East High Rugby continued its playoff run this past Friday May 16, 2014.  They faced a strong Herriman team.  Herriman entered the match as the #2 ranked team in the country.  East had come off of strong wins last weekend against 2013 Division 2 champ Hunter High School and conference rival Highland High School.  The game was played at the University of Utah Soccer Field.  The stadium was packed.  East came to play right out of the gates.  Jesse Afuvai was the first leopard to score.  He picked the ball off of the edge of the ruck and with support scored the try.  The next score for East came on a huge defensive play by Malakai Solovi.  Herriman was pinned deep in their territory and chose to run the ball out.  Malakai timed it perfectly and intercepted the Herriman pass and went in for the score from about 25 meters out.  East's last score of the half came on a crash up the middle from Ula Toluta’u.  He split the defense from 20 meters out and scored right under the posts.  East led Herriman at the Half 19 to 7.

The battle continued in the second half.  Herriman made a run scoring first in the second half.  With the missed conversion the score was East 19 Herriman 12.  The Leopards had Herriman pinned deep in their territory again and Herriman kicked the ball out to clear space.  Tua Laupata caught the ball and began the East counter attach.  From 40 meters out, a couple of cutback and broken tackles later, Tua was in for the score.  Herriman would answer with a score and a conversion making the score East 24 Herriman 19 with about 5 minutes left.  Herriman had momentum as the clock was ticking.  They were on the attack and East was playing tough defense.  Herriman was attacking from about 15 meters out.  The ball was turned over.  East kicked to clear space but the ball was caught and returned.  The clock was ticking and Herriman was attacking one last time.  During the attack, Herriman was called for a penalty.  With time expired East kicked the ball out of bounds securing the victory and their spot in the State Championship Game.  It was another great team effort to extend the East High Rugby playoff run.