Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
AMERICAN FORK — There are few secrets with American Fork football’s high-octane offense by the final week of the 2018 season.
Most of the state knows about Chase Roberts, the BYU-committed wide receiver who has 1,512 yards and 20 touchdowns, the top receiver in Class 6A who would rank in the top-eight in Utah history for receiving yards in a single season.
Naturally, much of Roberts’ success can be attributed to his quarterback, Boone Abbott. The senior has thrown for 3,908 yards and 44 touchdowns, and ran for 391 yards and eight more scores in his senior season that will begin on the gridiron and end as a standout pitcher for the Cavemen baseball program.
But there’s another wide receiver who has been quietly earning accolades — and respect — as the Cavemen prepare for the 6A state championship game at 2:30 p.m. MT Friday against rival Lone Peak on live.ksl.com.
Junior wideout Devin Downing has 1,182 yards and 14 touchdowns, a remarkable season that often gets overlooked in the shadow of his more well-known teammates.
“Coming into the season, we knew what we had in Devin. We knew how teams were going to try to attack Chase — but what are they going to do when they see Devin?” American Fork coach Aaron Behm said. “It’s been fun to see because it’s hard to cover two guys who have good hands, run good routes, and use their speed.”
Rather than compete with each other, Roberts and Downing complement each other — making for a versatile 1-2 punch that has kept the Cavemen offense humming all year.
Off the field, the receiving duo are among the closest of friends, too. Always telling jokes, making each other laugh and being typical goofy high schoolers, Downing and Roberts have fed off each other’s success as much as any receiving tandem in the state.
“Chase is well known across the whole state, so teams will focus on him,” Downing said. “That leaves me a great opportunity to go out and make plays.
“When we’re both out there making plays, it’s hard to stop.”
The Cavemen (11-2) will likely be favorites when they kick off Friday at 2:30 p.m. MT at Rice-Eccles Stadium — not only for their record, but for their 51-21 win in the rivalry game back in September.
But that was a long time ago, Behm warns, and both teams have improved significantly since then.
For the Knights, that includes a stunning 17-14 upset of in-state power Bingham the week after losing at American Fork, a win that prompted a six-game winning streak at Lone Peak.
Make no mistake, Friday’s game will be a rivalry game and one of the most hotly-contested series in Utah County that newcomer Lone Peak leads 14-8.
“We had to wipe out that first game; it was almost two months ago,” Behm said. “We’ve improved, and they’ve improved.
“But the fact that it is a state championship game overshadows any of the rivalry stuff.
American Fork has other goals on its brain than just winning a rivalry contest, too. The Cavemen haven’t won a state title since back-to-back Class B titles in 1961 and 1962 under former coach Don Mower (you remember those wins, right?).
Finally adding hardware to the team’s dormant football trophy case has been at the forefront of everyone’s mind all season — from Behm to Abbott to Roberts and Downing.
And it all comes down to one game.
“It’s a dream come true,” Downing said. “I think about this every day, every second, really. I’m grateful for the game and for the opportunity.
“AF hasn’t won since 1962, and we have a chance to make some history and bring a title back.”
