It would be hard to argue with Stokes after watching the Tigers dismantle overmatched Woods Cross 56-10 in the 5A semifinals on Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

“I told the kids when I got here in March, ‘We’re preparing for November,’ and they’ll kept that in mind all year long,” Stokes said. “We’ve not played our best games at times, but we’ve always played with that mindset. November is what we’re coming for.”

Orem was frighteningly good on offense, scoring on eight of its nine possessions to end the game with the mercy rule after three quarters. The Tigers put up ridiculous numbers in those three quarters, rolling to 452 yards of offense on just 37 offensive plays (12.2 yards per play). Senior Tanner Lewis — playing just his second year as a quarterback and first as a starter — was nearly perfect, completing 15 of 16 for 342 yards and five touchdowns. Brooks Ross was his favorite target, with five catches for 120 yards and a touchdown.

“All week long we’ve been preparing for these guys,” Ross said. “The game plan was to throw the ball a lot and come out with that. We scored on our first drive and we knew exactly what we were doing. We throw the ball and we knew it was going to work.”

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

Five different players scored touchdowns for the Tigers, with running back Beckham Curtis and wide receiver Po Faumui getting two each.

“We play for each other, we love each other and it doesn’t matter who scores,” Stokes said.

Lewis connected with Faumui on a 21-yard touchdown pass on Orem’s first possession. The Tigers stopped Woods Cross on 4th-and-short and took just one play to get in the end zone again, Lewis finding his twin brother, Todd, on a 40-yard scoring play for a 14-0 lead.

Woods Cross, the No. 14 seed that had pulled off a pair of upsets to reach the semifinals, found some momentum in their option offense and got on the board with a 32-yard field goal by Archer Gale. Moments later, Napa’a Taukiapimahu recovered an fumble on the Orem 25-yard line and the Wildcats scored on a 1-yard run by Teyion Halbasch to trim the deficit to 14-10 after one quarter.

It was only a momentary rally.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

Orem put up 28 points in the second quarter, starting with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Lewis to Brooks. Curtis scored twice and Hayden Jarvis added another touchdown to lead the Tigers to a commanding 42-10 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Faumui caught his second touchdown pass and Benji Engemann tacked on a 9-yard fly sweep to paydirt to complete the scoring.

“We were dialed in,” Orem senior defensive end Krew Jones said. “Out of all the games this season, we’ve never been as dialed in as we were in the pre-game. Our offense came out so explosive, which was amazing. Sometimes it takes the offense a little bit to warm up, but they came out running.”

No. 2 seed Orem (10-2), which won the 5A title last season, faces No. 1 seed West (13-0) next Friday in the championship game. The Panthers have scored 668 points this season (51 per game) and advanced to the final with a 29-12 victory against No. 4 Bountiful.

Orem defeated West 34-7 in last year’s semifinals and 35-27 in the 2024 second round.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

“It means everything to be playing another week of football,” Stokes said. “At the end of the day, we’re just grateful to be together again. Not many people are blessed to be together this week. I think we’re playing our best football right now, but I think we could be better.”

OREM 56, WOODS CROSS 10

Woods Cross 10 0 0 0 — 10

Orem 14 28 14 0 — 56

O-P. Faumui 21 pass from Ta. Lewis (Sanchez kick)

O-To. Lewis 40 pass from Ta. Lewis (Sanchez kick)

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

WX-Gale 32 FG

WX-Halbasch 1 run (Gale kick)

O-Ross 30 pass from Ta. Lewis (Sanchez kick)

O-Curtis 14 run (Acano kick)

O-Jarvis 13 run (Sanchez kick)

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

O-Curtis 21 pass from Ta. Lewis (Acano kick)

O-P. Faumui 3 pass from Ta. Lewis (Sanchez kick)

O-Engemann 9 run (Acano kick)

Orem head football coach Andy Stokes, right, talks to an official before the start of a 5A state semifinal game against Woods Cross at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.

Orem fans react during a 5A football state semifinal game against Woods Cross at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.

Orem's Brooks Ross (2) runs the ballOrem's Po Faumui (left) catches a touchdown pass against Woods Cross in the 5A football state semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.

The Orem football team takes the field before the start of a 5A state semifinal game against Woods Cross at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.

Orem's Po Faumui (left) catches a touchdown pass against Woods Cross in the 5A football state semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.