SANDY — The Jordan Beetdiggers were one win away from being crowned 5A champs last year. Most of those players are back this year, and they've waited a long time for a second chance at the big trophy.
Their dream nearly ended a little early against upset-minded Weber on Thursday.
Ultimately though, the Beetdiggers hung on to beat the Warriors 2-1 in the 5A first round soccer game.
It wasn't without some heroics though.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the 70th minute — with Jordan still shell-shockedafter surrendering the equalizer just minutes earlier — the 'Diggers keeper made a very ill-advised clearance from the top of the box.
The ball ended up on the foot of a Weber midfielder 35 yards from the goal, and he wasted no time launching it toward the empty net.
Jordan defender Chad Lewis recognized the situation right away and frantically started running toward the goal. He got there just in time to save what might have been a season-ending goal.
"The heart rate definitely went up today," joked Jordan coach John Carper after the game.
Jordan's Clay Christensen intercepted Weber's poor ensuing corner attempt, and he immediately began sprinting up field.
As Christensen neared midfield, he played a perfect long ball to a sprinting Dan Duncombe. The junior tracked it down and sent a low cross to Josh Hustedt. As soon as the ball was kicked, Hustedt knew he didn't have enough time to trap the ball and shoot — he would have to volley it out of mid-air.
He couldn't have placed his shot any better. His blast went into the upper right-hand corner of the goal, and the Beetdiggers had survived.
"What an outstanding Weber team," said Carper. "I can't believe their record was for as well as they played."
Weber entered the playoffs as Region 1's fifth seed having compiled a 6-8 record. Amazingly, however, seven of those losses were one-goal defeats.
Even after Jordan's Josh Rossi put his team ahead in the 28th minute on an assist from Spencer Whipple, Weber kept attacking. The Warriors all-out effort was rewarded in the 66th minute on a goal from Skyler Campbell.
Jordan will travel to third-ranked Viewmont next Tuesday for a quarterfinal showdown.
In other 5A playoff games:
VIEWMONT 3, KEARNS 0: Nate Kennaley scored twice, while Justin Godfrey chipped in one as the third-ranked Vikings blanked the Cougars in an opening round game. Brett Steele recorded the shutout.
TAYLORSVILLE 3, COPPER HILLS 0: Fabrizzio Parra, Chris Blymiller and Brian May all scored for the Warriors, while Mike Zoellner and Alex Whetman combined for the shutout. Taylorsville will host Bingham in the quarterfinals.
BINGHAM 1, DAVIS 0: Luke Elzinga's goal in the 70th minute was enough to advance the defending state champs into the quarterfinals.
BRIGHTON 3, NORTHRIDGE 1: Jon Viehweg scored twice, while Chris Amundsen chipped in another as the Bengals cruised past the Knights into the quarterfinals. Blake Hillstead recorded two assists for the Bengals, who will host Skyline in the quarterfinals.
SKYLINE 4, ALTA 1: Tom Jensen recorded two goals and an assist as the Eagles hammered the Hawks in a first-round game. Mike Blakesley and Austin Sudbury scored Skyline's other two goals.
LAYTON 3, WEST JORDAN 0: The second-ranked Lancers improved to 13-1-1 with the victory. Layton will host Fremont in the quarterfinals, a team they beat twice during the region season.
FREMONT 4, HUNTER 0: Jace Ropaleto's two goals, and one each from Jeff Rogers and Brandon Anderson were more than enough to help the Silverwolves advance to the quarterfinals.
E-MAIL: jedward@desnews.com