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Show SP Covering what matters most orts WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2007 • B1 Working Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News GRUDGE MATCH: Matt Gardner and Chris Olson gang up on AF's Jesse Roberts, forcing the fumble. SF and AF battled into overtime, with the Dons coming out on top, 22-16. Dons topple Cavemen, 22-16 in OT Chad Vest STAFF W R I T E R After a close loss at Lone Peak, SF had to regroup for any chance against the Region IV preseason favorite Cavemen, who were also ranked in the state's top ten before the game. The Mighty Dons were near perfect in all phases of the game, especially defense. Big plays, a solid run game and a golden right leg proved to be enough for the Dons to upset the Cavemen in OT by the score of 22-16. Spanish Fork set the tone early with a physical presence up front The Dons' lines played with passion and would not be pushed around. Following the opening kickoff, AF forced a Don punt and expected to move the ball at ease. However, on their second play from scrimmage, the Cavemen coughed up the ball. Safety Matt Gardner flew to the side-line, made a stick, and stripped the ball out on the way down. Dallin Naulu made a great hustle play to fall on the bah1. Inside Cavemen territory, SF capitalized when Alan Measom split the uprights with a 37-yard field goal to give the Dons an early 3-0 lead. -• The red-and gray's third possession didn't look too promising. AF began to stuff the run and Lewis was sacked for a big loss, leaving the Dons with a third and long. However, on the ensuing play, Breck Lewis hooked up with wide-out Dallin Naulu for a 60-yard TD reception. The ball was juggled, but with great concentration, Naulu pulled it in and sprinted past two defenders to the goal line. Spanish went up 10-0 against their heavily favored opponent. Once again, the Don defense came away with another huge stop to force a punt. Spanish Fork began the next drive on its own 40-yard line. A couple of big runs gave the Dons two big first downs. The first was by the elusive Lewis as he ripped off a 20yard gain up the gut. One play later, Hamilton caught a swing pass and rumbled for 20 more down the sideline. American Fork's defense tightened up and forced the Dons to make a decision on fourth down. Coach Christensen elected to go for another long field goal as his senior kicker's leg appeared to be on fire. Coach was right and Measom was money. He knocked the pigskin through for a 40-yard field goal to increase the lead. SF's tenacious defense only allowed a few first downs in the first half to hold a 13-0 advantage at the break. American Fork received the kickoff and wasted no time marching down the field. A 65-yard pass play set up a two-yard TD run. A two-point conversion resulted on the PAT when the snap was mishandled by the Cavemen QB, but he outran defenders to the pylon, cutting the lead to five. ; AF defenders were revivedto start the third and smothered the Dons attack. Matt Gardner was forced to punt at midfield and booted a beautiful spiral which sailed out of bounds at the Cavemen four yard-line. American Fork then chewed More big runs by Lewis and Hamilton took the Dons inside the AF 40-yard line. But the Cavemen made a stand and forced yet another long field goal, this one from 47 yards out. Measom accepted the challenge and hammered it through to tie it at 16 all. With two minutes to go, American Fork drove to midfield, but the prevailing Don defense stuffed the Cavemen on fourth and short to force overtime. In OT, Lewis found tight end Jordunn Mattinson in the end zone. The PAT was missed, but the red and gray defense came through in the clutch when LB Kyle Weight forced a fumble, which the Dons recovered for the win. Tennis 2nd in Region Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News TEAMWORK: Members of the Region 4 championship golf team, pictured, top to bottom, are Tyler Duffin, Greg Money and Trevor Nielsen. Secret to Success The winning ways of the Spanish Fork golf team Chad Vest STAFF WRITER In the world of golf as in baseball, records are extremely difficult to break. Spanish Fork golfers are making it nearly impossible. Dating back to 1994 they have won an amazing 14 consecutive region championships. After the '06 title, where they won by a commanding 88 strokes over PG, the Red and Gray broke the state record with 13 straight wins. If this trend keeps up, don't be surprised if Sports Illustrated makes a visit to Spanish Fork High School. See GOLF • B2 The Lady Dons tennis team competed at the region tournament Sept. 27-28. The Dons came away with two region champs and the number-two spot in region behind Lone Peak. For the second year in a row, Rachel Reid is region champ, this year at #1 Singles. The third seed going into the tournament, Reid beat Jessica Rowley from Lehi, 6-0 6-0. Against Rachel Clarke from Timpanogos, to whom she had lost to both times in the regular season, Reid won, 6-3 6-4. She went on to then beat Lindsey Bonne from Lone Peak 6-1 6-4 to win the region championship. She will go into state with a #1 seed. Kelley Argyle at #2 Singles is also a region champ. She had a by in the first round after not losing a match all year. She beat Jordan Ricks, 5-7 6-3 6-3, and then beat Heather Jackman in the finals, 6-2 7-6. She will go into state with a #1 seed. praquel Burnett at #3 singles won her first match 6-2 6-2 against Shydie Norton of AF. She lost her next two matches against Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove, and will go into state with a #4 seed. Danielle Jones/ Alexandra Argyle at #1 Doubles won their first match against AF 6-0 6-2. They beat the #2 seed from Timpanogs, 6-2 6-3, but lost in the finals to Lone Peak 6-0 6-3. They will go into state with a #2 seed. Pam McConnell/Lea Greiling at #2 Doubles won their first match against Lehi, 6-0 6-2. They lost to the #1 seed, Lone Peak, 6-1 6-4, and then beat the #2 seed from Timpanogos, 6-2 6-3. They will go in as the #3 seed at state. Coach Scott Dunn summed up the girls' performance at the region tourney. "We played really well with out one of our top players injured and out for the year," he said. "With her we win the region going away." The state tournament will be at Liberty Park Oct. 4-6. Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News TOP SEED: Rachel Reid won the Region 4 tournament in first singles and enters the state tourney as a # 1 seed. i |