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PLEASANT GROVE — A final fourth quarter touchdown gave Pleasant Grove the edge to beat Herriman 21-17 and advance to the quarterfinals Friday night.
The Vikings entered the fourth quarter down 17-14 after Mustangs kicker Imaj Hagan made a 20-yard field goal and in need of a score. But a turnover by Pleasant Grove put a quick end to the early chance until Herriman turned the ball over on the next possession.
With the ball again, Vikings quarterback Carson Rasmussen led his team to a come-from-behind 21-17 victory.
Rasmussen ran for 25 yards, connected with Shawn Cottle on a 21-yard pass, and then completed the drive with a 1-yard rushing touchdown for the go-ahead score. With 5:59 left on the clock, Pleasant Grove's victory came down to its defense, and it did not disappoint after a tackle for loss by Lucas Jackson on the Mustangs' fourth-down attempt to essentially end the game.
"That (stop) in the fourth quarter really ignited the team," Pleasant Grove head coach Taylor Walkenhorst said. "The team got so pumped, gave the defense more energy, and we got it done, thankfully."
The first half of the game consisted of one team scoring and the other answering back immediately. Herriman was the first to score after quarterback Frederick Ta'ai ran for a 60-yard gain followed by an 18-yard passing touchdown to Drayten Stilson.
The Vikings followed suit on the next possession with a 13-yard passing touchdown from Rasmussen to Cottle to end the first quarter.
Going into the second quarter, Pleasant Grove had its first turnover after a fourth-down conversion attempt on Herriman's 4-yard line; however, the Mustangs couldn't get any momentum and were forced to kick the ball back to the Vikings.
Within a few minutes of possession, Rasmussen ran for another 20-yard touchdown for Pleasant Grove to take a 14-7 lead. But it didn't last long as the Mustangs answered back with a 35-yard passing touchdown from Ta'ai to Noah Molloy going into the second half.
"We've got to clean up on mental mistakes," Walkenhorst said. "The key to next week is winning our one-on-ones."
Pleasant Grove will face Skyridge next Friday in the quarterfinals.
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