Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
HOLLADAY — The Spanish Fork football team celebrated as though it had just won the 5A state championship.
The Dons, who opened the 2024 season Friday with a come-from-behind 24-20 win over Olympus, jumped and cheered after the game clock ran out. They took photos on the sideline. They trafficked in the no-one-believes-in-us idea among each other.
"This year, we were a big underdog," Dons senior running back Kaden Vest said. "We were picked to lose. That's how we like it. We like to be counted out."
It stands to reason why Spanish Fork would be so jubilant about winning the first game of a long season. Olympus was ranked No. 11 in the preseason KSL.com 20+1 rankings and No. 10, according to MaxPreps.
Spanish Fork, meanwhile, ended last season on a five-game losing streak. And to make matters worse, they dropped their 2023 opener to the Titans by three touchdowns.
But the Dons did something Friday night they haven't done in a while: defend when it mattered.
Spanish Fork trailed 20-10 with 7:23 left remaining in the game. To that point, Olympus was having its way.
Although the Titans gave up a pick six to Spanish Fork in the opening quarter, they scored on most of their drives afterward. Dillon McAllister converted a 27-yard field goal, Luke Espersen threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Caden Lloyd, and McAllister made a 42-yard field goal before the Dons scored again.
Senior kicker Breakir Killpack made a 37-yard field goal to cut the Olympus lead to 3, but the Titans answered on the next drive with Espersen's 20-yard touchdown pass to Max Rice.
That's when things started to change.
Spanish Fork put together a drive that lasted 12 plays and nearly four minutes and ended with McKay Smith's 7-yard touchdown pass to Ammon Giles. That drive also included to two penalties for Olympus — a personal foul and a pass interference — that gave the Dons first downs and prime field position.
"Second half, we got a couple of breaks, and they had some bad breaks," Spanish Fork coach Dustin Smith said. "So the change in momentum and how teams responded to it was really the game today."
The Dons looked like they'd go for an onside kick, but instead sent it to the left of the field. Olympus grabbed the ball, but Spanish Fork forced a fumble and recovered it with 3:45 left and just 30 yards from the end zone.
Five plays later, Jacob Johnson, who put the Dons on the board with his previous pick six, gave his team the lead with a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
Olympus, however, still had a chance to win.
James Schlendorf returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the 41-yard line. Spanish Fork was later called for a pass interference penalty of its own, putting the Titans at the Dons' 19-yard line.
Espersen passed into the end zone with less than 30 seconds in the game, but Bronson Kalauli intercepted it, sealing the victory for Spanish Fork.
"The change is defense really has just been from top to bottom just a culture change," Smith said.
Amid the celebration, Vest said beating Olympus could pay huge dividends the rest of the season.
"I think it can really help us out," Vest said. "It's a big win; this is a big team. If we play like we played tonight, I think we can beat anybody."
