High school football: Spanish Fork gets win over Salem Hills in thrilling high-scoring affair

Published: Aug 21, 2026, 11:18 p.m. MDT

Spanish Fork students rush the field and celebrate with their team after winning a high school football game against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

By Tommy Bailey

An early-season rivalry game pitted Spanish Fork against Salem Hills Friday night, and in a high scoring back and forth game, the Spanish Fork defense came up clutch in the final minutes as the Dons walked away with the 33-28 victory.

Spanish Fork was led by running back James Buck, who finished with four rushing touchdowns, including the go-ahead score from 24 yards out with six minutes left that put his team up for good.

That said, it still looked like Salem Hills might be able to pull out a dramatic win. The Skyhawk offense had the ball on the 5-yard line with 30 seconds left, but on a fourth down, the Dons came up with an interception in the end zone to seal the win.

After a heartbreaking loss in triple overtime last week to open its season, it was an excellent way to bounce back for the Dons.

“That was huge, obviously. We knew we had to make a play and fortunately, we did,” said Spanish Fork head coach Brock Condie. “I think, kind of going back to last week, coming up short, and then we knew that we would be in another situation where it was gonna come down to it.

“I feel like kind of going through what we did last week, prepared us for this game. Just proud of our guys for sticking in there and doing their assignment, doing their job and making one more play.”

Spanish Fork’s James Buck (29) charges down the field during a high school football game against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Kohen Frost (2) runs with the ball during a high school football game played against _Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s James Buck (29) is taken down by Salem Hills’ Peyton Higginson (4) during a high school football game at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Reggi Smith (7) puts out a stiff arm during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Joe Hughes (1) catches the ball with Spanish Fork’s Kohen Frost (2) closely defending during a high school football game at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s James Buck (29) runs the ball down field for a touchdown during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork head coach Brock Condie watches his team play during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills head coach Jeff Higginson (left) watches as his team attempts one final play to score touchdown and win a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork head coach Brock Condie (right) speaks to his assistant coaches during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Nixon Warren (8) runs with the ball during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills head coach Jeff Higginson looks to check the game clock during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s James Buck (29) runs with the ball during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork players celebrate their win after a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Reggi Smith (7) runs with the ball during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork players walk to the sideline as a sprinkler surprises everyone in attendance with a large stream of water during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork players line up for the national anthem during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

A referee flips a coin during a high school football game played by Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills players group up for the national anthem during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork takes the field during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Cash Hollingshead (2) passes the ball downfield during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s James Buck (29) runs the ball during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ LJ McBride (10) runs the ball down the sideline during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Hawkin Rasmussen (1) cuts up field during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Preston Jones (34) kicks the ball off during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Hawkin Rasmussen (1) throws the ball during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ CJ Sampson (45) catches the ball during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ LJ McBride (10) smiles behind his mouthpiece as his teammate Salem Hills’ Peyton Higginson (4) comes to celebrate with him in the end zone during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Nixon Warren (8) catches the ball against his helmet during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Kohen Frost (2) runs with the ball during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Cash Hollingshead (2) throws a lateral pass during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Peyton Higginson (4) drags a defender during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork head coach Brock Condie takes the field with his players Nixon Warren (8) and Lawson Shepherd (5) during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Ammon Giles (52) cools down with water during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills head coach Jeff Higginson calls a timeout during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Cash Hollingshead (2) throws the ball under pressure during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Logan Carrick (9) defends Spanish Fork’s Mason Snow (3) during a high school football game played at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Reggi Smith (7) shakes off a defender during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Salem Hills’ Reggi Smith (7) dives for the end zone but comes up just a few inches short during a high school football game played against Spanish Fork at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Captains from Spanish Fork make their way to center field for a coin toss during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Spanish Fork’s Kyler Olson (72) snaps the ball to his quarterback Hawkin Rasmussen (1) during a high school football game played against Salem Hills at Spanish Fork High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

The stands were packed to capacity with the fans on both sides going crazy and celebrating with every score. Condie expected nothing less from the community heading into this game.

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“I knew that the stands would be packed. In fact, I’ve been telling the boys all week that, ‘Hey, this is going to be an electric crowd in an awesome game experience,’ and it was.

“It was awesome. Salem is a great program and they’re going to do awesome this year and great coaches, obviously well-coached.”

Even though the season is still fresh and just getting started, Condie knows how big of a win this was for his program and especially his players.

“We’re just getting started,” he said. “We take things a week at a time. Obviously beating Salem is a big thing. It’s important for these boys. I mean, they’ve grown up neighbors and competed their whole lives. This was a great win, and now it certainly is on to the next.”

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