They watched two American Fork touchdowns disappear thanks to penalties. They fumbled twice on their own 20 and still managed to ring the victory bell and shoot off fireworks.

How did Spanish Fork survive such craziness?

The big play Dons created their own breaks.

Cooper Beck returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter to tie the game and Braxton Argyle put the Dons up for good with a 53-yard touchdown run with 6:23 left in the game to help Spanish Fork to a 19-13 win on Friday night.

“That was a great one to win. We were taking on a bigger team who had a lot more speed,” said Spanish Fork coach Kirk Chambers. “Our defense once again answered the call and we made some big plays on offense when we had to. It feels good but we’ve got a lot of stuff to work on still.”

It looked like mistakes might cost the Dons the game when they fumbled to opening kickoff of the second half. American Fork’s Lopini Katoa promptly scored on an 18-yard touchdown run to give the Cavemen a 13-6 lead.

After Beck’s pick-six and Argyle’s touchdown run the Dons still had to survive a gutsy American Fork last-minute drive. The Cavemen had a 1:28 left in the game to go 60 yards.

They almost pulled it off. Jeremiah Evans had a touchdown pass called back due to holding and with 17 seconds left.

American Fork moved the ball to the Spanish Fork 16, but Evans’ last pass fell incomplete on the final play of the game.

“I’m happy for our boys. I’m happy for the seniors,” Chambers said. “I’ve really emphasized that it’s their team. We’re just riding on their backs right now and they are pulling the load.”

Spanish Fork took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when quarterback Jason Money called his own number and scored on a 6-yard run. The PAT was wide left.

The Dons were looking to add to their lead late in the first half. Money dropped back to pass but American Fork’s Anthony Decker broke on Money’s pass and picked it off near midfield. He returned it to the Spanish Fork three with just under two minutes remaining.

The Dons defense turned American Fork away three times but on Fourth-and-goal, Evans scored on a quarterback sneak to tie the game.

The PAT was blocked to leave the team teams tied at the half. If American Fork had been denied it could have demoralized the Cavemen, who saw their opening kickoff return for a touchdown called back due to a penalty and lost a fumbled on First-and-goal.

The win helped Spanish Fork improve to 3-0. The Dons will play at Logan on Thursday. American Fork is now 1-2. The Cavemen will host Brighton on Friday.

American Fork 0 6 7 6 — 19

Spanish Fork 6 0 7 6 — 13

S – Jason Money 6 run. Kick failed

A – Jeremiah Evans 3 run. Kick failed

A – Lopini Katoa 18 run. Tanner Lee kick

S – Cooper Beck 38 interception return. Jade Nielsen kick

S – Braxton Argyle 53 run. Kick failed