe in the coaching staff and the system we run.”

So on to the single-school final, and there Herriman crushed a very good Snow Canyon team 74-12 to win.

Snow Canyon defended doggedly early on during a very windy afternoon that made it tough for the southern Utah team to kick out of their own end. They stopped several Herriman pushes right on their goal line before the Mustangs sent it wide to Brig Rush for a try on the wing. Using Leki Fotu as the main battering ram from No. 8, the Herriman forwards made the gainline, and then the backs went into work. However, the Herriman forwards linked nicely with the backline and that’s how the Mustangs scored their second try, this time for Preston Mirando. With the wind at their backs, Herriman went to the boot, and a long kick from inside their 22 made for a Herriman lineout in Snow Canyon territory, and from there the backs worked the ball for a nicely-taken try.

Snow Canyon finally got on the front foot and with their first good possession of the game scored a well-taken try for Kody Jacobsen. But the ensuing restart just put them back behind the 22, and facing the stiff wind. It was only a matter of time, and the Herriman forwards did the rest.

Snow Canyon replied with a try from the restart - putting pressure on and working the pick-and-goes until Britton Webster powered over. But field position ruled the day, and the bigger, very physical Herriman team was able to turn any sort of attacking possession into tries thanks to a very snappy lineout and maul, and a stronger scrum.

For Herriman, Tomasi Tonga was a game-time decision after injuring his ankle, and he toughed it out, and in fact played superbly on the day. Prop Jaeron Masina had his best game in a Herriman jersey. Money issues mean Herriman was not able to go to the Pacific Cup or the HS Nationals, and so this game was of special importance to that team.

"This is one of the best teams we've coached in the history of the program,” said Coach Derek Smith. “We went undefeated for the calendar year, which is an incredible feat with the competition at the LVI as well as teams such as United, East, Olympus, and Snow Canyon in-state. We did not have a close game this spring. I wish that our finances allowed us to compete at [Nationals], because I would take this group against any team in the country.”