The No. 2 seeded Orem Tigers reached the 5A football championship game after defeating No. 14 Woods Cross 56-10 in the state semifinals on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Orem head coach Andy Stokes stated that the team had been preparing for November since March, a mindset that was evident as the Tigers dismantled their opponents to secure a spot in the finals.
Orem's offense was highly efficient, scoring on eight of nine possessions and triggering the mercy rule after three quarters. The Tigers recorded 452 yards of offense on 37 plays, averaging 12.2 yards per play.
Quarterback Tanner Lewis completed 15 of 16 passes for 342 yards and five touchdowns. His primary target was Brooks Ross, who recorded five catches for 120 yards and one touchdown. Other scoring contributors included running back Beckham Curtis and wide receiver Po Faumui, who each recorded two touchdowns.
Woods Cross, the No. 14 seed, saw a brief momentum shift in the first quarter. After Archer Gale converted a 32-yard field goal, Napa’a Taukiapimahu recovered a fumble on the Orem 25-yard line, allowing Teyion Halbasch to score on a 1-yard run to bring the score to 14-10.
Orem responded with 28 points in the second quarter to take a 42-10 halftime lead. Scoring in the second quarter included a 30-yard touchdown pass from Lewis to Ross, a 14-yard run by Curtis, and a 13-yard run by Hayden Jarvis. In the third quarter, Faumui caught his second touchdown pass, and Benji Engemann added a 9-yard fly sweep for a touchdown.
Orem enters the championship game with a 10-2 record. The Tigers, who won the 5A title last season, previously defeated West 34-7 in the 2025 semifinals and 35-27 in the 2024 second round.
Orem is scheduled to face No. 1 seed West in the championship game next Friday. The Panthers enter the matchup with a 13-0 record and have scored 668 points this season, averaging 51 points per game.
