Skyridge football wraps up regular season with shutout of AF
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- Skyridge players celebrate with junior Trevan McClellan (21) after he scored a touchdown during the Region 4 game against American Fork in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge tacklers bring down an American Fork running back during the Region 4 game in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge senior Kyle Valdez makes a catch during the Region 4 game against American Fork in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge junior quarterback Trent Call throws a pass during the Region 4 game against American Fork in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge players celebrate with senior running back Tate Walker (1) after he scored a touchdown during the Region 4 game against American Fork in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- American Fork senior quarterback Champion Edwards attempts to elude a Skyridge defender during the Region 4 game in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge and American Fork players line up for a play during the Region 4 game in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge senior running back Tate Walker stiff arms an American Fork defender during the Region 4 game in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- American Fork senior quarterback Champion Edwards throws a pass during the Region 4 game against Skyridge in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge junior receiver Trevan McClellan celebrates scoring a touchdown during the Region 4 game against American Fork in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge head coach Jon Lehman walks the sideline during the Region 4 game against American Fork in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- Skyridge players take the field before the Region 4 game against American Fork in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
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- American Fork players take the field before the Region 4 game against Skyridge in Lehi on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
There was the physical win over Timpview, the disappointing four-point loss to Corner Canyon and the stunning comeback to knock off Lone Peak.
The Skyridge football team has had some drama during 2022, but the Falcon defense ensured that the regular season finale wouldn’t be a nail-biter.
Skyridge forced visiting American Fork into a fumble, an interception and four turnovers on downs during Wednesday night’s Region 4 game in Lehi.
The Falcon offense responded by putting up five touchdowns and a field goal on the board to finish off the 37-0 victory on Senior Night.
“I thought it was a really good start to the game,” Skyridge head coach Jon Lehman said. “Defensively, I just thought those guys flew around. They’re really, really good at communication, getting lined up and mixing in some different coverages and different fronts. They just played a really good clean game defensively.”
Most of the Skyridge points were set up by big plays.
The Falcons got the scoring started on its second drive after junior quarter back Trent Call lofted a deep ball and senior wide receiver Kyle Valdez adjusted to make the catch, then dodged tacklers until he reached the Caveman 9-yard line.
After two running plays, Call threw back across the field to senior tight end Josh Davis for a four-yard score.
Skyridge then doubled the lead early in the second quarter when Call went deep again, this time hitting junior receiver Trevan McClellan in stride for a 50-yard touchdown to make it 14-0.
The other first half TD for the Falcons came after the defense stripped the ball from an American Fork running back, giving the Skyridge offense great field position at the Falcon 49-yard line.
Skyridge pulled out some trickeration on the first play after the turnover, going with the double-reverse pass. Falcon senior wide receiver Jackson Andrus fired a strike to Call, who had gotten open in the flat and the junior quarterback gained 22 yards before he was corralled.
The rest of the drive was all about senior running back Tate Walker, who gained 12 yards on a run, tiptoed on the sideline for a 14-yard reception and then capped the possession with a four-yard plunge up the middle into the end zone.
In the second half, Skyridge added a 34-yard field goal from senior kicker Ian Keeslar, then extended the advantage early in the fourth quarter when Call powered across the goal line from four yards out.
“I thought Trent played a really clean game,” Lehman said. “He executed well, went through his progressions and got the ball where it needed to go. I also thought our offensive line played really well.”
American Fork got some great plays from senior quarterback Champion Edwards, who was dangerous both running and throwing.
He gave the Cavemen their best chance to score after a short Falcon punt in the second quarter, hitting a couple of big passes to get American Fork to the Skyridge 12-yard line.
But on third down, the snap back to Edwards skittered on the ground and the Caveman senior had to jump on it back at the 25-yard line to prevent a turnover.
That forced a long field goal attempt, which sailed wide left.
Even though American Fork wasn’t able to go on the road and challenge the Falcons, the Cavemen stilled wrapped up a successful season of their own as they finished with a 7-3 record overall (3-2 in Region 4) including a win over rival Lone Peak.
Skyridge overcame the adversity of having star quarterback McCae Hillstead hurt for much of the season to still end up as one of the top 6A teams in the state. The win on Senior Night gave the Falcons a 9-1 record on the year and a 4-1 mark in Region 4.
“It’s just a fun experience with these guys,” Lehman said. “I’m glad to get a W so we can play a home playoff game I would assume and then go from there. But I love the way these guys compete. I love the way they prepare. And I love the way they love.”
Now both teams will await their playoff matchups. The final numbers for the Utah High School Activities Association’s ratings percentage index (RPI) will be tallied and then announced on Oct. 15 at 9 a.m.
The correlating playoff seedings and matchups for all classifications will be announced the same day, with the first games taking place at home sites on Oct. 21.
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