In fact, Orem head coach Andy Stokes said his Tiger team didn’t play particularly well but he was very pleased with how they kept it together and surged with 28 second half points after trailing 13-7 at halftime.

In fact, the Vikings scored the first 13 points of the contest and really had the defending 5A champs reeling.

“I’m just proud of the kids,” Stokes said. “We didn’t play very well. We had a lot of mistakes. We probably had more mistakes in this game than we had in Week 1.

“The kids kept trusting each other, they kept turning back to the core, they kept working their tails off, man. That’s what it’s all about.”

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

Pleasant Grove (X-X) came out ready to play, especially on defense. Jake Bills had an early interception for the Vikings and Ben Lyman was the early scoring star as he connected on first quarter field goals of 43 and 32 yards, respectively.

Midway through the second quarter, Pleasant Grove running back Corbin Robbins crossed the goal line from five yards out and Pleasant Grove led 13-0.

Orem got an important score with just 54 seconds left in the second stanza when Tanner Lewis and Brooks Ross hooked up on a 40-yard touchdown. With the successful point after by Adrian Sanchez, Orem trimmed Pleasant Grove’s lead to 13-7 going into halftime.

Orem came out strong to start the second half and Lewis connected with Major Stokes on a 15-yard score. Sanchez split the uprights again and the Tigers had their first lead at 14-13.

But Pleasant Grove wasn’t finished, responding with a drive deep into Orem territory. Lyman kicked what looked like a successful field goal but a roughing-the-kicker penalty was accepted by the Vikings, pushing the pigskin inside the Orem 10-yard line. The Tigers defense rose up again and forced a second field goal try which Lyman made from 22 yards that gave the Vikings a 16-14 edge.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

Unfortunately for Pleasant Grove, it was all Orem after that.

Po Faumuni made one of the most incredible catches of the year on the Tigers next series when he pinned the ball off the back of the Viking defender in the back of the end zone and rolled through with control.

“That’s what I told the kids at halftime. Big-time players make big-time plays,” said Stokes, refering not just to the Faumuni play but how the rest of the Tiger players stepped up in the second half.

Orem’s defensive front four of MJ Bateman, Deuce Ofahengaue, Jag Iaone and Major Stokes made things tough for Viking quarterback Cannon Jacobson, especially in the second half.

Orem put the game away late in the fourth quarter when Beckham Curtis ran it from six yards out.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

Curtis, who plays like a smaller version of New York Giant running back Cameron Skatteboo, was bloodied and battered but his tough physical running allowed Orem to milk the clock.

“I actually came to the game super sick. This is like my little flu game but I feel good now,” Curtis said.

Curtis said there was no panic from the Tigers even when they trailed at halftime.

“We came in from halftime just knowing we’re the better team,” added Curtis. “After the Timpview game (where Orem crushed the Thunderbirds 55-7), we were thinking we’re all high and mighty. But when we play at our level then we’re as good as anybody.”

For good measure, Aoi Faumuni added a 14-yard pick six with just 1:03 remaining which allowed Stokes and his coaching staff to empty the bench in the final moments of the game.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

Orem (9-2) advances to the semifinals where it will play No. 14 seed Woods Cross (6-6), which for the second straight week scored a stunning upset by beating No. 6 Alta 31-24.

The Orem-Woods Cross game will be played at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Friday at 2:30 p.m. No. 1 seed West (12-0) plays No. 4 seed Bountiful (9-2) — which upended No. 5 Springville 23-17 — in the other 5A semifinal at 11 a.m.

OREM 35, PLEASANT GROVE 16

Pleasant Grove 6 7 3 0 – 16

Orem 0 7 14 14 – 28

PG-Lyman 43 FG

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

PG-Lyman 32 FG

PG-Robbins 5 run (Lyman kick)

O-Brooks Ross 40 pass from Lewis (Sanchez kick)

O-Stokes 15 pass from Lewis (Sanchez kick)

PG-Lyman 22 FG

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

O-Po Faumuni 16 pass from Lewis (Sanchez kick)

O-Curtis 6 run (Sanchez kick)

O-Aoi Faumuni 14 interception return (Sanchez kick)

Pleasant Grove defenders close in a an Orem ball carries in a 5A football state quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.

Orem's Tanner Lewis throws a pass against Pleasant Grove in a 5A football state quarterfinal game on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.