Lone Peak Grinds Out Win Over American Fork To Claim 6A State Title

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In a game where both teams played well enough to win, it was Lone Peak who took advantage of American Fork’s miscues to win the 6A state championship, 34-29.

In the loss, American Fork quarterback Boone Abbott threw for 519 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Cavemen, the special teams and opportunistic defense of Lone Peak won the day and gave the Knights the title.

“Our defense did a great job containing Boone, he got tons of pressure on him,” said Lone Peak quarterback Braden Siri. “It was a great team effort.”

Lone Peak Made Plays When They Needed To

Lone Peak took a 16-10 halftime lead thanks to a pair of miscues by American Fork. A Cavemen fumble in the middle of the field towards the end of the first quarter led to the Knights’ first score, a 38 yard pass from Braden Siri to Trajan Hansen.

American Fork responded in the second quarter with a connection from their star duo, Boone and wide receiver Chase Roberts. The two combined for a thunderous 66-yard score to knot the score up at 7-all.

Unfortunately for American Fork, disaster struck again a few minutes later. Backed up near their own end zone, the Cavemen threw an interception that went back 15 yards to the house to put the Knights up again. After a failed point after attempt the score stood at 13-7.

The teams then exchanged field goals to bring a 16-10 advantage for Lone Peak into the halftime break.

In the second half, the lead switched hands quickly.

American Fork marched downfield thanks to more deep strikes from Abbott to Roberts. However, it was another receiver, Devin Downing, who hauled in the 12-yard TD to put the Cavemen up 17-16.

The lead didn’t last long. On the ensuing kickoff, Nathan Richie ran it all the way back to recapture the lead for Lone Peak. They went for two to make up for the missed PAT earlier in the game to take a 24-17 lead.

American Fork regrouped and kicked a 29-yard field to cut into the lead. The fourth quarter began with the Knights holding a 24-20 lead.

The final quarter started with a beast mode type of run by Masen Wake who somehow slipped through multiple American Fork defenders and found his way into the end zone for a 40-yard scamper.

Thought it was a great individual effort that virtually put the game out of reach for American Fork, Wake was humble postgame, insisting that his offensive line get the credit.

“They were just nasty,” said Wake. “They came out playing nasty. You guys need to be interviewing them.”

The teams exchanged field goals in the final minutes of the fourth before Boone and Roberts connected one last time for a 4-yard touchdown with one second remaining. But when that second ticked off on a Lone Peak kneel, the Knights sealed the victory.

More Passion Equals A Big Win

It was a bit of a redemption game for Lone Peak, who lost 51-21 to American Fork earlier in the year. This time, with all the marbles on the line, things were different.

“We tightened it up,” said Siri. “We had more passion today than we did the first time.”