Utah Valley High School Football Rewind: Football players and coaches showcase supportive mentality
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- Spanish Fork and Salem Hills players pose for a photo after the 4A second round game in Spanish Fork on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork and Salem Hills players and coaches talk after the 4A second round game in Spanish Fork on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
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- American Fork players prepare for the 6A semifinal game against Skyridge at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
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- Timpview junior Aisa Galea’i runs the ball up the field during the 5A second round game against Springville in Provo on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
Since Spanish Fork and Salem Hills high schools are less than five miles apart, many players from both sides have played together in youth football. Spanish Fork defeated Salem Hills twice this season and eliminated the Skyhawks from the 4A playoffs last Friday night, 56-35.
Salem Hills quarterback Jedi Nelson was understandably distraught after playing his final high school game but Spanish Fork head coach Dustin Smith took a moment to embrace and give some encouraging words to the senior signal-caller from the opposing team. Several players from both teams then posed together for some photos before parting ways.
“I coached a lot of the Salem (Hills) boys before they had a youth league,” Smith said. “All of these seniors (from both teams) played together. And for four seasons I coached those boys and we won three championships together. I was there for their first football game and unfortunately their last.”
Smith’s coaching influence goes beyond the campus of Spanish Fork as a founder of an organization called Especially for Athletes (E4A), whose mission is to develop athletes as leaders to maximize their potential to uplift others.
Smith and Shad Martin co-authored a book called “The Sportlight” which highlights how athletes can better their communities through using their status as athletes. E4A also produces podcasts found on E4A.org on a variety of topics ranging from leadership to navigating life when one’s playing days are over.
The Spanish Fork head coach, like many coaches regardless of their sport, exemplifies how his reach goes far beyond wins and losses on the gridiron.
American Fork football team makes ABC News then upsets Farmington: Friday was a big day for American Fork football. Not only did they win their 6A second-round game against Farmington, the Cavemen were featured on ABC News hosted by David Muir.
For the past six years, American Fork head coach Aaron Behm has taken his team in their jerseys to the marching band state championship to support the band. The American Fork marching band was not only recognized as the top band in Utah but is one of the best in the nation. It’s really cool to see the players support their marching band that plays dutifully for them at every home game.
With regards to their playoff game, the No. 12 seed American Fork Cavemen (5-6) beat No. 5 Farmington (5-6), 21-17. Gunner Michaelis got the Cavemen going, returning a blocked kick for a touchdown. Prince Afu had a 66-yard scamper to paydirt, and with Farmington leading in the final stanza 17-14, Luke Broadbent plunged in from one yard out to deliver the victory.
Maple Mountain avoids an upset with a late score: 5A No. 7 seed Maple Mountain (8-2) found itself in a battle for their playoff life as it hosted Northridge (6-5) in the second round of the 5A playoffs. The Golden Eagles trailed the Knights 21-17 with less than two minutes left in the game before quarterback Mason Jensen ran it in from six yards as Maple Mountain won 24-21.
Things won’t get any easier as the Golden Eagles will travel north to take on No. 2 seed Bountiful (10-1) in the 5A quarterfinals. The Redhawks beat Northridge 42-14 in league play, so the Maple Mountain will need to elevate their game if they hope to pull the upset.
Orem wins shootout against West: West (5-6) was no ordinary No. 12 seed and they pushed No. 5 seed Orem (9-2) to its limit before the Tigers prevailed 35-27.
Zach Graver had two touchdowns for Orem while Tayden Ka’awa had three touchdown throws to Feliti Iongi, Kaue Akana, and Ryker Mikkelsen.
Provo overcomes slow start: When 4A No. 18 seed Dixie (4-7) scored the first 13 points in its 4A second round game with No. 2 seed Provo (8-2), the home faithful were understandably concerned.
But the Bulldogs righted themselves and scored the next 34 points to win 34-13. Now the Bulldogs will host No. 7 seed Sky View (7-4), who like the Bulldogs fell behind early in their game with No. 10 seed Mountain Crest (7-4) 14-0 before storming back to win 38-14.
Provo was paced by the bruising running game provided by Ollie Mackay who had 29 rushes for 221 yards and four touchdowns. Mackay now has 25 touchdowns on the season and is tied with Spanish Fork’s Kaden Vest for the most in the state.
Griffin Martini added a touchdown reception. On defense Malik Filomoeatu and Hutch Fale had 11 tackles each while Griffin’s twin brother Crew added an interception.
Lehi and Lone Peak cruise to victories: 6A No. 4 seed Lehi (8-2) scored 37 points in the first half on its way to crushing No. 13 seed Layton (4-7), 47-6.
Devaughn Eka crossed the goal line three times, two times on the ground and one via the air on a pass from Jett Niu. Legend Glasker electrified the Pioneer faithful with a 81-yard touchdown reception and Gavin Fenn kicked two field goals including a 56 yarder. The defense also added to the Pioneer scoring barrage as Ezaiah Mama returned a fumble 45 yards for a score. Lehi will now host league rival American Fork.
6A No. 3 seed Lone Peak (9-2) didn’t score as many points as Lehi but still eased to a 24-0 win over No. 14 seed Herriman (3-8), 24-0.
Sean Tahi broke off two long runs of 80 and 68 yards in the third quarter to break open the game after the Knights had a 10-0 lead at halftime. Breckin Carr had a 38-yard field goal and Charles Wright put Lone Peak on the board with a 21-yard scamper to paydirt. Lone Peak will host No. 6 seed Fremont (8-3), who downed No. 11 Syracuse (5-6), 28-20.
Skyridge sluggish in victory over Riverton: 6A No. 2 seed Skyridge (9-2) didn’t put forth their best effort but still survived to win 21-17 against No. 15 seed Riverton (4-8), who led 17-14 at half.
Boston Sorensen’s 5-yard reception from Kanael Sweetnyne in the third quarter put the Falcons ahead 21-17 as both teams went scoreless in the final stanza. Skyridge will now face No. 7 seed Davis (8-3) who dispatched No. 10 Mountain Ridge (5-6), 28-10.
Seasons end for ALA, UMACW, Wasatch and Westlake: American Leadership Academy (ALA) was blown out in its second-round game with No. 2 seed Emery (8-2), 70-21. Kannon Huntsman had two touchdowns to lead ALA which finished its season with a 5-6 record.
The Utah Military Academy-Camp Williams (UMACW) was eliminated in the second round of the 8-man playoffs by No. 1 seed Rich (8-3), 47-8. James Sullivan scored on a 1-yarder for the Marauders to avoid the shutout. UMACW went 2-7 in its inaugural season on the gridiron.
In the 5A playoffs, No. 19 seed Wasatch (3-8) was blanked by No. 3 Brighton (10-1), 26-0, while Westlake (3-9) was dominated by Corner Canyon (10-1), 56-0, in the 6A second round.
Statistical Superlatives: Timpview’s Aisa Galea’i had four interceptions and also ran in two scores as the Thunderbirds hammered Springville, 59-24. Timpview, the No. 4 seed in the 5A playoffs, also got a 25-yard pick six from Kolomona Kahanu, while Luke Thornock kicked eight extra points and added a 20-yard field goal. Easton Leavitt had three touchdowns passing for No. 13 seed Springville which finished their 2024 campaign at 6-6.
Brock Jacobson had three touchdowns on the ground as he led 4A No. 4 seed Spanish Fork (9-2) to a 56-35 victory over rival Salem Hills. Kaden Vest also added two touchdown rushes for the Dons. Jedi Nelson threw four touchdown passes, two to Grayson Wilson, for the No. 12 seed Skyhawks whose season came to a close with a 6-5 mark.
Two intra-county contests highlight the quarterfinal round: Two Region 7 rivals will meet in the 5A quarterfinals when No. 4 seed Timpview (7-2) hosts No. 5 seed Orem. Timpview won at Orem 35-21 in their previous meeting. It will be the second game in a row in the playoffs that the Thunderbirds play a team from its own league.
And in 6A, No. 12 seed American Fork will visit No. 4 seed Lehi. In their first meeting at Lehi, the Pioneers won comfortably, 34-10.
Extra points: Chalk dominated in the second round of the football playoffs. 6A American Fork pulled off the biggest upset as the No. 12 seed beating No. 5 seed Farmington, 21-17. No. 9 seed Weber (7-4) pulled off a minor upset against No. 8 seed Bingham (5-6), 27-14. All the higher seeds won in 8-man, 1A, 3A, 4A and 5A, while in 2A No. 6 seed Summit Academy (6-5) defeated No. 3 seed South Sevier (5-6), 42-28… Richfield extended its state-leading winning streak to 24 games but it wasn’t easy for the Wildcats. Seeded No. 2 in the 3A tournament, Richfield (11-0) trailed No. 7 seed Juan Diego (6-6) 20-14 at half before rallying to win 34-27 … One team scored an impressive win in a rematch. 3A No. 4 seed Manti (8-3) defeated No. 5 seed Juab (6-5). The two played two weeks ago with Juab winning 38-29, but the Templars completely turned the tables shutting down the Wasps, winning 35-0 … An interesting match-up in Salt Lake Valley pits No. 6 seed Olympus (7-3) against No. 3 seed Brighton. The Bengals only have one loss on the season and it was to Olympus as the Titans won 13-0 … It was a good week for Utah County teams as they went 7-3 against teams outside the valley and now have a 59-39 overall record in inter-county competition.
