Turnovers crush American Fork in championship loss, but coach is proud of program ‘built on love’

SALT LAKE CITY — Interceptions doomed American Fork in a blowout 49-14 championship loss to Corner Canyon.

After getting to the 6A championship last season and losing to Lone Peak 34-29, the Cavemen reached the title game once again, defeating Clearfield, Roy, Herriman and East in the playoffs to play for a championship.

American Fork ran into a brick wall in the Chargers. Corner Canyon’s defense stymied the Cavemen offense, holding them to just 14 points. It was the fewest points American Fork has scored since October 2016 when the Cavemen put up 10 points against Herriman.

American Fork’s offensive woes started late in the first quarter and didn’t let up for the rest of the night at Rice-Eccles Stadium. An interception by Luke Cahoon with 1:41 left in the first quarter was the first takeaway of the game, and the turnovers started rolling from there.

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A second quarter interception by Peyton Wilson seemed to breathe new life in American Fork, but on the ensuing drive, quarterback Maddux Madsen’s pass was tipped and intercepted. It led to another Corner Canyon touchdown.

The backbreaker happened in the closing minutes of the first half. Madsen was picked off again and the Chargers turned it into another touchdown to go into halftime up 28-7. 

“We got a couple stops in the first half, a fourth-down stop and a turnover, and that was great, that was what we were asking our defense to do. We just didn’t move the ball quite as well as we wanted to. Offensively, once we got the stop, it was turnovers,” American Fork head coach Aaron Behm said. 

Despite the loss, American Fork achieved something that few teams do — getting to the state championship game two years in a row.

“We’re proud of these kids because of who they are and what they’ve done as becoming great young men. Our message was it doesn’t matter if this has a one or a two on it — they’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do,” Behm said.

The senior class is leaving an example of work ethic that Behm hopes others learn from.

“This senior class is leaving a legacy getting back here two years in a row. I don’t think anyone felt we’d be here at this point six months ago. Those guys just worked, that’s why they’re here. Hopefully that’s a great example that our juniors and sophomores are paying attention to,” Behm said.

• Watch replay: Corner Canyon 49, American Fork 14

Devin Downing, a BYU commit, was a bright spot in the loss, catching the only touchdown pass of the game and leading the team in receiving yards with 85.

“Devin just comes and makes the most of every opportunity he gets. It was a great touchdown catch he had in the second half and then he just battled the rest of the half,” Behm said.

At the end of the day, Behm is proud of his program, which he says is “built on love.”

“The coaches love the teammates, the teammates love each other, we teach them to love the process, the challenge and each other and they buy into that,” Behm said.