Three minutes of action in the third quarter of the rivalry game between the American Fork and Lehi football teams made all the difference Friday night, as the two teams combined for three touchdowns and a field goal during that short period of time.

American Fork (3-4 overall, 1-1 Region 4) came out on top of the closely-contested game with the 27-18 victory, but it wasn’t easy for anyone, as penalty flags littered the field, interceptions and fumbles abounded and the scoring came fast and furious in that tight three minute span.

The Cavemen picked up the only score in the first period on a 4-yard run by Zachary Katoa with just under two minutes remaining, and then they added three on a 31-yard field goal by Tanner Lee for a 10-0 lead.

The Pioneers (2-5, 0-2) finally got points back with just over two minutes to go in the second quarter as Austin Hetzel caught a 23-yard pass from Clayton Greenwood, and Ryan Absher ran in the two-point conversion to make the score 10-8 for American Fork.

Lehi eased out to an 11-10 lead on a 22-yard field goal by Parker Ballard with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter. But four minutes later, fireworks erupted.

It all started with a 32-yard field goal by Tanner Lee, putting the Cavemen up 13-11 with 4:19 remaining in the third, and the scoring snowballed from there.

Penalties on the Pioneers forced them to start their next drive on their own 6-yard line. They immediately fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Cavemen on the 10-yard line. American Fork wasted no time in running in for the 10-yard touchdown on the first play, with Katoa doing the honors, giving the Cavemen the 20-11 advantage.

The Cavemen looked to expand on their cushion, as just three plays into the Pioneers’ next drive, American Fork’s Brad Hill intercepted the Lehi pass, putting American Fork on its own 38-yard line.

But a mere three plays later, the Pioneers got it right back, as Absher grabbed the interception and ran it all the way back for the touchdown with 2:22 left in the period. The Ballard kick trimmed A.F.’s leadto 20-18.

The third-quarter scoring wasn’t over, as the Cavemen, on only their second play of the ensuing drive, scored on a 77-yard pass play from Jacen Condie to Chris Boone with 1:29 left in the third period, giving the Cavemen a 27-18 lead.

The Pioneers managed a drive that lasted over nine minutes, but in the end missed a 19-yard field goal that would have put them within one score of the Cavemen with over four minutes remaining in the game. They got the ball right back after a punt from the Cavemen, but then American Fork’s Colby Smith grabbed yet another interception with 3:21 remaining. That Pioneers weren’t finished as Deryke Terrell picked up the fumble recovery on the next play, but the Pioneers weren’t able to make any headway on their final drive of the game, coming up short in a closely-matched affair.

American Fork 7 3 17 0 — 27

Lehi 0 8 10 0 — 18

AF-Zachary Katoa 4 yd run (Tanner Lee kick)

AF-Lee 31 FG

L-Austin Whetzel 23 yard pass from Clayton Greenwood (Ryan Absher run)

L-Parker Ballard 22 FG

AF- Lee 32 FG

AF-Katoa 10 run (Lee kick)

L-Absher 38 interception return (Ballard kick)

AF-Chris Boone 77 pass from Jacen Condie (Lee kick)