BOUNTIFUL — Layton High’s John Marriott pulled out one of the most thrilling wins in the finals of the Viewmont Invitational at 160 pounds.

The senior scored two late points to send the match into overtime where he pulled out the comeback, 7-5.

“That was an amazing match by John,” said Layton coach John Fager. “He kept battling and I am so proud of him.”

With less than a minute to go in the match Marriott earned an escape to get within one point at 5-4. With a biased Davis County crowd cheering on the local kid, Marriott attacked his opponent, Quin Nielsen of Pleasant Grove.

With Nielsen backing up consistently he was called for a stall warning. Then with five seconds remaining, as Marriott continued to apply the pressure on Nielsen backing out of bounds, the Viking was hit with his second stall warning giving Marriott a point to tie the match.

“I was trying to get in there after the escape and I knew if I kept attacking something good would happen,” Marriott said. “I just fought hard the entire time and was just trying to do my best.

“I felt real confident going into overtime.”

With 28 seconds remaining in the first overtime round Marriott broke through taking down Nielsen ending the match.

“This is big because he is one of the best guys in the state and I know we’ll see each other throughout the season,” Marriott said. “I just focus on my match and do what I like. Coach Fager works us real hard and he always talks about wrestling our match and going for the entire match.”

Adding to the intrigue of the match is that it very well could be a preview to the state 5A championship and team title as Layton and Pleasant Grove are two of the top teams in 5A this year.

For Marriott, he very much has his sights set on winning an individual and a team state championship.

“Winning the state championship is what we are working for and I am as well,” Marriott said. “I have worked very hard to get to this point and the whole team has and now it’s time to get back to work.”

At this tournament Layton finished ahead of Pleasant Grove, Davis and Viewmont, three of the top 5A programs in Utah.