The future Ute scored three touchdowns for the Tigers at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Orem High Tigers celebrate their 5A Championship 42-7 win over the Springville Red Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday.
Aisa Galea’i just etched his name into the Utah high school football history books.
Against region rivals Springville, Galea’i scored three different touchdowns of over 60 yards — one rushing (60), one pick-six (78) and a kickoff return (96) — powering Orem to a 42-7 victory Thursday night.
This was Orem’s first 5A state title since 2020 and just one of potentially many great performances for Utah commit Galea’i at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
“He’s just incredible, that’s probably the biggest thing I’d say. Incredible,” Orem coach Lance Reynolds said immediately after the game.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Springville Red Devils Tua Naufahu (8) runs the ball, as Orem High Tigers Aisa Galeai (1) defends.
On the very first offensive play for the Tigers, Galea’i took a handoff to the left and outran every other Springville defender on his way for the 68-yard score.
That play was emblematic of how the game went for the Red Devils, always trailing and never quite being able to catch up to the sprinting Tigers.
After Orem stopped Springville and scored on the following drive, it was clear that Orem was poised to win the game.
Galea’i only confirmed that message when he picked off Springville quarterback Beckett Burton and evaded defenders on his way to a 78-yard touchdown.
Galea’i, who is listed as a running back, defensive back and also returns kickoffs, performed at the peak of his abilities in all three positions on Thursday.
“[Galea’i] played against my boy in basketball for years, so I knew he was an incredible athlete,” Reynolds said. “He has just honed and worked and developed and gained strength and speed and everything he needed. He’s just incredible.”
Already up 21-0 at halftime, it was none other than Galea’i who received the second half kickoff and weaved his way to a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, completing the trifecta of scoring for the three-star athlete.
“Growing up in Orem, it just meant a lot,” Galea’i said. This was Orem’s first state title since 2020, when the Tigers won their fourth in a row. It’s the 10th state title in school history.
This wasn’t the first time that Galea’i has performed well on Utah’s turf. In last week’s semifinal victory over West, Galea’i ran for 77 yards and a score. He logged seven tackles as well.
Now that he’s played back-to-back stellar games on the red interlocking U’s at Rice-Eccles Stadium, he has a message to Ute fans who are anticipating his arrival in Salt Lake City.
“I want to come here and contribute, and just give it all I got,” Galea’i said.