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Provo and Salem Hills players escort veterans onto the field prior to a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

Brian E. Preece, Special to the Herald

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Pleasant Grove's Landon Forstpointner (1) crosses the goal line a 45-yard touchdown catch while teammate Davian Akwenye prepares to celebrate in a high school football game against Maple Mountain on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

Courtesy Julia Forstpointner

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Veterans line up on the sideline to be honored during a special ceremony before the start of a high school football game between Salem Hills and Provo on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

Brian E. Preece, Special to the Herald

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From left, Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins, US Senator John Curtis and Utah State Representative Doug Walton attended a high school football game where Provo played Salem Hills on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

Brian E. Preece, Special to the Herald

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Marching bands from Salem Hills and Provo High Schools combined to play during a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

Brian E. Preece, Special to the Herald

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Props must be given out to Salem Hills head football coach Jeff Higginson and the football community there for putting on another memorable tribute to veterans prior to the game against Provo on Friday.

The tribute features a dinner and the traditional tunnel walk, where the cheerleaders and the bands from both schools come together and each veteran is escorted by players.

One can readily see the meticulous planning that goes into the event from the dinner, to the Army National Guard greeting people and blasting their cannon on Salem Hills scores, to dignitaries such as U.S. Senator John Curtis, Provo mayor Marsha Judkins and State Representative Doug Welton in attendance. Senator Curtis, and his wife Sue, participated in the coin toss.

“Football is a great thing but we get to play it because of all the great sacrifices by so many people,” Higginson said. “This does bring things into perspective.”

For Vietnam veteran Steve Wilson appreciates the efforts to recognize and honor the veterans and those serving.

“I think this is so unique to high school athletics,” Wilson said. “Nobody does it like this (Salem Hills). As a Vietnam veteran myself and a former Spanish Fork High School and BYU player, I just think this is so cool. I just think it’s great.”

Higginson does what he can to involve the opposing team and one aspect is having the bands play together throughout the game as a sign of unity. And Higginson was grateful for Provo’s willingness to get involved.

“I appreciate the coach from Provo (Vili Halasima) and the Provo football team for joining with us tonight and making this memorable. It’s great to have Senator Curtis here and the unity it brings,” added Higginson.

For Coach Halasima, it was an easy choice to be involved and something that meant a lot to him personally.

“That was one of the sweetest experiences of my life,” Halasima said. “My father-in-law is retired Marines. He served 25 years in the Marine Corps. This stuff is very serious around our home.”

While Halasima’s father-in-law couldn’t attend personally, he did watch the events on live stream.

“He even shared ‘I was crying watching the military thing, I wish I could have been there to watch it,'” said Halasima.

The veterans that stayed to watch the game and the supporters of both schools were treated to a great game, won by Provo in overtime, 34-28.

One second can really make a difference

Football fans everywhere know about the controversial ending of the Western Michigan at Michigan game on Saturday where the officials put one more second on the clock and the Wolverines then completed a game-winning touchdown pass.

There was a similar, but also different, situation at the end of the Provo vs. Salem Hills game.

Provo had just tied the game 28-28 with 16 seconds left. Salem Hills’ Lincoln Lewis took the ensuing kickoff and appeared headed to a stunning game-ending touchdown. But he was chased down by Provo’s Parker Marden at the 3-yard line as the clock showed all zeroes. The Salem Hills coaches argued that there was one second left which would have given them one more play to win the game in regulation. The officials held a conference and concluded that the time had run out.

During the game, there was also a kickoff returned to the house by Provo’s Brexton Hunter which took 14 seconds. So it stands to reason that there is an argument that maybe there was at least a tick on the clock. But then again, the process of the tackle on the play might have led to the time expiring.

One must remember high school officials don’t have the luxury of replay. That’s one big difference here. But another is that by sending the game to overtime, Salem Hills still had a chance to prevail in the game. In the Michigan game, the touchdown the Wolverines scored ended the game directly. The optics of that game’s outcome aren’t good, and if the officials did put one second back on the clock in the Salem Hills game, the optics of that happening at the host school would have also looked terrible.

Making history 

ALA remains the only unbeaten team in the Utah Valley. As a charter school, the program often gets players that might have started their high school playing careers somewhere else. Two of them are actually sons of members of the coaching staff who play critical roles for the team.

Last season Cooper DuPaix played for Riverton while his father, Joe, was coaching at Southern Virginia. Now, Joe DuPaix is the Eagle head coach and Cooper plays quarterback.

“I’m having so much fun,” Cooper DuPaix said of his experience playing for his father at ALA as a senior. “It’s good to play under him, which is awesome. I’m loving it.”

As for Asher Hernandez, he expected to play at Spanish Fork as his own father Joe had coached there for several years, the last few as the defensive coordinator. But when there was a change of head coaches, there are often shake ups of the entire staff that happen.  Joe DuPaix was glad to have Hernandez join his staff and Asher came with him.

“We’re having the best time ever,” Asher Hernandez said of the change of schools for him and his father. “It was hard to come over and make new friends. I had a great friend group over there (at Spanish Fork). I’ve started from scratch but this has really been the best thing of my life.”

Cooper DuPaix and Asher Hernandez connected on a touchdown pass and Hernandez later had a critical interception that helped ALA stave off Ben Lomond 17-13.

Can’t be stopped

Timpview junior receiver Dennis Tua’one had a monster game in Timpview’s 48-3 victory against Payson, catching 11 passes for a whopping 293 yards and four touchdowns, according to reports. The yardage total falls just short of of the state’s all-time Top 10, led by Granger’s Landon Figueroa with 372 yards against Taylorsville in 2023. Utah Valley is well represented in the Top 10 with Westlake’s Malik Sika second (327 yards last year against Pleasant Grove), Orem’s Puka Nacua (321 yards against Trabucco, Calif., in 2018), Lehi’s Dallin Holker (315 yards against Alta in 2017) and Orem’s Chris Hale (311 yards against Mountain View in 1998).

Pleasant Grove ‘Pick Six’ fun

The Vikings first two scores in a 38-14 win at Maple Mountain came via interception returns for touchdowns as Ethan Passey contributed a 70-yarder, followed by Davian Akwenye taking an interception to the house from 25 yards.

Big Game of the Week

Cedar Valley hosts Riverton in a battle of 1-3 teams. With the return of just allowing 16 teams in the state tournament but it being based on the RPI system, the loser of this game might be sitting it out.

Another Big Game of the Week

Spanish Fork hits the road to take on the returning 5A state champs Orem. Spanish Fork is 3-1 having lost its opener in a triple overtime thriller 64-62 against Snow Canyon. Orem is 2-2 but has played a rugged schedule including taking on Mater Dei of California. The game is a good barometer to see the Dons fit into the 5A playoff picture, while Orem hopes to continue its dominance of 5A Region 7.

Yet Another Big Game of the Week

Timpanogos hosts Wasatch and both teams won their league openers last week. It was also Wasatch’s first win of the season. Not only does the winner stay in the 4A Region 8 race, the victory also gets valuable RPI points.

Extra points

The losing streaks for Ben Lomond (25), Cottonwood (22) and Deseret Peak (14) continued but the chasm of competitiveness between say Ben Lomond and Cottonwood is huge. In three of Ben Lomond’s losses this year, the Scots were within a touchdown. On the other hand Cottonwood hasn’t scored a point but has given up 232. That means the Colts give up 58 points per game. The schedule doesn’t really look pretty for any of these three schools to win a game though Ben Lomond will host winless Moffat County out of Craig Colorado before it goes into its league history. … Ridgeline extended its winning streak to 18 games by dominating rival Mountain Crest 42-14 last week. … The top scoring teams came from 1A 8-man football as Whitehorse put up 62 against Water Canyon and UMA-Camp Williams led the county when it beat Altamont 54-46. The combined 100 points was the most scored in a game last week. … It was a really good week for Utah County teams as they went 7-2 against programs outside the county and now stand 24-14 overall.

Friday (and Thursday) Night Heroes

Timpview WR Dennis Tua’one

The junior caught 11 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns as Timpview blasted Payson 48-3.

Provo WR/DB Brexton Hunter

Hunter hauled in two touchdown passes and also scored on a 98-yard kickoff return as the Bulldogs topped Salem Hills 34-28 in overtime

Orem RB Beckham Curtis

Curtis ran for 236 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers dominated Springville 42-14.

Timpview QB Matt Manuma

Manuma threw four touchdown passes in Thunderbirds’ win against Payson.

Salem Hills QB Cash Hollingshead

Hollingshead was 27 of 39 for 337 yards and two touchdowns in the Skyhawks’ loss to Provo.

Salem Hills RB Reggi Smith

Smith had 242 total yards of offense, rushing for 71 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and catching nine passes for 171 yards.

Skyridge QB Jagger Fountaine

Fountaine tossed three touchdown passes, going 25 of 40 for 270 yards as the Falcons tripped up Liberty (Nev.) 24-20.

American Fork QB Jake Matsen

The sophomore returned from injury to go 21 of 31 for 344 yards and four touchdowns as the Cavemen crushed Farmington 41-13.

American Fork RB DC Fonua

Fonua rushed 10 times for 148 yards (14.8 yards per carry) and also scored a touchdown for the Cavemen.

Orem RB Hayden Jarvis

Jarvis had a 81-yard scoring romp along with another 35-yard touchdown run, finishing with three carries for 115 yards to help the Tigers down Springville to open up the 5A Region 7 season.

Wasatch RB Grady Coombs

Coombs had three touchdowns as the Wasps got their first win of the season against fellow Heber Valley school Deer Creek 40-9.

Skyridge TE Steeler Wesley

Wesley caught seven passes for 106 yards and a touchdown as the Falcons downed Liberty (Nev.)

Spanish Fork QB Hawkin Rasmussen

Rasmussen, a freshman, was 12 of 21 for 210 yards and four touchdowns as the Dons beat up Desert Hills 32-7.

Pleasant Grove WR Ryder Huntsman

Huntsman caught seven passes for 136 yards, which included a 95-yard scoring catch as the Vikings beat Maple Mountain 38-14.

Pleasant Grove LB Derek Brinton

Brinton contributed 17 tackles in the win against Maple Mountain.