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KEARNS — Forgive Kearns High running back Sione Finau if he doesn't remember the last time the Cougars were 6-0.
That's only because it's never happened before.
Kearns could move to the undefeated mark at the latest point of any of its 50 seasons Friday night against visiting Olympus at 7 p.m., and Finau would be a big reason for it.
"We had a lot of doubters this year. Last year we only won three games, and we've already matched that," said Finau, who ranks fifth in the state with 11 rushing touchdowns among his 572 yards on 59 attempts. "But we just keep playing, and go week-by-week and practice-by-practice so we can get better."
The senior who averages nearly 8 yards per carry has helped his team to wins over Timpanogos, Granger, Cottonwood and Copper Hills before last week's 41-14 victory over Hillcrest gave the Cougars (5-0, 1-0 Region 6) a tie for its best start in school history.
The Cougars were 3-7 a year ago, and improving their record already by 4.5 games, they are tied for the second-best turnaround in the state of Utah. Only Lehi, which went from 0-10 in 2014 to 3-2 so far in 2015, has had a better about-face.
Kearns was already treading into rare territory before last Friday; only twice before in school history had the Cougars opened a season 5-0, in 1988 and 1993. The hot start could reach record-breaking proportions Friday night in KSL's Game of the Week.
The start has already paid off many of the long hours put in by the Cougars over the summer, Finau said.
"Throughout the summer, we really bonded so we could work on our weaknesses," said Finau, whose team hasn't faced Olympus since 2007. "There's no weakness on this team anymore."
We had a lot of doubters this year. Last year we only won three games, and we've already matched that. But we just keep playing, and go week-by-week and practice-by-practice so we can get better.
–Kearns running back Sione Finau
Olympus represents a new challenge, however. The matchup pits two of the better teams in the Salt Lake Valley between the tackles against each other, with the Titans led by running back Quinn Meier and his 146 rushing yards per game — the fifth most in the state.
"They're a good team; maybe the best team we have played this season," Kearns cornerback Shay Reid said. "They've got a lot of speed. But we've got our assignments and hopefully we can come out with that W."
In a game like that, the battle in the trenches will be pivotal — and Meier thinks his Titans (3-2, 1-0) have an advantage there.
"Our linemen are great at blocking," said Meier, who has 729 yards and six touchdowns on 98 carries in his senior season. "They can open up holes that make it easy to run through."
Olympus struggled out of the gates, losing two of its first three games to Highland and Davis before rebounding with back-to-back wins capped by last week's 43-0 shutout of Cyprus.
The early season adversity has only made the Titans stronger.
"We played two really good opponents early on, and had too many turnovers," Olympus cornerback Oscar Hogan said. "You can't win football games with that many turnovers. But we've practiced hard, gotten after it, and we've tried to pick it up. The last two games, we've had success."
Trying to halt that success is a challenge the Cougars are looking forward to facing.
"We're going to have to stop the running game," Finau said. "Their offense is really good, but I think that our effort and our competitiveness will get us through the game."
In other top matchups of the week, Brighton tries to keep its undefeated record intact against one-loss Jordan, and Logan and Tooele face off for the first time since 2006.
In southern Utah, Dixie and Desert Hills look to take control of Region 9 with a win Friday night. Meanwhile, in Utah County, Spanish Fork and Maple Mountain square off in a potential home playoff game with both teams trailing just Springville early in Region 8 play.
Contributing: Rod Zundel
