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AMERICAN FORK — The American Fork Cavemen provided a show for the homecoming crowd Saturday night. The Cavemen used a complete team effort in a dominant 41-28 win over the Westlake Thunder.
Zach Katoa led American Fork by having over 200 yards combined running and receiving and an 18-yard rushing touchdown. In addition to being the starting running back, Katoa also plays defense, and Friday night he returned an interception from 5 yards out for a score, had a sack and recovered fumble late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
While American Fork was in control of this game for nearly its entirety, miscues by the Cavemen allowed the Thunder to hang around and make this game somewhat interesting.
That comeback never came for the Thunder, but they were able to keep it close early on with a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter by safety George Weisfuss to make it a 14-7 game. Westlake could have made this a very different game on its next defensive possession, but defensive back Marques Evans dropped a potential interception that hit him right in the chest.
With that break, American Fork was able to regroup with quarterback Tanner Smith completing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Coleson Worley to make it a 21-7 game.
For most of the night, Westlake was only able to move the ball when the play broke down. One of the most exciting plays of the night came when Thunder quarterback Chaz Ah You was forced out of the pocket and proceeded to throw across his body to find Timothy Forsyth, who then took the ball 59 yards for a touchdown. That score made it 21-14.
American Fork was able to extend its lead by scoring the last 10 points of the first half to take a 31-14 lead. The halftime deficit could have been even more as Fili Tuifua intercepted Ah You at the 5-yard line, but Smith threw multiple errant throws and American Fork had to settle for a 23-yard field goal.
Westlake had one last run when backup quarterback Anthony Condie completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Timothy Forsyth to make it 31-21. The Thunder defense was holding American Fork's offense in check on the next drive, but Smith and Katoa were able to extend the drive by each converting a third-and-10 on the ground. The Cavemen eventually scored on the drive on an 11-yard pass from Smith to Hunter Hall, giving American Fork a 38-21 lead.
Westlake put up a garbage time touchdown to make the score look respectable, but the game was clearly in American Fork's hands after the first quarter.
The Cavemen defensive line put pressure on the Thunder on nearly every play and forced three turnovers on the night. If not for American Fork's offense stalling deep in Westlake territory and settling for three field goals under 30 yards, this game could have seen a larger win for the Cavemen.
