Lehi football rolls past Maple Mountain in battle of new coaches
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- Lehi senior wide receiver Legend Glasker catching a touchdown pass during the non-region game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
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- Maple Mountain senior quarterback Hayden Hyatt throws a pass during the non-region game against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
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- Lehi senior wide receiver Legend Glasker catching a touchdown pass during the non-region game against Maple Mountain in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
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- Maple Mountain senior quarterback Hayden Hyatt hands the ball off to a running back during the non-region game against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
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- A Maple Mountain players runs the ball up the field during the non-region game against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
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- Maple Mountain senior quarterback Hayden Hyatt hands the ball off to a running back during the non-region game against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
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- Maple Mountain senior quarterback Hayden Hyatt fakes a handoff during the non-region game against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
Both Lehi and Maple Mountain came into this game with new head coaches as Andy Hadfield took over for legendary Ed Larson in Lehi while Harry Schwenke took the reins at Maple Mountain.
Perhaps it was the way the change happened that contributed to Lehi’s blowout 55-0 victory over Maple Mountain Friday night.
In Hadfield’s case, the former head coach went out on his own terms and the entire coaching staff stayed intact and there were no player defections. Meanwhile, Maple Mountain’s former head coach Kalin Hall was let go for reasons that are still mysterious. And with Hall’s departure, a reported eight players that might have been starters left for other schools.
As Hadfield sees it, the Pioneer program was left in great shape by Larson who coached the Pioneers to three state titles.
“Ed (Larson) built this program to what it is. I’m lucky enough to take it over,” Hadfield said. “My mom wished me luck this morning and I told her I just feel so lucky to be in this spot because of what Ed built and the fact that I retained every coach that was on that staff.”
So for Hadfield it was easy to stay the course.
“I mean, ‘don’t rock the boat'” added Hadfield. “We try to shake it very little and put in a little of our own wrinkles.”
On paper, it was really a foregone conclusion that Lehi would win this gridiron contest. Lehi is a 6A program that reached the semifinals last year and took eventual state champion Corner Canyon to the brink, losing in overtime. Lehi had many key players returning from that team including offensive stars in wide receiver Legend Glasker and running back Devaughn Eka. Glasker hauled in two TD receptions from Cash Hollingshead including a 34-yarder, while Eka crossed the goal line three times including scampers of 20 and 19 yards. Sam Verbecky also plunged in from one yard away in the third quarter to make the score 52-0.
It looks like Lehi again has a great kicker in Bode Hammond, who nailed two field goals including a 50 yarder. He was also successful on all seven extra points, and all but two of his kickoffs were touchbacks.
But it was Lehi’s defense that was stalwart, shutting down the Golden Eagle offense. Linebacker Vincent Evans and defensive back Murphy Madsen had interceptions with Madsen’s being a 25-yard pick-six. Madsen gave all credit to the front seven.
“We have a great D-line,” said Madsen. “That’s what really helped us. They made him throw it early. We have unbelievable linebackers and D-line.”
That defensive line was made up of Vahafolau Esikia and Briggs Love in the interior and Sterling Fillmore and Penisimani Takitaki on the edges.
As for Evans, he nearly returned his interception to the house before being tackled at the two-yard line, though a blindside block penalty pushed the ball back to the 25. But Eka would score soon enough on a 9-yard run to make the score 10-0. And even though Evans enjoyed dropping back in coverage to get a pick, it’s not his favorite thing about being a linebacker.
“I love to rush the passer,” said Evans. Then he had some complimentary things to say about the defense as a whole.
“We played hella good. We were letting no yards, no running, no first downs and just shutting them down.”
Even in a defeat Maple Mountain had some good moments. The defense forced a field goal in Lehi’s opening possession when Mason Jensen broke up a potential touchdown pass while Uhila Wolfgramm had a tackle for loss. And in the final stanza, the Golden Eagles did complete two longer passes.
Lehi (1-0) will hit the road again to take on Mountain Ridge (0-1) who was defeated by Skyridge 52-17. Meanwhile Maple Mountain (0-1) will visit Riverton (1-0) which opened its season with a 38-14 win over West Jordan.
Game notes: The 55-0 loss to Lehi tied the worst defeat in program history. In its inaugural season, Desert Hills defeated the Golden Eagles by an identical score.
Hadfield wasn’t the only head coach to obtain victory in their debut. Mountain View’s Uani Unga got his first career victory as the Bruins outlasted Payson at home, 40-36.
A family affair: While Harry Schwenke leads the Maple Mountain program, his uncle Paul Schwenke is a defensive line coach for Lehi.
“That was a tough one for them,” Paul Schwenke said. “But they have some good players that showed some fight. They’ll get better.”
Fun and Funnier Moments: Murphy Madsen seemingly predicted his interception. After a Maple Mountain punt, Madsen, who was given some well wishes by an injured teammate, told him as he was taking the field, “I’m going to get one.” And on the next play Madsen secured his pick-six.
Early in the game there was an interesting exchange between one of the chain gang and the head official.
When Maple Mountain was on offense, one of their players was tossed out-of-bounds and took one of the chain gang guys down to the ground. When the head official came over to see if he was hurt, that member of the chain gang gave him some harsh words thinking a personal foul should have been called. The head official quipped back, “I’m asking if you’re okay not to give a commentary on the officiating. So are you okay?” After an affirmative by the chain gang member, the game went on.
