Jordan High fans didn't even have to wait till the players got on the field to cheer the return of star running back Saia Vaivaka, who missed most of the last two games with an injured knee.

While his teammates got their final words of advice in the locker room, Vaivaka and the rest of the Jordan Madrigals sang a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.Vaivaka, the star running back/tenor, and his football teammates were in fine tune the rest of the night, too.

After giving up an early touchdown to North-ridge, the Beet-diggers plowed their way to an impressive 20-6 victory in the 5A quarterfinals. Next up for 10-1 Jordan is a showdown with top-ranked Hunter in the semifinals Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"I think we just wanted it more," said Vaivaka, who was back in the starting lineup after missing last week's Tay-lors-ville game with a strained knee.

His return gave the Beetdiggers a boost going against the vaunted Northridge defense, which shut out four opponents this season. Vaivaka, a strong and evasive runner, ended with 94 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Vaivaka also made his presence known from a physical standpoint. He laid a Northridge defender on his back with a powerful stiff-arm, he crushed another Knight on a perfect block and he smashed Northridge quarterback Brigham Au for a sack.

"It was big (to have him back)," said Jordan coach Jim Birch. "He's a natural leader and the kids respond to him."

The difference in the game, however, boiled down to the no-name players on special teams. The unheralded hero was Phillip Willson. For a kid who is only a junior and doesn't even start, he sure had one heck of an impact on the outcome.

Both coaches agreed that his heads-up play, coupled with a communication breakdown on Northridge's part, to open the second half changed the course of the contest.

With Jordan leading 7-6 going into the third quarter, the Northridge kickoff team got its signals mixed up. Instead of booting the ball toward the end zone as their coaches wanted, the Knights tried a pooch kick hoping to catch Jordan asleep.

The same play almost worked after Brian Arnold's touchdown gave North-ridge a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

But no such luck this time.

Willson alertly threw his hand in the air to signal a fair catch. North-ridge was also slapped with a personal foul on the play, so Jordan started the half on the Knights' 40.

Vaivaka began the drive with an 11-yard run and he capped it off a few minutes later with a slicing 3-yard run right up Northridge's gut.