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Sandy • Jordan's defense has been a little leaky at times this season.
On Friday night, the dam burst.
Herriman quarterback Braydon Kener passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Mustangs to a 63-42 rout over the previously-unbeaten and third-ranked Beetdiggers.
Herriman jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back against Jordan and its star quarterback, Austin Kafentzis.
"We've been waiting for our offense to really click," said Mustang coach Dustin Pearce. "I think we finally took that step forward. We had guys on the same page all the time."
Herriman improved to 4-1 with the victory. Previously, the Mustangs defeated West Jordan (30-0), Hunter (34-6) and Lone Peak (27-6) by a combined score of 91-12.
But they losy to No. 1 Bingham, 31-7, as Pearce waited for his offense to explode.
It did against Jordan.
"I challenged our guys," Pearce said, "and they did a hell of a job tonight."
The Beetdiggers brought a 4-0 record into the game, which included some close calls in high-scoring games against Pleasant Grove (55-52) and East (42-26). But they didn't have an answer for Herriman, despite another eye-popping performance by Kafentzis.
The Wisconsin-bound senior threw four touchdown passes, including one that covered 83 yards and another for 70 yards. He also ran for two scores.
Herriman's fast start, however, doomed the Beetdiggers.
On the first play of the game, Kener took the snap and rolled right. He cut back, instantly found himself alone in the Jordan secondary and outran the defense into the end zone to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead only 17 seconds into the game.
Asked if the Herriman coaching staff saw something on video that indicated the play might work so well, Pearce shook his head.
"That's just our script," Pearce said. "... We never know what front we're going to get because we're the exception these days as far as running the football. I'm just happy it worked out."
The Mustangs never slowed down.
In fact, they scored on their first six possessions before punting for the first time late in the third quarter, when they owned a 42-21 lead.
Herriman 63, Jordan 42
O Overpowering • Quarterback Braydon Kener throws for two touchdowns and runs for another as Herriman overpowers Jordan 63-42.
Off and running • Kener races 55 yards for a score on the first play of the game as the Mustangs beat the No-3 ranked Beetdiggers.