Herriman defeated United 30-24 Friday in a non-league Utah Youth matchup in Alpine, Utah.

The two teams are annually among the best high school teams in the nation, but both were coming into the game under a little pressure. Herriman had already lost to Highland, and were coming into the game missing three key players, including star Noah Vaea. United had lost last week to Snow Canyon, but got a boost as Coach Colin Puriri and three starters, including captain Bailey Wilson, were back from the Rosslyn Park 7s.

Wet weather looked to play a factor throughout the week, but thankfully the storm just missed Alpine and the pitch was dry and in good condition; the teams did have to deal with a hearty crosswind for most of the game, however.

Herriman established possession early and were methodical and patient, holding tight to the ball and working their way down the field bit by bit. United, however, met them at every charge, displaying excellent tackling and defensive organization. Double-digit phases moved the ball down inside the United 22, but the home side would not give way and were able to finally force a penalty and turn the ball over. Kicking for touch and now on attack, United made the game's first big break with a weakside wing move in the 9-10 channel off of the lineout. The Herriman cover defense was there, but United continued to apply pressure, and after a series of penalties, prop Billy Tenney tapped and powered over. Kenyon Matua converted for the 7-0 United lead.

United regained possession after the restart, and exploited Herriman's concern that the strong and quick Tenney would hurt them again. A missed Herriman tackle create an overlap and United was in at the corner for a 12-0 lead. 

Herriman huddled up under the posts for a bit of a chat about how to handle the United attack, and it seemed to work. Herriman got the ball back off the restart and Anthony Perschon zipped through on a couple of runs while Zak Barker took a more direct and physical approach. It was the No. 8 Barker who made it over the line.

Photos by Shelli Simmons. top photo, United's Bailey Wilson on the run, with Caden Simmons preparing to make the tackle. Bottom photo, Herriman's Zak Barker makes some yardage as United prop Billy Tenney tries to rein him in.

Down 12-5 now, Herriman seemed to get some momentum and opened up their attack. Mustang wing Jace Kener, expecting a clearing kick ahead, was playing a bit off and giving away some space to his opposite number, and it looked like the move would pay off for the attacking side.  But Kener would switch things up, ripping the ball away in contact and racing down the sideline to score in the corner and make it 12-10.

With time winding down in the first half both teams were attempting to get the last word before the half.  United continued to pound away with Tenney, Josh Howden, and Wilson, but Barker and Caden Simmons defended well and poached a few balls, too, while Misi Vakapuna and Marcus Ortiz would provide a big wall for the opposition to attempt to break through.  Runs by Perschon, - putting in a gutsy performance after being bed-ridden all week fighting off illness - and Vakapuna would chip away at the United defense. Vakapuna made it over the line but was held up. However, from the ensuing scrum, Maea Leakehe found Tyson Herrera, and the small but very strong inside center cut through some tacklers to touch down. Herriman led 15-12 at halftime.

The second half would see the intensity of the match dialed up another notch from what was already an intense match. Barker, Vakapuna, and Ra'Zhan Reed would draw the United defense in tight with punishing runs, opening things up outside. Inserting fullback Taysan Hammer drew defender attention and passed to Juney Leakehe, who found Kener on the outside. Once again, the wing would not be caught and with the try Herriman led 20-12.

Soon thereafter Herriman's Vakapuna got a yellow card for a high tackle, and United looked to capitalize. Herriman weathered the storm for most of the ten-minute sin bin, but nar the end of that time United spun it wide and scored on the wing to make it Herriman 20, United 17.

With both teams back to 15, things would get a bit chippy and a bit noisy as the players started to debate various issues of the day. It didn't help that at least one possibly dangerous tackle went unseen by the officials. Each team's leaders got their teammates to back off and cool down, and in the end United got a yellow card for backchat to the ref.

Up a player now, Herriman went to work as they had at the beginning, running through the phases. Barker seemed close to scoring again, but was stopped just short. But Reed was there to pick up and go over. The wind continued to wreak havoc on the kicking game, as the Mustangs would fail to convert for the 5th time on the day. United replied, hitting some gaps and making headway.  Herriman was able to turn the ball over, but Lekehe's clearing kick would not find touch, and another missed tackle at the wing gave way to a second United score from outside. The conversion sailed over to shrink the Herriman lead to one at 25-24. United would use their speed and skill in space and would spend much of the remainder of the half putting pressure on the Mustangs and seeing several near-misses as Herriman would do just enough to keep the ball out of the try zone. 

Juney Leakehe turned the tide back in Herriman's favor temporarily with a thundering hit, but with less than five minutes to go, it seemed Herriman needed something spcial to get out from under the pressure.

Near the end of the game, a bizarre series of events put a cap on the day.  With two minutes remaining, the Herriman coaches tried to signal the players to kick for touch. Perhaps thinking that this meant that full time had been reached, one of the Herriman forwards booted the ball backward over the dead ball line. But there was still time and that led to a United five-meter scrum. Needing any score to take the lead, United was in an excellent attacking position. But the Mustang defense held tight, and, as he had done all game, Barker came up with a huge play as his attempt to poach led to a not-releasing penalty.  With just a little bit of time left on the clock, Leakehe attempted to find touch, but the wind would bring the ball back in to play.  United had one final chance on attack, but again Herriman was able to force a turnover - this time seeing a breakaway opportunity from one of its forwards.

This time, Herriman caught the United defenders in disorder and spun the ball wide once more to Kener, who found enough space and touched down in th corner. That sealed the game and at ful time Herriman had won 30-24. The teams shook hands and forgot about their earlier disagreements, but certainly Herriman will be wondering how much easier if could have been had the wind allowed a few of those conversion kicks to go over, and United has to be wondering how they couldn't get that late try scored.

"There were so many standouts today with excellent players on the field on both sides," said Herriman Coach Derek Smith. "United is a quality program and we knew it would be a big test coming down to play an excellent team when we were less than full strength.  I feel like the difference in the game today was Zak Barker - he has been with us since we started the program when he was a 6th grader. He plays with an edge rarely seen at the high school level, and although he does not always get the accolades that he may deserve, I feel like the conversation about the best player in the state could very well start with him. He is the heart and soul of our team and simply put this team on his back today, showed them the way, and then willed them to come along."

"This was a tough one," said United Coach Colin Puriri. "We were down and we came back. Herriman is a quality side but we also gave away too much of our own possession and didn't defend their pick-and-go well. We had many scoring opportunities and ended up giving away the ball. We still haven't put a good game together yet, but we are getting there."