Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

American Fork hasn’t won a state football championship since grabbing back-to-back Class B gold trophies in 1961 and 1962.

More recently, the Cavemen advanced to 6A finals in 2018 and 2019, losing to Lone Peak and Corner Canyon, respectively.

American Fork (9-1) opens the 2023 6A state playoffs as the No. 1 seed but probably isn’t considered the favorite. That honor belongs to Corner Canyon (9-1), whose only loss was to the nation’s No. 2 ranked team (Bishop Gorman, Nev.).

Why are the Cavemen the No. 1 seed? That’s thanks to playing in rugged Region 3, which placed four teams in the top five RPI.

American Fork has an explosive offense with an accurate passer (Dylan Story), some outstanding receivers (Davis Andrews, Jett Nelson, Josh Andrus) and a nearly-1,000-yard rusher in Jacob Eardley. The Cavemen have an improved defense, which intercepted Skyridge three times in Friday’s overtime victory.

“I think the key is just being us,” said Andrews, who also plays safety and recently committed to the University of Utah. “I think our offense is just doing what we need to do. I think nobody’s stopping us. I think our defense is the best in the state. So honestly, it’s just up to us. And if we want it we’re going to take state.”

Corner Canyon is the No. 2 seed, Lehi (8-2) is No. 3, Skyridge (8-2) is No. 4 and Pleasant Grove (8-2) is No. 5. Lone Peak (4-6) is the No. 10 seed and No. 17 Westlake (1-9) will travel to No. 16 Fremont for a first-round matchup next Friday.

Class 5A

Timpview (7-2) is the No. 1 seed in 5A and has a first-round bye. The T-Birds have a pretty interesting second round matchup looming, though: Orem (4-6), the No. 17 seed. The Tigers have to travel to No. 16 Wasatch for a first round game but are finally healthy, getting quarterback Lance Reynolds III and receiver Roger Saleapaga into the lineup again. That combination could prove dangerous for Orem going forward.

Springville (8-2) earned the No. 2 seed, Maple Mountain is No. 13 and Cedar Valley No. 23.

Class 4A

Provo, which has won five games in a row, is 8-2 and the No. 3 seed in the 4A playoffs, with Sky View (9-0) the No. 1 seed and Crimson Cliffs (9-1) No. 2. The Bulldogs losses were to Timpview (21-13) and Clovis East, Calif. (41-24). Timpanogos (8-2) is the No. 5 seed and Salem Hills, which finished 2-8 last season, is 7-3 and the No. 9 seed. No. 19 Mountain View (3-7) is at No. 14 Payson (5-5) in a first round game that’s a rematch of a 27-0 Lions victory earlier this season.

CLASS 6A

Friday, October 20

First Round at home sites (times TBA)

No. 17 Westlake (1-9) at No. 16 Fremont (2-8)

No. 18 Layton (0-9) at No. 15 Copper Hills (4-6)

Friday, October 27

Second Round at home sites (times TBA)

Westlake-Fremont winner at No. 1 American Fork (9-1)

No. 9 Syracuse (7-3) at No. 8 Bingham (5-5)

No. 13 Farmington (2-7) at No. 4 Skyridge (8-2)

No. 12 Herriman (5-5) at No. 5 Pleasant Grove (8-2)

Layton-Copper Hills winner at No. 2 Corner Canyon (9-1)

No.10 Lone Peak (4-6) at No. 7 Mountain Ridge (7-2)

No. 14 Riverton (1-8) at No. 3 Lehi (8-2)

No. 11 Weber (6-4) at No. 6 Davis (9-1)

CLASS 5A

Friday, October 20

First Round at home sites (times TBA)

No. 17 Orem (4-6) at No. 16 Wasatch (3-6)

No. 24 Taylorsville (0-10) at No. 9 Woods Cross (6-4)

No. 20 Viewmont (4-6) at No. 13 Maple Mountain (5-5)

No. 21 Northridge (4-6) at No. 12 West Jordan (5-5)

No. 18 East (4-5) at No. 15 Kearns (5-5)

No. 23 Cedar Valley (2-8) at No. 10 Bountiful (6-4)

No. 19 Hunter (5-4) at No. 14 Bonneville (5-5)

No. 22 Highland (3-6) at No. 11 Alta (7-3)

Friday, October 27

Second Round at home sites (times TBA)

Orem-Wasatch winner at No. 1 Timpview (7-2)

Taylorsville-Woods Cross winner at No. 8 Brighton (7-3)

Viewmont-Maple Mountain winner at No. 4 Box Elder (8-2)

Northridge-West Jordan winner at No. 5 Olympus (6-3)

East-Kearns winner at No. 2 Springville (8-2)

Cedar Valley-Bountiful winner at No. 7 Granger (7-3)

Hunter-Bonneville winner at No. 3 Roy (8-2)

Highland-Alta winner at No. 6 West (6-3)

CLASS 4A

Friday, October 20

First Round at home sites (times TBA)

No. 17 Bear River (3-7) at No. 16 Spanish Fork (3-6)

No. 24 Uintah (2-8) at No. 9 Salem Hills (7-3)

No. 20 Logan (2-7) at No. 13 Dixie (4-6)

No. 21 Tooele (4-6) at No. 12 Mountain Crest (5-5)

No. 18 Pine View (3-6) at No. 15 Cedar City (3-6)

No. 23 Hurricane (2-8) at No. 10 Desert Hills (5-4)

No. 19 Mountain View (3-7) at No. 14 Payson (5-5)

No. 22 Jordan (3-6) at No. 11 Stansbury (6-4)

Friday, October 27

Second Round at home sites (times TBA)

Spanish Fork-Bear River winner at No. 1 Sky View (9-0)

Uintah-Salem Hills winner at No. 8 Green Canyon (7-3)

Dixie-Logan winner at No. 4 Park City (9-1)

Tooele-Mountain Crest winner at No. 5 Timpanogos (8-2)

Pine View-Cedar City winner at No. 2 Crimson Cliffs (9-1)

Hurricane-Desert Hills winner at No. 7 Snow Canyon (7-3)

Mountain View-Payson winner at No. 3 Provo (8-2)

Jordan-Stansbury winner at No. 6 Ridgeline (8-2)

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