Boys soccer playoffs: Newcomers help Davis put away familiar Weber for quarterfinal berth
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- Davis High players Tyler Roe, left, and Titan Jensen (6) celebrate a goal against Weber in a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Davis High’s Kasen Smith, front, slides to the ball ahead of Weber’s Beckham Dean during a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Davis High’s Griffin Carmack (22) rears back to kick with Weber players Erik Bryant, left, and Tate Johnstun trying to challenge during a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Davis High players celebrate a goal against Weber during a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Weber High’s Jaden Millar (11) holds off a Davis player while pursuing the ball during a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Davis High boys soccer players line up prior to a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Davis High’s Luke Jolley, left, tries to control the ball in front of Weber’s Masen Keyes (6) during a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Weber High’s Chad Hamblin handles the ball against Davis during a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Davis High’s Kasen Smith, left, pushes the ball up the field as Weber’s Owen Simerick (25) pursues during a 6A second-round playoff game Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- A Weber High player plans his next move during a 6A second-round playoff game against Davis on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
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- Davis High’s Kasen Smith sees in the ball during a 6A second-round playoff game against Weber on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Kaysville.
KAYSVILLE — Davis High athletic director Bo Roundy announced the Darts’ starting lineup for their 6A second-round boys soccer playoff game Tuesday night against Weber.
No. 9, Tyler Roe … No. 0, Noah Moore … and so on down the list.
Who?
Fans were used to seeing No. 7 and leading scorer Cooper Harwood, and No. 1 for goalkeeper Jaxson Yanyecic, but both were out with injuries.
So, guess who stepped up to star for the Darts?
Roll out the replacements: introducing Roe and Moore.
Roe scored two first-half goals and Moore pitched a shutout as No. 2 Davis advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 victory over the No. 15 Warriors.
Davis (15-2) squared off against Weber (8-10) for the third time this year, after taking both Region 1 matches in the regular season, narrowly winning by one goal the first time, then on penalty kicks two weeks ago.
“Our injuries are nothing new. We had a similar problem the second time we played them and still scored,” Roe said. “Every time we’ve played them, we’ve figured their game out. The first two times were the hardest. They were more worried about this one than we were.
“It’s a close game every time, but this time, we knew we were the second seed and stuck to it and scored four,” Roe said.
Roe opened with a goal just 1 minute, 28 seconds into the contest and the short-handed Darts were rolling early.
“I was nervous because it’s the first time I’ve started in a while. With Cooper’s injury, I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders; when Auggie (August Christiansen) gave me that ball, I took a touch and cut in. I was worried but it went through. … I was so excited; thrilled,” Roe said. “We were up one. We’ve been down one each time we’ve played them and had to come back. This one, we kept it strong. Keep your head high and stay confident. Do it all for Cooper.”
Times two: in the 12th minute, Roe found the net again on another assist from Christiansen and Davis led 2-0 at the break.
“I was tired. Auggie played a great ball; I saw a space on top of the box … had to calm down, put my foot to the ball to bottom right,” Roe said.
Where the Warriors couldn’t stop Roe, he halted himself midway through the first half when he shoved a Weber player (twice) and drew a yellow card.
Already low on players, Roe still sat out the rest of the game and Kasen Smith also rested (after a yellow card) as the Darts dug deep into their roster.
“Protect our players … be smart … Don’t get a red card or any injuries. … Put on some boys that we love, some JV and give them some minutes,” Roe said. “(Coach) Dillon (Richens) was keeping us safe because if we get a red card, it might be a suspension and a valuable player might be out for the state cup.”
Two goals was more than enough for sophomore keeper Moore and the Davis defense.
“I should have been nervous, but I wasn’t. I stuck to my training. It was fun; I had a good time,” Moore said. “Everyone on our team is good. We know each other. Everyone is best friends over here.”
The Warriors scored three goals against Moore during the Region 1 finale and he was looking for a bounce-back on Tuesday. Weber had very few shots on goal, and another Davis sub, Connor Marrelli, stepped in for Ryder Goodyear, who saw limited minutes.
“Today I didn’t have to do much. My defenders were locked down and we’re super defensively sound,” Moore said. “I needed this. My confidence was low coming into the start of the year, but I’m living it right now. I’m happy we won the game.”
Soccer pundits will tell you 2-0 is a scary lead, so Davis put that to rest with two more goals late in the second half.
Christiansen got a goal of his own in the 61st minute and Goodyear returned late for a score in the 73rd minute for the final tally.
“We made an adjustment at the half and felt we played very well in the second half. Unfortunately, they got a couple of late goals, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. I think the boys gave 100% effort in the second half,” Weber coach Dave Beus said. “We gave up two early goals and had to play from behind. That makes it a little tough when you’re chasing.
“Davis is a heck of a team. Give your hats off to them; they’re 15-2 for a reason. We played them toe to toe every time we played them. I’m proud of the fight we had. The ball didn’t fall our way,” Beus said.
Davis will host No. 7 Mountain Ridge (13-5) in another late-night date at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Bob Judson has covered high school sports for the Standard-Examiner for the past 51 years.
