Toki takes over in Springville’s 34-8 victory at Pleasant Grove
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- Springville’s Sam Nadauld (44) upends Pleasant Grove’s Drew Jensen in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Springville’s Sam Nadauld (left) and Pleasant Grove’s Carter Wilkes fight for the ball during a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Springville’s Treyton Harris (28) carries the ball against Pleasant Grove in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Players from Pleasant Grove (blue) and Springville converge on a fumble in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Pleasant Grove quarterback Cannon Jacobson (left) tries to escape a tackle against Springville in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Springville students react during a high school football game against Pleasant Grove on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Two helicopters fly over the Springville-Pleasant Grove football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- The Springville defense converges on Pleasant Grove’s Corbin Robbins (16) in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 12, 2026.
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- Springville quarterback Beckett Burton carries the ball against Pleasant Grove in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Springville’s Treyton Harris carries the ball against Pleasant Grove in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Pleasant Grove and Springville players hold up a giant American flag to honor those we lost on 9/11 before a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
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- Springville’s Treyton Harris carries the ball against Pleasant Grove in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
Going into the fourth quarter, the 5A Region 7 football contest between Springville and host Pleasant Grove on Friday was still in doubt with Springville ahead just 13-0.
That’s when Siaosi “Leka” Toki took over the game on both sides of the ball and in just over two minutes he put Springville ahead 27-0. The Red Devils would go on to post a 34-8 win over the Vikings.
Toki’s first score came on an 18-yard pass reception where the Red Devil wide receiver and defensive back showed off his elusiveness, taking that swing pass from Beckett Burton, dodging one defender and scooting up the sideline to paydirt. This made the score 19-0 and Burton and Toki would hook up again on the two-point conversion to extend the Red Devil lead to 21-0.
Pleasant Grove was still determined to make a game of it and drove deep into Springville territory. But Toki struck again, stepping in front of a Viking receiver and rambling 91 yards on a pick six. After that turn of events, it was basically game over.
“I saw him motioning across the field and I’ve watched a lot of film,” Toki said of what set up his interception return. “I was expecting an out and up (from the Viking receiver), but I saw him coming back in, I read it, bit under it and took it to the house.”
Springville head coach Dave Valeti had effusive praise for Toki.
“He’s the secret of the state right now,” Valeti said. “He missed one game (because of injury) or he would be leading in a bunch of stats. He’s great both ways. He was great last year. I hope he gets some of the flowers he deserves. We’ll keep leaning on No. 6, he’s a good player.”
Springville came out strong and scored on the opening drive when Treyton Harris scooted to a 16-yard scoring run. After the Pheonix Marks extra point, Springville led 7-0. Then the game settled into more of a defensive quagmire with both teams surviving some miscues.
Pleasant Grove’s Drew Jensen blocked a punt, setting up the Vikings inside of Red Devil territory. As Pleasant Grove was driving for a possible game tying score, a mishandled shotgun snap led to a turnover and the end of the Viking threat.
Toward the end of the first half, Springville was able to get a 29-yard field goal by Marks to take a 10-0 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter it looked like Springville’s Sam Nadauld would get his pick six before Toki as he stepped in front of a Viking defender then raced 100 yards for an apparent score. But during the return, there was a block-in-the-back penalty and the Red Devils took over at their 40-yard line. The ensuing drive stalled out but Marks connected on a 38-yard field goal to extend Springville’s lead to 13-0, which just set up Toki’s heroics in the final stanza.
“The score of the game doesn’t show how close this game really was,” Valeti said. “They (Pleasant Grove) are really a good team and it was a dogfight. The defense was amazing all game long. We relied a lot on them in the first half and they made a few big plays in the second half.”
Springville’s defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage and freshman Brooks Johnson made a huge impact with a sack and had a number of pressures. Johnson’s defensive line mates Brigham Durfey, Tusi Togai and Pale Tuimavavae also had strong games. Harris and Nadauld also combined on a crucial tackle to stop the Vikings on a fourth down conversion and linebacker Cooper Baker added a fumble recovery as the Red Devils forced four Viking turnovers.
Ahead 27-0, Springville was able to substitute liberally and back-up quarterback Bradley Miller hooked up with Damian Tupou on a 24-yard score to make it 34-0.
Pleasant Grove was able to put a late touchdown on the board when Corbin Robbins scored on a 16-yard run and then plunged in on the two-point conversion.
Springville (3-2, 1-1) will host Payson (3-2, 1-1) next week while Pleasant Grove (3-2, 1-1) hopes to rebound as they visit Spanish Fork (3-2, 1-1). Both games will be Friday at 7 p.m.
SPRINGVILLE 34, PLEASANT GROVE 8
Springville 7 3 3 21 — 34
Pleasant Grove 0 0 0 8 — 8
S-Harris 16 run (Marks kick)
S-Marks 29 FG
S-Marks 38 FG
S-Toki 18 pass from Burton (Toki pass from Burton)
S-Toki 91 interception return (kick failed)
S-Tupou 24 pass from Miller (Marks kick)
PG-Robbins 16 run (Robbins run)
