Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- West High School's Panthers secured a decisive 48-19 victory over East in a crucial rivalry game, a result that sophomore quarterback Kamden Lopati deemed essential for a successful season.
- The win improved West's record to 5-4 overall and 4-0 in their region, with one game remaining against Brighton.
- Coach Olosaa Solovi credited the team's disciplined play and aggressive strategies, including frequent two-point conversion attempts and fourth-down plays, for their dominant performance, which included a 22-0 halftime lead.
SALT LAKE CITY — The outcome of West High's Thursday night matchup against East mattered to the Panthers.
"This is the main game of the season," West sophomore quarterback Kamden Lopati said. "If we don't win this, then it's not a good season for us."
By that metric, no matter what happens for the remainder of the 2024 season, the Panthers can be happy.
West beat East 48-19, improving its overall record to 5-4 on the season. The Panthers are 4-0 in their region with one game against Brighton left next week.
West and East started playing each other during the regular season last year; West has won both of those contests.
The Panthers are on a three-game winning streak since narrowly losing to Rigby (Idaho). West coach Olosaa Solovi said he used tape of that game to show the team how to be disciplined, make less mistakes and play the game the right way.
"Rigby was a great example of what we wanted to try to accomplish," Solovi said.
West certainly comported itself well Thursday, which translated to a dominant performance. The Panthers defense didn't allow a single point in the first half, and the offense kept the ball for long stretches of each quarter.
West's first drive lasted 20 plays and went longer than six minutes. It culminated in Lopati's 6-yard pass to running back Lote Sotele.
Lopati scored on a 4-yard run early in the second quarter, and Sotele's 3-yard rushing touchdown gave West a 22-0 halftime lead.
The Panthers attempted 2-point conversions on nearly every scoring drive, and went for it on fourth down every time, as well. Solovi said the team planned to play aggressively against East in those specific ways.
"We just truly believe that our guys can accomplish those things," Solovi said.
East played a first half it probably wants to forget. Senior quarterback Will Fredrick threw an interception midway through the second quarter, and tight end Karmleo Tuamoheloa fumbled the ball away after a nice catch.
East started the second half with a long drive of its own. It took 12 plays, but senior running back Lione Hola's 1-yard touchdown run cut the deficit to 22-7.
West answered with a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Sotele. Then East snapped the ball poorly and West recovered it all the way to the 1-yard line. Junior Louie Hamilton's 1-yard run gave west a 34-7 advantage.
After East turned it over on downs late in the third, the Panthers started the fourth Lopati's 21-yard touchdown pass to Lava Vailahi for a 41-7 lead.
The Leopards quickly answered with a 32-yard pass Timmy Thao to Marcus Loertscher. They recovered the ensuing onside kick, but then turned it over on downs.
West completed their scoring with Sotele's 5-yard rushing touchdown. East's final touchdown came from Nasio Otukolo's 19-yard run late in the fourth.
"I think we're just getting better," Solovi said. "We're a lot farther along than we were last week. We're hoping to take a couple more strides this week."
