From Deseret News archives:
High school football: Titans hang on for homecoming victory
Instead, it was the Manu Samani show. The Granger running back rushed for 289 yards and caught three passes for 81 more, but it wasn't quite enough as the Lancers fell to the home team 34-31 in Region 6 play.
"He's a stud," said Granger coach Jonny Matich. "He has rushed for over 100 yards in most of our games, but this was his best effort."
The win was the Titans' first in more than a month and set off a huge celebration on the field after the game. Olympus improved its record to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in region play. The 34 points was also the Titans' best offensive effort of the season.
With the loss, Granger has the same record. Granger and Olympus are battling with Cyprus for the region's last playoff berth.
"It was do or die for both of our teams," said Olympus coach Mark Smith, referring to the each team's playoff hopes. "We were in the same situation as last year. We're still alive."
Samani raced for two third-quarter touchdowns, one that spanned 93 yards. Shortly afterward, Brentt Phillips connected with Tali Houma on a 23-yard scoring pass that gave Granger its first lead of the game. Olympus, which had scored on every possession in the first half, couldn't figure out Granger's halftime adjustments.
Olympus quarterback Spencer Harris, who completed 12 of 13 passes for 208 yards in the first half, had only 16 more yards after that. So, on the Titans' next drive, Harris kept the ball on the ground. The Titans moved the ball downfield, and got the lead back on a 2-yard run by Harris with 9:46 left.
"The coaches on the sidelines got me pumped up," said Harris. "It feels good to win this. We had gone too long without a win."
In the first half, the outcome didn't seem to be in doubt as Harris was almost perfect. He missed on only one throw, and had touchdown passes to Jordan Archibald, Spencer Hille and Jace Peterson to build a 27-6 lead.
It was after the 32-yard throw to Peterson that Samani started finding running room. On the next drive, Samani also caught a couple of key passes before Phillips found T.J. Tapusoa in the back of the end zone to narrow the gap just before halftime.
The third quarter belonged to Granger. The Lancers intercepted two passes and didn't waste any time. Following the second interception, by Leka Sime, Samani broke through the Olympus defense and sprinted 93 yards for a score.
Dannee Hernandez made the extra point, but it was the only one Granger made all night, and that ended up being the difference. His first PAT missed and the Lancers had a pair of two-point conversions fail.
Besides throwing for 236 yards, Harris was also Oly's leading rusher with 63 yards on 15 carries. Samani was Granger's leading rusher, of course, with 30 carries, but he got some help offensively from Phillips, who completed 7 of 16 passes for 141 yards.
