The Battle of the Forks

This game was one heck of a ride to watch. As Spanish Fork outlasted American Fork 19-13. Big plays and penalties were the theme of the evening and this was clear from the opening kick as AF returned it for a touchdown that could have set the tone for the entire game. This was not to be as it was called back on the first of many penalties on the night.

The Dons of SF drew first blood going up 6-0 in the first quarter but turnovers and penalties saw them squander the lead and allow 13 unanswered points. The Cavemen seemed to be in control of the game using there superior size to control the line of scrimmage and the clock.

Midway through the third quarter Cooper Beck intercepted an attempted bubble screen and ran it back for a pick six. The momentum swung on this play and reguvinated the Spanish Fork crowd.

This led me to wonder how AF would respond, there ground and pound approach had clearly started to wear down the Don's defense and time was still on there side in a tie ball game. So AF stuck with there strengths and pounded away. But then something happened, the Caveman D gave up the big play. The first SF offensive score came with great field position after a terrible punt back the first quarter. All of that staunch play went for not when they let Braxton Argyle break off a 53 yard scamper for a score with only a little over six minutes left.

Much to American Fork's credit they battle hard and embarked on last stitch effort when they got the ball with 1:28 left in the game and 60 yards of field in front of them. Jeremiah Evans orchestrated what appeared to be at least a game tieing touchdown drive only to have the pass and catch called back on a holding penalty. Evans kept his team composed in the final seconds as he managed to spike the ball with .9 seconds left on the clock. Making the last play all or nothing for the Cavemen. A delay of game penalty pushed them back five yards and an incomplete pass in the end zone capped off one of the most exciting high school games I have ever been at.

Honorable Mentions for Player of the Game:
Jeremiah Evans, QB, AF: He led two touchdown drives, capping one off himself. He would have been the player of the game if that last pass was caught to win the tie the game. His pick six pass didn't help either.

American Fork Cavemen defensive and offensive lines: They controlled most of this game. The defensive line gave up the one big play and the offensive line let the Cavemen control the clock. They would have won player of the game honors if this game had ended 13-6 or 20-6 like it looked like it was going to until Beck's took it back to the house.

Colton Olson, WR, SF: This young man had a whale of a game for a high school receiver catching 10 balls by my count. Having seen SF's first two games I'm sure AF was keyed on fellow wide out Cam Money who had dominated Park City and Springville the previous two weeks. He would have won player of the week if he hadn't fumbled the ball away twice.

Player of the Game/ Play of the game:
Cooper Beck, WR/DB, SF: His pick six changed the game and swung the momentum just enough to hold of AF. My hat is off to this young man on the play he made. From my perspective as football enthusiast he had studied film and new the WR screen was coming. He knew where to be and when to be there and he took advantage.

Random Thoughts of the Week:
My heart goes out to the young man who was called for holding on the called back touchdown pass. I'm sorry I don't recall his number. He had to have the biggest pit in his stomach when the ref made that call, which was a good one.... Why the heck does SF not have play-clocks at their field? I can think of three delay of game penalties. I could forgive only having one on the scoreboard itself and none on the other side but they don't even have one on the board! What is up with that? Oh and no timeout remaining indicators. I know coaches and refs can keep track of that in the head or piece of paper but it would be nice from a fan perspective.

Till next week.