Late third-down conversion sends AF past Timpview
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- American Fork’s Cash Taiese (3) is tackled by Timpview defenders in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork’s Dalin Afu (left) sacks Timpview quarterback Matt Manuma in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork’s Zach Cowie crosses the goal line against Timpview in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork’s Noah Behm (5) comes down with an interception against Timpview in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview’s Dennis Tua’one (8) celebrates scoring a touchdown with teammates against American Fork in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview fans react during a high school football game against American Fork on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview’s Dennis Tua’one celebrates after scoring a touchdown against American Fork in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork’s Zach Cowie (4) celebrates with teammate Mason Brooks after scoring a touchdown against Timpview in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork’s Dylan Latu (98) reaches out for Timpview quarterback Matt Manuma in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview’s TJ Tuha (33) tries to avoid American Fork’s Damian Wilkinson in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview’s Dennis Tua’one crosses the goal line against American Fork in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview’s Dennis Tua’one celebrates after scoring a touchdown against American Fork in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork’s Cash Taiese (3) is tackled by Timpview defenders in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork fans react during a high school football game against Timpview on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork’s Ben Iongi (28) fights through a tackle in a high school football game against Timpview on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- American Fork’s Cash Taiese (3) makes a one-handed catch against Timpview in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview’s TJ Tuha (33) carries the ball against American Fork in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview quarterback Matt Manuma (10) scrambles away from American Fork’s Dylan Latu in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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- Timpview’s Hunter Tukuafu (left) makes a big hit on American Fork’s Latani Vaki in a high school football game on Friday, August 28, 2026.
Faced with third down and nine yards to go while nursing a two-point lead late in Friday’s game against Timpview, American Fork coaches faced a critical decision: Be conservative or be aggressive.
Choice 1: Run the ball, punt and rely on the defense to finish the job.
Choice 2: Attack the T-Birds defense and try to get a game-clinching first down.
The Cavemen chose wisely.
Quarterback Nate Childs faked a handoff, rolled out and tossed a short pass to tight end Christian Hanshaw, who picked up the first down.
Ball game, American Fork 28-26.
“We could have just ran the ball and made them eat their last time out,” American Fork head coach Aaron Behm said. “You might think we were going to do that. So we ran a little play action to a really good tight end who has really good hands. He picks it (the first down) up and makes a super smart senior play and goes down in bounds. That’s a scenario we practice once and week and it showed up in the game today.”
Childs added: “We knew Timpview has a really good offense, so we just had to take a chance. We went to our bread and butter and just what we’re confident in. We repped that multiple times in practice all week and to see it come out here on Friday night and execute it perfectly, it feels really great.”
The two teams traded scores throughout the first half. A 35-yard touchdown pass from Timpview’s Matt Manuma to Dennis Tua’one, followed by the same two players teaming up for the two-point conversion, tied the game at 14-all with five minutes left in the first half.
A tremendous punt by American Fork’s Jace Worthington was downed inside the five-yard line with just 12 seconds remaining and it appeared the T-Birds would run out the clock. But disaster struck when Timpview fumbled — the ball was jarred loose by Mason Peterson — and Afu recovered in the end zone, giving the visitors a 21-14 lead into the halftime break.
“Our defense has stepped up every single game this year for us,” Childs said. “They’ve scored touchdowns, got turnovers and given us short fields. So I think that’s big for us, and then the offense capitalizing.”
American Fork took the second half kickoff and chewed up more than six minutes on a scoring drive, getting most of its yards on the ground. Ben Iongi finished the drive with a 1-yard run for a 28-14 Caveman lead.
Manuma got hot in the fourth quarter and a 35-yard pass to Malosi Ilaoa set up Tua’one’s second touchdown reception. But Timpview’s extra point attempt was blocked — the second time the Cavemen accomplished that feat — setting the score at 28-20 with 10:29 remaining.
Timpview mounted its final drive with just over seven minutes to play. Manuma completed eight straight passes, the final one an 8-yard strike to Tua’one for the score with 3:24 to play.
On the two-point conversion attempt, Manuma fired a strike right into the chest of Tua’one, but he dropped the ball.
American Fork’s final offensive series and the big third-down conversion finished things off.
The Cavemen were coming off a difficult road trip to California, where they lost to powerhouse Mater Dei 31-11.
“Monday’s practice wasn’t great,” Behm admitted, “but we got better. I saw a lot of improvement tonight. Offensively we moved the ball better than we have the first three weeks against a really good defense. We saw a lot of different guys stepping up.”
Childs, who had been in competition with talented sophomore Jake Matson for the starting quarterback spot, got the nod against Timpview due to an injury to Matson.
“It was really short notice,” Childs said. “I only had about two days to get prepped for this game. But the coaches did a really good job of getting me ready and giving me a bunch of tools. Coach Behm believed in me and gave me another chance.”
American Fork (2-1) hosts Farmington next Friday, while Timpview (1-2) opens Region 7 play at Payson.
High School
Late third-down conversion sends AF past Timpview
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