Just a pair of Utah Valley prep football programs survived to make the semifinal rounds this week and their quarterfinal victories came at the expense of other county teams.

In 5A, No. 2 seed Orem (9-2) overcame a sluggish start as the Tigers trailed 13-0 midway through the second quarter to down No. 10 Pleasant Grove (7-5) 35-16.

The Vikings actually led 16-14 in the third quarter but the Tigers put 28 points on the board in the second half including scoring two touchdowns in the final minutes of the final stanza to spread out the victory margin.

Orem takes on the Cinderella story of the entire playoffs in No. 14 Woods Cross (6-6), which for the second straight week pulled off a stunning upset of a higher seeded team that beat them previously during the season when they downed No. 6 Alta 31-24. This semifinal game is Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Rice-Eccles stadium on the campus of the University of Utah. In the other semifinal top seed West (12-0) meets No. 4 seed Bountiful (9-2). That game kicks off at 11 a.m.

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

In 6A, No. 1 seed Skyridge (10-1) beat No. 8 American Fork (7-5) for the second time in a three-week span, 28-21. American Fork gave a game effort but Skyridge just a little more talent for the Cavemen to overcome, especially in light of some injuries American Fork suffered late in the season.

Skyridge advanced to play No. 4 Herriman, which soundly beat No. 5 Davis 36-22. That game starts at 11 a.m. Thursday at Rice Eccles. In the other semifinal, No. 2 seed Mountain Ridge (12-0) puts its undefeated record on the line against the defending champs in Corner Canyon (10-2). Kickoff will be 2:30 p.m. Thursday for this contest.

Three other valley teams lost in heartbreaking fashion on the road while another was blown out.

In 4A, No. 14 seed Provo (7-5) was hoping to do what Woods Cross did and advance to the semifinals. Things looked good for the Bulldogs as they led 20-13 in the final stanza thanks to a 3-yard scoring run by Teave Brown. But Skyline scored a touchdown with just six minutes remaining, held Provo to get the ball back and won the game with a 40-yard field goal by Josh Pinnock with only two seconds left. Drevin Christensen tossed two touchdown passes for the Bulldogs in their 23-20 loss to the Eagles.

Down south, 4A No. 7 seed Salem Hills’ loss to No. 2 seed Hurricane (11-1) was just as excruciatingly painful. Salem Hills (9-3) overcame a 21-0 deficit by scoring 21 fourth-quarter points as Cash Hollingshead found Joe Hughes two times on scoring passes. The game went to overtime and Hughes caught another touchdown pass and Brigham Stewart split the uprights. That meant the Skyhawks had scored 28 straight points. But when Hurricane got the ball, they scored a touchdown and their gamble to go for a two-point conversion and the win paid off with a run by Drake Gines that delivered a 29-28 victory.

No. 5 Springville (8-3) and No. 4 Bountiful (9-2) staged another great playoff game and for the second straight time the Redhawks prevailed, 23-17. Springville held a tenuous 7-6 lead at halftime but Bountiful asserted itself in the second half. Leka Toki caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Beckett Burton that gave the Red Devils that early lead. Bountiful led 23-14 when Phoenix Marks cut into that lead with a 31-yard field goal with just 3:31 remaining. But the Red Devils couldn’t get the go-ahead touchdown and the Redhawks advanced.

6A No. 7 seed Lone Peak (6-6) was no match for undefeated and No. 2 Mountain Ridge (12-0). The Sentinels led 34-0 at half and 42-0 at the end of three quarters. But the Knights avoided the shutout as Zach Zolman, one of the state’s all-time best kickers, nailed a 37-yarder in the final stanza to make the final tally 42-3.

Semifinals

6A No. 4 Herriman (10-2) vs. 6A No. 1 Skyridge (10-1): This should be a tight battle. There are two common opponents these teams faced. Both teams lost to undefeated Mountain Ridge. The Falcons lost in week 1 41-26 while Mountain Ridge mauled the Mustangs 45-7. Skyridge beat Lehi 28-20 while Lehi actually gave Herriman its first loss of the season beating the Mustangs 22-20. Expect a lower-scoring game but much like last week expect quarterback Jagger Fountaine to make a big play with his legs at a crucial time.

Preece’s Prediction: Skyridge 21, Herriman 17.

6A No. 3 Corner Canyon (10-2) vs. 6A No. 2 Mountain Ridge (12-0): The Sentinels look awfully tough, crushing Lone Peak 42-3. But Corner Canyon is Corner Canyon and they have been the most dominant large-school program since 6A was created in 2018. They say to be the best you have to beat the best and Mountain Ridge seems up to the task.

Preece’s Prediction: Mountain Ridge 30, Corner Canyon 24.

5A No. 14 Woods Cross (6-6) vs. No. 2 Orem (9-2): Will the clock strike midnight on Woods Cross’ magical playoff run? The Wildcats are certainly better than their 6-6 record and if you look at their season in totality, they played a tough schedule and lost a couple of close games. And Woods Cross has won five of their last six. But Orem is the defending champion and the Tigers are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Tanner Lewis keeps improving at the quarterback position and Beckham Curtis is tough to bring down at running back. The Tiger defense also has plenty of claw as well with players like Major Stokes and Aio Faumuni.

Preece’s Prediction: Orem 31, Woods Cross 14.

5A No. 4 Bountiful (9-2) vs. No. 1 West (12-0): The only two times West was actually challenged was when they played out-of-state competition. The Panthers rode roughshod over extremely weak league competition in Region 4. Bountiful is a bit more battle tested but the Panthers just seem to have a lot of talent.

Preece’s Prediction: West 35, Bountiful 21.

Preece’s 4A Predictions: No. 1 Ridgeline (12-0) tops No. 5 Crimson Cliffs (9-2) 31-28 while No. 6 Skyline (9-3) upsets No. 2 Hurricane (11-1) in a thriller, 24-23.

In other predictions, look for No. 1 Morgan (10-2) to get revenge on No. 3 Logan (10-2) to win the 3A championship 34-27; No. 1 San Juan (10-1) to win its sixth straight 2A title by downing No. 2 Delta (10-2) 42-21; 1A top seed Duchesne (11-1) to beat No. 3 Beaver (8-4) 21-17 to take the 1A title, and in the 1A 8-man championship contest look for No. 1 seed Rich (9-3) to to rally past No. 2 seed Milford (7-4), 49-21.

Extra points: In the 2A semifinals San Juan and South Summit staged a classic battle eventually won by the defending champion Broncos 57-50. South Summit led 50-43 after Jesse Clegg’s 97-yard kickoff return to paydirt. It was Clegg’s fourth touchdown of the contest but San Juan rallied with two late scores. The Broncos will now seek their sixth straight state title against Delta. … In another wild semifinal, Logan topped Juab 53-45 to win its 3A semifinal. … Ridgeline won its 26th straight game when the Riverhawks beat Highland 50-24 in their 4A quarterfinal. … Sometimes in the smaller, and especially in 8-man football, the kicking game can be hazardous. Monticello scored five touchdowns but went for two-points every time but only converted two of five tries. Milford’s Maddix Alger was three-for-four on his point after attempts and that was enough as the Tigers escaped with a 33-32 win over Monticello to make the 8-man championship game against Rich. It will be a rematch of last year’s 8-man title game won by Rich 21-12. … Though it was a tough week for valley teams in the playoffs going 0-4 in games against out-of-valley opponents, Utah County teams are still 54-42 overall in 2026.

Friday Night Heroes

Skyridge QB Jagger Fountaine

Fountaine tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Falcons topped Region 3 rival American Fork 28-21 to advance to the 6A semifinals.

Skyridge WR Eli Mortensen

Mortensen caught three balls for 124 yards with two touchdowns, including a 71-yarder, as the Falcons beat American Fork to advance to the 6A semifinals.

Skyridge LB Sua Ripley

Ripley had six total tackles (five for loss) and two quarterback hurries in Skyridge’s win over American Fork.

American Fork RB Tani Vaki

Vaki ran for two touchdowns though the Cavemen fell to Skyridge in the 6A quarterfinals.

Orem QB Tanner Lewis

Lewis threw three touchdown passes as Orem got past Pleasant Grove 35-16 in a 4A quarterfinal match-up last Friday.

Orem WR Po Faumuni

Faumuni made a spectacular catch for a Tiger touchdown along with two kickoff returns netting 50 yards to help Orem beat Pleasant Grove to move on to the 6A semifinals.

Orem RB Beckham Curtis

Curtis had 94 yards rushing on 17 carries and scored a a touchdown as Orem topped Pleasant Grove.

Pleasant Grove K Ben Lyman

Lyman booted three field goals including a 42-yarder, though the Vikings fell short in their quarterfinal against Orem.

Pleasant Grove LB Derek Brinton

Brinton secured 12 total tackles (six solo) including one for a loss in a Viking defeat in the 4A quarterfinals against Orem.

Springville WR Siaosi “Leka” Toki

Toki caught a 32-yard touchdown pass but the Red Devils fell short, losing to Bountiful 23-17.

Lone Peak K Zachary Zolman

Thanks Zolman’s 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, the Knights avoided being shut out for the first time since 2007 in a 42-3 loss to No. 2 Mountain Ridge.

Provo QB Drevin Christensen

Christensen tossed two touchdown passes though the Bulldogs fell to Skyline 23-20 in the 4A quarterfinals.

Salem Hills QB Cash Hollingshead

Hollingshead was 26 of 38 for 344 yards and three touchdowns though the Skyhawks fell to Hurricane 29-28 in the 4A quarterfinals.

Salem Hills WR Joe Hughes

Hughes caught eight balls for 120 yards and three touchdowns in the Skyhawks overtime quarterfinal loss to Hurricane.

Salem Hills DB/WR Peyton Higginson

Higginson had a great all-around game for the Skyhawks as he caught eight balls for 86 yards on offense, and then on defense posting 13 tackles, securing an interception as well as recovering a fumble.