SALT LAKE CITY — For the first time in 52 years, American Fork High School was in the state championship football game but lost to top-ranked Bingham 20-3 on Friday.
Despite the loss, the highly touted American Fork marching band played on. But the performance was unlike any of its others.
As the team played, the school's band was right there as usual cheering them on, but this time with instruments students were not used to playing.
The band is scheduled to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade next week and had put all of its instruments on a semitrailer Wednesday. The truck was somewhere between Utah and New York City at gametime.
"We had to ask Lone Peak to borrow their drums and had to ask the kids to find extra spare horns around their houses or their friends or their neighbors so we could come play for the football team," explained American Fork band member Skyler Carter.
And even though the game did not go American Fork's way, the band was still proud of the team.
"It's great to be in the band. It is great to be in a school that has such a great sports program,” said Tyler Bigler.
The band is expected to leave early Monday morning for New York City.
— Jasen Lee