THREE-PEAT: Staunch Ogden defense ushers in boys soccer state title against Morgan
Tigers protect lone goal by Jace Rodriguez for 1-0 victory in 3A final
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- Ogden High’s Todd Scott hoists the school’s sixth boys soccer state championship trophy on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Parley Gladwell pushes past Morgan’s Crew Bauerle during the 3A boys soccer state finals on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Ogden High runs toward its home crowd following a 1-0 win over Morgan in the 3A boys soccer finals on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Zeke Snow, left, and Ty Ward, right, cut off Morgan’s Cody Adams during the 3A boys soccer state finals on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Morgan High’s Brody Kinney applauds the Ogden stands after a 1-0 loss in the 3A boys soccer finals on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Left to right: Ogden’s Andrew Smith, Morgan’s Daxton Noss, Ogden’s Sam Galbraith, Ogden’s Adam Jenks and Morgan’s Trace Henderson pictured during the 3A boys soccer state finals on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Morgan High’s Carson Taylor, middle, pictured during the 3A boys soccer state finals with Ogden on May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Jace Rodriguez pictured during the 3A boys soccer finals with Morgan on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Ogden High coach Todd Scott and Grant Aardema celebrate the school’s six boys soccer state title with a 1-0 win over Morgan at the 3A state finals on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Ogden High’s Grant Aardema pictured during the 3A boys soccer state finals with Morgan on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
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- Ogden High sings the school song with its home stands at the 3A boys soccer finals on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
HERRIMAN — Up by a goal with a third straight crown on the line, Ogden High senior Xavier Peregrina didn’t think twice about throwing himself in front of Morgan senior captain Brody Kinney’s boot.
The reigning 3A MVP had done it many times before — and he’d already enjoyed two rings with much of the same roster present on Monday at Zions Bank Stadium — so Peregrina welcomed Kinney’s leg with everything his opponent had to give.
The resulting leap from Peregrina saved No. 1 Ogden from a game-tying goal, and No. 3 Morgan soon loaded the bus, defeated once again to its region foe. The Tigers prevailed 1-0 to win sixth overall boys soccer state championship and third straight under head coach Todd Scott, hired in 2015.
He’d do it again, Peregrina said, and again and again.
“It’s something I’ve just gotta do for my boys,” Peregrina said. “It’s not the greatest habit, but I have a habit of, I want them to shoot. I would rather them — I would rather move my goal over so they don’t shoot one side and allow one (side) to be wide open and I know they’re going there. I’m just waiting for it, it’s just trying to throw them off.”
Kinney’s late try arrived at a desperate hour for the Trojans, desperately searching for a match-saving goal after Ogden senior Jace Rodriguez, assisted by senior Harry Hoskins, connected for the match’s one goal with just less than 14 minutes left to play.
The Tigers, for a second consecutive season, are one goal shy of the state’s leaderboard with just eight goals allowed, posting 10 shutouts during the spring campaign. Ogden’s defenses have become a nightmare for opponents in recent seasons, and their third consecutive title rests with 14 seniors who’ve certainly learned how the job’s done.
Morgan has reached the semifinals five times since 2021, meeting the Tigers now four times with a second straight loss in the 3A state title game.
“We know they’re a great program, they’re well-coached and it’s always a battle,” Scott said of Morgan after Monday’s win. “To be able to play them back-to-back, it’s tough, but at the same time, it’s pretty cool to see.
“I’m so proud of my boys, especially my seniors, I’m losing 14 and it’s emotional. I love these boys. To see them cement their legacy like this, I couldn’t be any prouder.”
Morgan, ending the season 11-9 overall in Jesse Henderson’s second season as coach, couldn’t find the second-half spark that’d fueled them in two narrow losses to Ogden during the regular season.
Instead, the Trojans appeared to have a late first-half lead via junior Wyatt Sessions, who placed a ball 2 to 3 yards shy of the goal thanks to a sliding Adam Jenks, one of four seniors serving as the vital backbone Peregrina and the Tigers have dominated with all season.
Jenks, Grant Aardema and Sam Galbraith– the latter who came up with another goal-line save with 5 minutes left in the second half — were essential to a second-half defense that allowed the Tigers to slide ahead with the goal Morgan continuously missed on the other end.
“It hurts,” Henderson said. “It’s one of those losses where I think we had our chances to do it and didn’t capitalize. (Ogden) did, and that’s the difference in the game. … Todd’s awesome, and that rivalry’s going to still be there for years to come.”
Eight Morgan seniors fell short, but it wasn’t without the “zero quit” Henderson can point to as the silver lining for classes ahead.
“They’ve got a lot of good ahead of them,” Henderson said of his senior class, which includes his son, captain Trace Henderson. “They’re men, and they’re battlers, so if they approach life like that, nothing’s going to stop ’em.”
Ogden’s 43rd consecutive win (second in Utah’s boys soccer history only to Woods Cross, which posted 56 straight wins from 1984-87) is the product of a large, 14-member senior class that sails off as the winningest Tigers in school history.
More emblematic than any trophy, Peregrina said, is the opportunity to play high school soccer. The Utah State Eastern commit, who came up playing in club programs with many of his Ogden High teammates, points to the prep level where his best memories were made.
“The experiences you will have, you’ll never have anywhere else,” Peregrina said.
The game itself, Jenks added, has become only a byproduct of what Ogden has built itself into since trying out as a sophomore.
“I really just think about what a family we are. That’s how we did it,” Jenks said. “We really built a friendship around this team, and soccer was just something where we could go out, have fun and enjoy.”
Scott agrees that the memories and life lessons have become the goal of his program, year after year.
“It’s not only for the love of the game, but we pride ourselves with academics first,” Scott said. “100% graduation rate since I’ve been here, and to be able to make them into good, fine young men. That’s what I pride myself on, you know. Soccer is a bonus.
“We want to mold them into good, young men, and they’ve made me proud every year. That’s what makes we want to come back.”
Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net, X @ctbecker and Instagram @standardexaminersports.
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THREE-PEAT: Staunch Ogden defense ushers in boys soccer state title against Morgan
