Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
WEST JORDAN — Kearns stormed back after being down 7-0 and scored 29 unanswered points as West Jordan's injured starting quarterback Jackson Roybal watched his team give up after the early lead.
West Jordan drew first blood when Cody Johnson ran the ball into the end zone from 29-yards out to give the Jaguars a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
After struggling for the entirety of the first quarter, the Cougars decided to put Teki Finau under center, and it looked to be the spark the team needed. Eventually, Kymani Fauatea scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown for the Cougars' first score of the night. Kearns failed to make the point-after attempt, but made up for the missed score.
On the Cougars' next drive, Bryce Benson came back in at quarterback, but the final play was still the same as he handed the ball off to Fauatea, who, once again, ran 27 yards into the end zone. Kearns went for the 2-point conversion try, but Benson was intercepted at the goal line and the play was blown dead with three minutes remaining in the half.
Kearns added to the score at the end of the half with a made field goal to take a 15-7 lead after West Jordan failed to do much on the previous possession.
Fauatea got his hat-trick in the third quarter when he ran the ball in from 3-yards out to extend his side's lead to 22-7.
A defeated Jaguars team attempted to get back in the ball game multiple times but continued to get no movement of the ball. Meanwhile, Finau found a streaking Marley Sio down the right sideline for an over-the-shoulder catch to give the Cougars a commanding 29-7 lead.
This win puts the Cougars in second place in 5A's Region 4, moving above the Jaguars, who fell in the standings. The Jaguars will look to bounce back from the loss next week on the road at Taylorsville Thursday, and the Cougars will host senior night Thursday for their final regular season matchup against Cyprus.
