Valley Top 5: Lone Peak tops two of three rankings this week
Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald
Lone Peak's Bott Mulitalo (52) celebrates after Tate Barney (4) scores a touchdown in a high school football game against Orem on Friday, Aug. 22, 2023.Each week, Daily Herald sports writers Darnell Dickson and Brandon C. Gurney rank the top five teams in the Utah Valley in football, girls soccer and girls volleyball (records as of Aug 25):
FOOTBALL
1. Lone Peak (2-0)
Knights ease past Orem, gets QB Kepa Niumeitolu back for Timpview game.
2. Skyridge (2-0)
Kaneal Sweetwyne with eight TD passes in first two games.
3. Orem (1-1)
Tigers hurting after loss to Lone Peak but will still be contender in 5A.
4. American Fork (2-0)
Cavemen rolling but huge game this week at West.
5. Westlake (2-0)
Thunder make first-ever appearance in Valley Top 5.
–Darnell Dickson
GIRLS SOCCER
1. Lone Peak (6-0-1)
The Knights traveled to Nevada and took down Liberty 4-0 before drawing a 1-1 tie with Centennial.
2. Springville (5-1)
Paced by leading scorer Sage Conrad, the Red Devils continued their winnings ways with big wins over both Wasatch and Pleasant Grove.
3. Timpview (4-1)
An impressive 4-0 win over Payson sets up this week’s big match versus No. 2-ranked Springville.
4. American Fork (4-1)
Led by goalkeeper Taybree Hansen, the Cavemen haven’t yielded a single goal since a 2-1 opening week loss to Alta.
5. Spanish Fork (4-1)
The Dons are getting done and scored an impressive 2-1 win over Maple Mountain to enter our top 5 rankings.
— Brandon C. Gurney
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
1. Skyridge (4-0)
Senior Hayden Smith (3.5 kills per set) emerging as a force for Falcons.
2. Lone Peak (3-1)
Knights responded from first loss (to Woods Cross) with 3-1 victory vs. Pleasant Grove.
3. Orem (4-1)
Loss to Skyridge showed promise but still work to do for Tigers.
4. Mountain View (7-0)
Bruins haven’t dropped a set yet, including sweep of Salem Hills.
5. Lehi (4-0)
Pioneers pulled off impressive 3-1 road win at Copper Hills.
— Darnell Dickson


