Prep Rally: Goal-line play in American Fork-Lone Peak game a classic
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- Lone Peak receiver Cash Taiese celebrates his last-minute game-winning touchdown versus Lone Peak. September 24, 2026
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- 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.
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- Timpview’s Tj Tuha runs the ball in the second half of a 5A high school football game against Orem Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Provo.
The ending of the American Fork-Lone Peak game has been the most talked about moment in prep football in the Beehive State this year.
In a game shown on the KJZZ Thursday Night Rivals broadcast, Lone trailed 28-24 and had the ball on American Fork’s 30-yard line with time for one more play. Needing a touchdown, the Knights’ Marshall Durfey threw toward the end zone where receiver Jaxon Cloward caught it and fell backwards. His body hit the end zone pylon but the officials ruled that the ball, however, didn’t go over the goal line but was just fractions short. The old proverb that “football is a game of inches” never rang truer.
The KJZZ commentators all felt it was a touchdown and indeed it was a gutty call by the officials to rule otherwise. It would have been a lot easier for them to say touchdown as Cloward definitely fell onto the pylon. I personally know the official that made the call and he’s one of the best in the business. Also, keep in mind high school officials, even when the games are televised, don’t have replay to confirm or overturn calls. And the one angle KJZZ showed didn’t clarify much.
The play definitely stirred up a social media frenzy, and as one might expect, half of the people credit the officials for making the right call and the other half thought Lone Peak got hosed.
As Daily Herald reporter Brandon Gurney pointed out in his article, both fans rushed the field thinking their team was victorious. Before the final play, KJZZ showed American Fork students gathering on the track expecting the inevitable. But when Cloward made the catch Lone Peak’s students then rushed the field thinking their team had pulled off the miracle.
The Knight faithful fully expected that the officials would confer and change their initial call. But they didn’t. Students from both schools were trash talking but cooler heads prevailed undoubtedly with the help of school administrators and other security. The Lone Peak coaching staff vehemently protested but the officials stood firm. In the end, the players and coaches from both schools showed class and shook hands. American Fork stayed undefeated in 6A Region 3 play while Lone Peak fell to 0-2.
On Friday I was in a phone conversation with former Daily Herald Sports Editor, now Managing Editor, Jared Lloyd and we talked about the play and the game. Lloyd aptly pointed out that no athletic contest comes down to just one play and Lone Peak still had plenty of other chances to win the game. As both teams will undoubtedly make the 6A playoffs, words from my father Dennis Preece, a Hall of Fame wrestling coach, also came to mind.
“It’ll all come out in the wash.”
Skyridge stuns Corner Canyon
The Falcons pulled off their biggest win of the season by beating Corner Canyon 37-27. Skyridge jumped out to a 27-0 lead thanks mostly to their defense that had provided two interception returns for touchdowns. The first pick six was a 31-yarder by Jackson Horsley then Ethan Schriever added an 83-yarder.
Beckham Bennett ran for two scores including a 48-yard romp with 1:49 left in the final stanza that effectively put the game out of reach. Britton Wall and Cam Wren added touchdown receptions with Wren’s being 57 yards as the Falcons hung on.
Lehi gives Herriman its first loss
Lehi is coming on strong. The Pioneers did lose to rival Skyridge in its league opener but played well. And that quality of performance continued as Lehi took down previously unbeaten Herriman 22-20. The difference was ultimately a safety the Pioneers secured early in the game. Lehi jumped out to a 12-0 lead as Zeke Clements hauled in a 5-yard scoring pass from Briggs Jensen and Finn McBride connected on a 21-yard field goal.
Bruin Crazies
My favorite student fan base comes from Mountain View because no matter how their football team is doing, they are loyal and spirited. What I particularly like about them is that they generally refrained from those obnoxious cheers of “why so quiet” when their team does something good and “you can’t do that” when the officials penalize the other team. These chants are about as tiresome as hearing “Mashed Potato” or “Baba-booey” during a golf broadcast.
Scheduling quirk
Westlake’s 15-9 win over Copper Hills was the beginning of four straight road games for the Thunder. Westlake only scheduled four home games total in 2026.
Big Game of the Week
With just five teams in its league and all of them being very good, every game in 6A Region 3 is huge. Lehi is 0-1 in league action but are coming off a great non-region 22-20 win over Herriman. Now the Pioneers travel to American Fork, which is coming off a huge win of its own over rival Lone Peak 28-24. American Fork can’t afford to overlook the Pioneers because they have games with Corner Canyon and Skyridge to end the season. And Lehi would definitely like to stay in the hunt in the Region 3 gridiron wars.
Another Big Game of the Week
Staying in Region 3, Skyridge visits Lone Peak. The Falcons are 6-1 having won six straight. Lone Peak is 3-4 and 0-2 in league play but is obviously better than its record. Skyridge would love to get some revenge as the Knights knocked them off in the 6A semifinals last season.
Yet Another Big Game of the Week
At 5-2 and 3-1 in 5A Region 7 play, it would be hard to call Springville the underdog. But that’s what the Red Devils will be when they host Timpview (3-4, 2-1). Timpview lost a close one last week to Orem 17-14 while Orem beat Springville 42-14 a few games back. Though Orem has a stranglehold on the league title, this game will still have important ramifications in the RPI and ultimately seeding at the 5A state tournament.
Extra points
Two teams fell from the rankings of undefeated and both these losses came at the hands of Utah County teams. Lehi downed Herriman 22-20 and Pleasant Grove took down Layton Christian 23-15. Layton Christian is normally 2A in its other sports but the private school plays an independent schedule. The Eagles will actually host Payson this week. … Only four teams (4A Hurricane and Ridgeline, 5A West and 6A Mountain Ridge) remained unblemished. … West beat Taylorsville 71-7 and that was actually the halftime score. West scored via a kickoff return, two interception returns and a fumble return to lead 57-7 after the end of the first quarter. Taylorsville scored on a kickoff return of its own to knot the score 7-7 to only see West score 64 unanswered points. … Cottonwood got crushed by Skyline 56-0 and the Colts have now lost 25 straight and still haven’t scored a touchdown this season. … Deseret Peak, losers of 17 straight, and 0-7 Deer Creek, are still seeking their first wins in school history. … Ridgeline won its 21st straight game defeating Sky View 41-3. … Water Canyon scored the most points this past week defeating St. Joseph 94-61 in 8-man football. The 61 points scored by St. Joseph is the most points scored by a losing side this season. And it’s the second straight week, Water Canyon led the state in scoring. … Utah County teams were 6-2 in games against teams outside the valley and now stand at 37-25 overall.
Thursday and Friday Night Heroes
Skyridge RB Beckham Bennett
Bennett rushed for 109 yards on just 13 carries for an 8.4 yards per carry. He also scored two touchdowns as the Falcons upset Corner Canyon 37-27.
Pleasant Grove K Ben Lyman
Lyman kicked three field goals and two extra points as the Vikings topped previously unbeaten Layton Christian 23-15.
Pleasant Grove’s RB Tavake Wolfgramm
Wolfgramm had 123 all-purpose yards including a 75-yard kickoff return that helped set up a Viking score as Pleasant Grove topped Layton Christian 23-15.
Provo RB Justice Tela
Tela scored three touchdowns, two on the ground and one receiving, totaling 198 all-purpose yards (120 rushing, 40 receiving, 38 returns) on 10 touches to lead the Bulldogs to a 48-0 win over Wasatch.
Spanish Fork RB James Buck
Buck had 12 rushes for 70 yards and three touchdowns as Spanish Fork defeated Payson 49-21 Thursday night.
Spanish Fork WR Nixon Warren
Warren totaled 288 all-purpose yards (178 receiving, 55 on kick returns, 52 on punt returns). He had nine catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Warren also threw the ball five times for 21 yards as Spanish Fork blitzed Payson 49-21.
American Fork WR Cash Taiese
Taiese hauled in 10 passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns as American Fork defeated rival Lone Peak 28-24.
American Fork QB Jake Matsen
Matsen was 24 of 36 for 285 yards and four touchdowns leading his team to a 28-24 win over Lone Peak.
Lone Peak RB Ledger Holmes
Holmes caught three balls for 117 yards and had two rushes for 34 yards including a touchdown though Lone Peak fell short to American Fork 28-24.
Lone Peak LB Kingston Stroshine
Just a sophomore, Stroshine registered a total of 15 tackles, three for loss, and a sack in a 28-24 loss to American Fork.
Springville QB Becket Burton
Burton tossed two touchdowns and ran for another as the Red Devils cruised past Maple Mountain 32-6.
Payson QB Justice Taylor
Taylor had three touchdown passes in a 49-21 loss to Spanish Fork.
Mountain View QB Hyrum Stafford
Stafford ran for three scores, threw for one and even caught a TD pass of 80 yards though his team lost 40-31.
Mountain View WR Briggy Moses
Moses electrified the Bruin faithful with a 95-yard kickoff return and then he threw a pass to quarterback Hyrum Stafford that went 80 yards for a score.
Skyridge LB Sa Tanuvasa
Tanuvasa totaled 15 tackles (6 solo) and nabbed two interception in Skyridge’s win against Corner Canyon.
Orem WR Brooks Ross
Ross grabbed eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in Orem’s win against Timpview.
Springville RB/LB Treyton Harris
Harris had 14 tackles (10 solo, one for loss) and added 11 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown as well as one catch for 25 yards in Springville’s win against Maple Mountain.
ALA RB Mason Ober
Ober ran 28 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns as American Leadership Academy held off Providence Hall 34-28
