Grinding it out: Skyridge defense steps up big in securing a 28-21 win over American Fork
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- Skyridge’s Latu Moeai celebrates his second half interception versus American Fork. November 6, 2026
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- Skyridge linebacker Sua Ripley bears down on American Fork quarterback Nate Childs during the Falcon’s quarterfinal win. November 6, 2026
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- Skyridge receiver Eli Mortensen takes on an open-field defender during his team’s quarterfinal win over American Fork. November 6, 2026
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- Skyridge defensive players celebrate one of their three big second half forced turnovers during Friday’s quarterfinal win over American Fork. November 6, 2026
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- Skyridge’s Andrew Price celebrates an interception during his team’s 28-21 win over American Fork. November 6, 2026
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- Skyridge quarterback Jagger Fountaine scrambles out of the pocket to throw a pass versus American Fork. November 6, 2026
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- Skyridge receiver Eli Mortensen celebrates one of his two touchdowns scored during a 28-21 win over American Fork. November 6, 2026
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- Skyridge running back Beckham Bennett runs down the sideline for a big gain during his team’s 28-21 win over American Fork. November 6, 2026
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- Skyridge running back Ului Faletau looks for room to run during his team’s 28-21 quarterfinal win over American Fork. November 6, 2026
Much as it has all season long, Skyridge found a way to stem the tide, make big plays when it mattered most and take a hard-fought win over a quality opponent with its 28-21 win over Region 3 foe American Fork on Friday. The stakes were a trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium, which hosts the semifinal and championship rounds of the 6A state playoffs, with the Falcons set to make their seventh straight trip up to Salt Lake, this time to take on Herriman.
“It feels great,” said Skyridge receiver and defensive back Eli Mortensen. “We have to dive into film, get ourselves ready for our goal, which is a state championship.”
As for Mortensen, he was certainly a headliner during Friday’s win.
The 6-foot-2 speedster led off the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter to spot Skyridge a 7-0 lead. American Fork responded early in the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run from Tani Vaki, but just one play from scrimmage later, Mortensen took a pass 74 yards downfield for his second score to take back the lead at 14-7.
“I think Eli is a dynamic athlete, and I’d put him up there as far as one of the best players in the state,” said Skyridge coach Justin Hemm. “His ability to be impactful on both sides of the ball, and that was kind of a point of emphasis going in as we get down here in the playoffs was his ability to impact both sides, and he did that tonight.”
But although Mortensen and the Skyridge offense certainly had their moments, Friday’s win was mostly about the defense. For Mortensen himself, he recovered a fumble at midfield late in the fourth quarter, which was one of three huge forced turnovers made by the Falcons late — all of which played pivotal in securing the win.
“Defense was great all night,” Hemm said. “But I thought especially there in the second half that we kind of buckled down and did some things that were huge to keep us in it. We had some opportunities there in the third quarter where we weren’t able to score in the red zone, but defense kept battling and gave the offense opportunities.”
The other two turnovers caused came by way of interceptions made by both Andrew Price and Latu Moeai, with both being secured when American Fork had driven it deep within Skyridge territory and poised to score. Particularly pivotal was Moeai’s interception, which was aided by Drayson Afalava tipping the ball into the air on his pass rush with the Cavemen being set up with 1st-and-goal from Skyridge’s 9 yard line and trailing just 21-14 early in the fourth quarter.
With Skyridge clinging to that same lead just four minutes later, American Fork was again mounting a scoring drive before being stunted at midfield. Following a completion, Sa Tanuvasa stripped the ball away to pave the way for Mortensen’s fumble recovery and ultimately a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jagger Fountaine to Dax Rehrer to give the Falcons a 28-14 lead with just over three minutes remaining.
“Shout out to Sa Tanuvasa. He made that happen,” Mortensen said. “I was trying to make a tackle, but Sa got there, punched the ball out, and that was huge. I just happened to be there and was able to fall on it, but that was all Sa. That was a great play by him, and it probably sealed the game for us.”
And that’s been the case for Skyridge throughout the season, with players ultimately stepping up to make big plays, whether it be Tanuvasa, Mortensen or Fountaine among several others.
“I think it’s our trust in one another and our unity that allows us to be the team that we are,” Mortensen said. “We’ve been in tight situations all year, but it’s our trust and belief that any of us can step up and make big plays is what has gotten it done for us this year.”
Indeed Skyridge, although it holds the No. 1 seed on top of a 10-1 record has been tested during just about every week in securing as much. Following an opening week loss to Mountain Ridge the Falcons have reeled off nine straight wins, which included a tough 21-14 win over 5A powerhouse Orem, a couple of one-score wins over two out-of-state opponents during consecutive weeks followed by a typically tough and challenging run through Region 3 play.
But all of it has helped refine Skyridge for Friday’s win, which was another tough one versus American Fork and hopefully for two more wins in order to secure a 6A state championship trophy.
“At this point in the year, we’ve seen everything, right?,” Hemm concluded. ” … I think these guys have really adopted the next-play mentality and not getting too caught up on anything that happens previously, but really staying emotionally locked in and understanding the longevity of a football game. A lot of things can happen, and if we play assignment-sound football, things will take care of what they need to.”
Skyridge — (8:23 1Q) Eli Mortensen, 18-yard run (kick from Evan Kopp)
American Fork — (11:56 2Q) Tani Vaki, 2-yard run (kick from Christian Hanshaw)
Skyridge — (11:35 2Q) Eli Mortensen, 74-yard pass from Jagger Fountaine (kick from Evan Kopp)
American Fork — (0:02 2Q) Tani Vaki, 1-yard run (kick from Jace Worthington)
Skyridge — (11:55 4Q) Jagger Fountaine, 11-yard run (kick from Evan Kopp)
Skyridge — (3:31 4Q) Dax Rehrer, 31-yard pass from Jagger Fountaine (kick from Evan Kopp)
American Fork — (1:55 4Q) Noah Behm, 21-yard pass from Nate Childs (kick from Jace Worthington)
