1 / 3

Skyridge's Sua Ripley (4) and Carter Seu (99) put pressure on Corner Canyon quarterback Jaxon Pehrson in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

2 / 3

Orem girls volleyball players celebrate a point in a Region 8 match against Provo on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

3 / 3

Lone Peak's Ava Scoville works her way toward the goal during her team's 6-0 win over American Fork. September 10, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

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 October 5):

FOOTBALL

1. Skyridge (7-1)

Clutch last-minute drive and field goal sends Falcons past Lone Peak.

2. Orem (5-2)

Tigers defense proving every week that it is elite.

3. American Fork (6-2)

Cavemen stumbled last week against surging Lehi.

4. Springville (6-2)

Red Devils beat Timpview for second straight season.

5. Westlake (6-2)

Thunders surprisingly No. 4 in 6A RPI behind a stingy defense.

-Darnell Dickson

GIRLS SOCCER 

1. Lone Peak (14-3)

Different week, same narrative. Knights have now won 13 straight as they roll into the state playoffs.

2. Maple Mountain (12-4)

The Golden Eagles have won three straight and 10 of their last 11.

3. American Fork (11-5)

The Cavemen lost just 1-0 to Lone Peak and look to make a deep run in the state championships.

4. Timpview (10-6)

T-birds lost a tough overtime match vs. Springville, but have otherwise rolled during the latter half of the season.

5. Wasatch (14-4)

Wasps make their first appearance in the top 5 on the heels of winning 11 of their last 12 matches.

– Brandon C. Gurney

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

1. Orem (20-3)

Tigers’ mixture of experience and youth have won 18 straight matches.

2. Pleasant Grove (20-3)

Vikings have lost only one set in past five Region 7 matches.

3. Skyridge (19-4)

Falcons pushed top-ranked Corner Canyon to five sets last week.

4. Provo (19-3)

306 kills, 31 aces, 72 blocks, 267 assists … What doesn’t senior Meliana Chrisman do?

5. Spanish Fork (14-4)

Senior Sarah Harwood has fired off 41 aces this season.

-Darnell Dickson