AMERICAN FORK — After making a run to the 5A state championship last season, American Fork High School is back strong. Though the Cavemen lost many key players, they are as determined as ever, and they proved that Friday night as they took down the Hunter Wolverines by a score of 20-7.
American Fork's defense was stellar. The Wolverines just could not get anything going all night and had no momentum throughout the game.
It was an all defensive effort from the get-go, neither team put up any points until there were three minutes left in the first quarter when American Fork striked first. Tanner Smith threw a beautiful 57-yard pass to a streaking Ashton Coleman.
The Cavemen took the lead early and never gave it up. As soon as Hunter got the ball back, it was taken away, thanks to Tyler Peterson recovering a Hunter fumble at the Wolverine's 26-yard line. That fumble led to an American Fork 15-yard field goal.
With seven minutes to go in the second quarter, the Wolverines forced their way back into the game by blocking a punt at the 33-yard line, scooping it up and diving into the end zone to cut the Cavemen lead to 3.
But right when things were starting to go in Hunter's favor, the Cavemen marched down the field, putting together a very nice drive and finishing it off with Nate Honey plowing in a 2-yard run to extend the lead to 10 going into the half.
The game was a fight in the trenches. Both teams tried to pound the ball and the line for both teams fought tooth and nail, and there was not much yardage gained either way for the competitors.
In the second half, Hunter was trying to claw its way back into the game. But the Cavemen defense would not allow it, forcing the team to punt over and over again.
In the third quarter, Ty Carlson of Hunter intercepted Tanner Smith at the 21-yard line, but that was short lived as the team was forced to punt later in the drive. The third quarter was scoreless, and American Fork still had a 17-7 edge.
To close the game, Hunter fought valiantly but they just could not score on this tough Caveman defense. American Fork ended up winning 20-7 after Jake Whitehead managed to tack on a 28-yard field goal to seal the deal.
American Fork (1-0) will go on the road to face Highland in Pocatello, Idaho, next week, as Hunter (0-1) will travel and face Cyprus High next weekend.
Sam is a junior at American Fork High School.