So said a Pleasant Grove assistant football coach as the Vikings gathered at the north end zone to celebrate Pleasant Grove’s 22-15 upset victory over American Fork Friday night for Homecoming.

Playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd despite the sloppy field and driving rain, the Vikings took advantage of six Caveman turnovers to fashion the win.

“I want to say this was a great night for football,” said Pleasant Grove coach Dale Sampson. “This was football weather, and I think it hurt them and helped us. I was glad the turnover bug bit them and not us.”

The Vikings did actually give up the ball one time. With less than four minutes to play, American Fork tackle Brandon Beddes took the ball away from the rusher on the second down after a Brian Schonbeck interception, but the Cavemen gave it back on the very next play by throwing another interception.

“This was a great win for our team and our community,” Sampson said. “Fortunately for us, it was our turn.” Pleasant Grove last won this rivalry game in 2002, but that’s beyond the memories of most of the present students.

“The key was to play good defense, to get some three-and-outs,” he went on. “We were able to get some points from those turnovers a couple of times.”

In fact the Vikings got 16 points off the turnovers, capitalizing on three of the six opportunities, and that was enough to assure the margin of victory.

American Fork outgained them 240 yards to 201, but Pleasant Grove was able to find the end zone often enough for it to make a difference.

The tone of the night was set early when the Cavemen fumbled on the second series of the game’s opening possession and Viking Mitch Clarine covered it.

A pass from Pleasant Grove quarterback Zach Brady to Mitch Sanderson for 12 yards garnered a first down at the A.F. 21, but the drive stalled after picking up a few more yards, so the Vikings had to settle for a 30-yard Mark Kennington field goal at the 6:40 mark of the first quarter.

The teams then exchanged the ball after a single series each. When the Cavemen got it back, they started a successful drive from their own 40-yard line.

A 20-yard toss from quarterback Taylor Mangum to Jake Murphy at the 4-yard line set up the touchdown run by Anthony McGeary with 8:32 left in the first half. With Eddie Holloway’s PAT, American Fork took a 7-3 lead.

It was the last one they would have.

Two exchanges later, Pleasant Grove launched a 62-yard march that featured big receptions for first downs by Clarine and Braden Frampton, plus some outstanding extra-effort runs from Brady.

Sanderson carried the ball in from the 4-yard line for the score with 1:19 to play. The kick was missed and Pleasant Grove went to the locker room with a 9-7 advantage.

The Vikings got the ball to start the third quarter and chewed up the clock on a drive that was set up by a 40-yard Sanderson kickoff return.

Pleasant Grove reached the red zone on a great bump-and-run up the middle by Brady, but the possession ended with an unsuccessful field goal attempt after a penalty substantially backed up the ball.

American Fork took over on downs at the 20, but two plays later, Viking LeSean Wilcox made a pick that eventually led to a 37-yard Frampton touchdown pass.

The kick was blocked, but the score was now 15-7 at the 5:21 point of the third period.

The Cavemen coughed the ball up four more times in the second half. Pleasant Grove scored their final touchdown after one of those.

In the second series following the turnover, the Vikings were facing a fourth-and-1 at the A.F. 21 and elected to go for it, with Sanderson bursting through the line for the conversion. Brady then tossed to Tyson Keetch on the right side, who dragged several tacklers to the 3-yard line before he was brought down.

Three plays later, Brady took it over from inside the 1 and Kennigton’s kick completed Pleasant Grove’s tally for the night.

American Fork got a touchdown with six seconds left to make the score more respectable, but the subsequent onside kick was covered by the Vikings, effectively ending the contest. An interception during this drive by Scott Bezzant, which would have been the fourth of the game for the Vikings, was wiped out by a holding call.

“From Day 1, I’ve told the players there were three seasons,” the coach added. “There’s the preseason, and the region season where we can hopefully play for a berth into the state tournament.

“Last week we knew how it felt to play hard and still come up short. We didn’t want to have that feeling again,” Sampson concluded.

This story appeared in North County on page A6.