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Skyridge receiver Malosi Shepard celebrates his touchdown reception with his teammates during Thursday's game versus Lehi. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Maple Mountain's Mosese Kolomalu runs the ball during a prep football game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Mother Nature was extra ferocious Friday night.

It appears the monsoon season has finally hit Utah. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms have finally arrived with some amount of regularity. And with these storms came lightning, which played havoc with the high school football, especially in Utah Valley where six games had to be postponed to another day.

Five of those games were finished Saturday and one concluded on Monday. Hey, what’s not to love about Monday Night Football for the preps!

Salem Hills head coach Jeff Higginson said he was glad to be playing at home as his Skyhawks prevailed over Timpanogos 20-13 after the game was tied 6-6 at half.

“They would have had to start early this morning,” Higginson said. “It’s a lot easier when you’re home. You have a little later timeline. You try to stay in the same routine in a game like this but it’s still hard to keep everyone together.”

This particular contest was resumed at 10 a.m. Saturday while Spanish Fork finished its game with Pleasant Grove at noon. That one was a barn burner with Spanish Fork winning 28-24 when quarterback Hawkins Rasmussen scored on a 1-yard run with just 1:04 left in the final stanza.

Timpview, playing Maple Mountain at home, went with the later start of 4 p.m. The T-Birds led just 21-13 at halftime but then blitzed the Golden Eagles with 35 unanswered second half points to win 56-13.

There were certainly a variety of factors in determining when a postponed game would conclude including simply being able to put an officiating crew together. Many of these referees also work youth and freshman football leagues where quite honestly the money is better.

One other game outside the valley finished up Monday night as Monticello and Whitehorse concluded their game that was originally scheduled Saturday with Monticello winning 48-12.

The Monday Night finish between Park City and Provo was contentious with Provo wanting to resume on Saturday while Park pushed for Monday. Word was a coin toss determined when the game was finally resumed and the Miners won that and the game 22-21.

How do you spend a lightning delay?

In two of the past six weeks games across Utah Valley have seen lightning delays. But in Week 6, the delays were so long the games had to be postponed to another day.

At Salem Hills, which I’m sure was typical of other venues, the first thing is to get the players off the field and the fans out of the stands, which are metal and highly conductive. The school was opened up for spectators but many sought refuge in their cars. In Week 2 when this happened, a good share of the crowd left and never came back to watch the game finish.

As for this cub reporter, I actually took a drive. Lightning delays are at least 30 minutes and when there aren’t any lightning strikes for that time duration within ten miles of the venue, play can resume. But Friday’s lightning wasn’t going to quit for a while so I knew I had ample time to go on a venture.

I actually enjoy a good lightning show so I drove west from Salem to the Lake Mountain area getting away from the city lights. And it was quite the spectacle to see West Mountain get lit up and lightning striking the radio towers and other steel structures on its top. In my 61 years, it was one of the most amazing electric storms I’ve ever witnessed.

Change of scenery going well

Players seem to change schools a lot more these days versus yesteryear and certainly Cash Hollingshead moving to Salem Hills from Lehi was one of the more high profile ones that occurred in Utah prep football this season.

Hollingshead is a senior quarterback who has committed to play for Iowa State next season. The Skyhawk signal caller has made a lot of jaw-dropping plays with both his arm and his legs leading Salem Hills to a 4-2 overall record and 2-1 in 4A Region 8.

This isn’t a case of a player jumping ship because of lack of playing time or to join what is obviously a better program. Lehi has been one of the top 6A teams in recent years. It wasn’t a transfer but a full family move which Hollingshead described as good for the entire family.

“My family loves it. That’s really why we came down here,” Hollinshead said. “I’ve got sisters that are just loving high school more here than there. So it was good for the family and that’s why we came here.”

Hollingshead said the team and community have been supportive and “welcomed him with open arms.”

Sparkling special teams play

Though Lehi has split its last two games the punt and kickoff return teams have shined. Hendrix Cluff returned two punts to paydirt as Lehi beat Weber 28-14 and Cam Wren took a kickoff return 85 yards to the house though Lehi fell to Skyridge 28-20.

Big Game of the Week

A key battle in 6A Region 3 has American Fork (5-1, 0-0) visiting Lone Peak (3-3, 0-1) in a Thursday kickoff. This is really a must-win for Lone Peak while this contest will serve as a good barometer on where American Fork fits into the 6A title chase conversation.

Another Big Game of the Week

Skyridge (5-1, 1-0) gets its crack at the defending 6A champs hosting Corner Canyon (5-1, 1-0) Friday. The Falcons will need to play better than what they did against Lehi last week and shore up the special teams to have any hope to beat the Chargers.

Yet Another Big Game of the Week

Orem (3-2, 2-0) had a bye last week and should be well rested for its 5A Region 7 showdown with Timpview (3-3, 2-0). Timpview will need maximum effort to dethrone the defending 5A champs but will have the home crowd behind them.

Extra Points

Cottonwood’s misery continued but the Colts did manage to kick a field goal in a blowout loss to Juan Diego 48-3. The Colts have lost 24 straight games dating back to the 2024 season and have been outscored this year 335-3. … East scratched its first points of the season though the Leopards still fell to Murray 38-21. … Ridgeline won its 20th straight contest defeating Deseret Peak 55-7. … As for Deseret Peak the Golden Eagles are still looking for their first win in program history as they have lost 16 straight. New school Deer Creek is in a similar boat being 0-6 thus far. … South Summit decided to forfeit its game against Layton Christian and the Eagles were credited with a 2-0 win to move to 6-0 on the year. Layton Christian will actually visit Pleasant Grove this upcoming week. … Timpview scored the most points in 11-man football games this past week when it blew out Maple Mountain 56-13. Water Canyon scored the most overall beating Monument Valley 60-12 in 8-man football. … Besides the six games in Utah Valley that were postponed due to excessive lightning delays, two other games had to finish Saturday as Juab beat host Carbon 55-7 and Morgan shut out Union in Roosevelt 48-0. … Utah County teams didn’t fare too well when they played outside the valley going 1-7. Still, county teams are a solid 31-23 overall.

Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Monday Night Heroes

Spanish Fork WR Nixon Warren

Warren caught six passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns including a 92-yarder in the fourth quarter. He also ran for 21 yards on five carries and threw two balls for 12 yards to lead the Dons to a come-from-behind 28-24 win over Pleasant Grove.

Spanish Fork QB Hawkin Rasmussen

Rasmussen was 15-for-24 for 263 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also ran in the go-ahead touchdown from one yard out as Spanish Fork topped Pleasant Grove 28-24.

Pleasant Grove RB Corbin Robbins

Robbins had 10 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns though the Vikings lost to Spanish Fork 28-24.

Timpview RB TJ Tuha

Tuha crossed the goal line three times including a 25-yard scamper as the Thunderbirds rolled to a 56-13 win over Maple Mountain.

Skyridge QB Jagger Fountaine

Fountaine was 22 of 35 for 342 yards with three touchdowns passing while running for another as the Falcons beat rival Lehi 28-20 Thursday night.

Skyridge WR Omarian Sanders

Sanders caught four balls for 104 yards and two TDs including a 54-yarder to help Skyridge get past rival Lehi 28-20.

American Fork K Jace Worthington

Worthington connected on three field goals, including two from 39 yards to help American Fork beat Davis 29-21.

American Fork QB Jake Matsen

Matsen was 25 for 43 and 314 yards with two touchdowns against one interception to help the Cavemen top Davis 29-21.

Timpanogos RB Zack McCann

McCann rushed the ball 16 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns while also having six catches for 50 yards though Timpanogos fell to Salem Hills 20-13.

Salem Hills DB Gordon Wilson

Wilson had five tackles, one interception and two passes defended as the Skyhawks held on for a 20-13 win over Timpanogos.

Mountain View QB Hyrum Stafford

Stafford passed for two touchdowns and ran for another as Mountain View mauled Deer Creek 49-10.

Mountain View WR Brigham Moses

Moses caught two touchdown passes of 31 and 27 yards respectively to help Mountain View ease to a 49-10 win over Deer Creek.

Springville WR Sam Nadauld

Nadauld returned a punt for a touchdown and caught two TD passes as a receiver as Springville shut out Payson 48-0.

Springville QB Beckett Burton

Burton was 9 of 16 for 187 yards and four touchdowns in the Red Devils’ win against Payson.

Provo WR/DB Brexton Hunter

Hunter had two touchdown catches though Provo lost to Park City 22-21.