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Orem quarterback Tanner Lewis (right) and receiver Brooks Ross celebrate a touchdown against Spanish Fork in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem players scramble after a fumble against Spanish Fork in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Brooks Ross (2) pulls down a pass against Spanish Fork in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Tanner Lewis throws a pass against Spanish Fork in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Tanner Lewis throws a pass against Spanish Fork in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily herald

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Spanish Fork's James Buck (29) carries the ball against Orem in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Adrian Sanchez kicks off against Spanish Fork in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Brooks Ross (2) celebrates with a teammate after scoring a touchdown against Spanish Fork in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Spanish Fork quarterback Hawkin Rasmussen (1) scrambles against Orem in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Brooks Ross (2) brings back a kickoff against Spanish Fork in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem students react during a high school football game against Spanish Fork on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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A parachuter delivers the game ball before the start of a high school football game between Orem and Spanish Fork on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Orem football team takes the field against Spanish Fork in a high school game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

First-year Orem football coach Andy Stokes said his players have taken to calling themselves the “Golden Empire.”

Who’s to argue?

On Friday Orem looked the part of an empire in more ways than one. Sporting flashy gold helmets, the Golden Tigers flexed their muscles on the field as well and routed Spanish Fork 48-0 in a game shortened by the mercy rule.

Manti Casuga scored on a 7-yard pass from Rock Speredon with 4:59 left in the fourth quarter, ending the contest early.

“They (the players) call themselves the Golden Empire, so they’ve got the gold helmets,” Stokes said. “Being the Golden Tigers is part of everything for these guys, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Orem has won 10 state championships in its history, including five since 2017. The Golden Tigers are defending the 5A state title with a new coach in Stokes and new players and after a 1-2 start have opened Region 7 play winning two games by a combined count of 90-14.

“That’s how we do it, man,” Stokes said. “We’re a development style team. We want to be at our best in November. So every week we try to focus on one thing and get better. We’re not trying to fix everything in one day. We just fix one thing a week and we come back and we’re a little bit better next week.”

Orem was its own worst enemy early, killing a pair of drives with fumbles and was charged with five penalties in the first five minutes of the game. Eventually, the Tigers found their rhythm behind senior quarterback Tanner Lewis, who directed five scoring drives that included a pair of touchdown passes and three short scoring runs by Beckham Curtis.

“Tanner just took what was coming to him,” Stokes said. “He didn’t try to force everything, he just drove the car and that’s what we asked him to do. It’s a nice car. Just get in the driver’s seat and don’t wreck it.”

Lewis – son of former BYU and NFL standout Chad Lewis – has been in a battle for the starting quarterback spot with Roy transfer Rock Speredon, who came in to throw a pair of touchdown passes in the second half.

“I love how my O-line played,” Lewis said. “They gave me plenty of time in the pass game. And then I trust my receivers wherever they’re going. They track that ball and score touchdowns. We’ve just got to stay humble, learn about our opponent and get after it.”

A crushing sack in the first quarter by Jag Ione forced a fumble that Orem recovered, a turnover which led to a 37-yard strike from Lewis to Brooks Ross for a 7-0 lead. An interception from Aoi Faumui created another scoring opportunity that resulted in a 4-yard scoring run from Curtis.

The Tigers defense forced four turnovers in the game (three interceptions, one fumble) and held Spanish Fork to just 113 total yards of offense.

“Our defense is elite,” Stokes said. “It’s a blessing to be able to stand on the sideline and watch those guys play football. They help us get better because we play against them every day. four days a week at practice.”

Lewis connected with Po Faumui on a 12-yard strike for a 21-0 Orem lead and Curtis added touchdown runs of nine yards and one yard for a commanding 35-0 advantage at halftime.

A Spanish Fork drive actually reached the Orem 13 after a 62-yard keeper from quarterback Hawkin Rassmussen late in the half. But Britton Johnson made a tremendous defensive play, ripping the ball away from a Dons receiver, for the turnover that set up Curtis’ third touchdown run.

The third quarter was played under a running clock and the game ended on Casuga’s run in the fourth.

OREM 48, SPANISH FORK 0

Spanish Fork 0 0 0 0 — 0

Orem 14 21 7 6 — 48

O-Ross 37 pass from Ta. Lewis (Sanchez kick)

O-Curtis 4 run (Sanchez kick)

O-P. Faumui 12 pass from Ta. Lewis (Sanchez kick)

O-Curtis 9 run (Sanchez kick)

O-Curtis 1 run (Sanchez kick)

O-Gordon 38 pass from Speredon (Sanchez kick)

O-Casuga 4 pass from Speredon