3A high school football: Spanish Fork heartbroken after losing to Dixie but optimstic about the future

SALT LAKE CITY — An onslaught of long plays and untimely turnovers proved too much for Spanish Fork to overcome in its 49-21 loss to Dixie. The Dons were able to match the Flyers' punches thrown until being outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter.

Spanish Fork ended the third quarter with a 63-yard touchdown pass from Jason Money to Braxton Bennett to pull within seven points. Three plays later, however, Dixie star quarterback Blake Barney broke off a 63-yard touchdown run and the Flyers never looked back.

“We fought back to get it close in the third quarter, but all the credit goes to Barney and what he was able to do,” said Spanish Fork coach Kirk Chambers. “Their offense is very potent and it’s tough when you lose momentum like that.”

Despite giving its best effort, Spanish Fork was unable to mount much of a threat after Barney’s long scoring run. Sacks, untimely penalties and turnovers proved too much to overcome against a Dixie offense that was humming on all cylinders.

The Don players, coaches and fans were obviously heartbroken after the loss, but remained proud of the season they had. After enduring a coaching change prior to the season the players rallied around first-year coach Chambers and made a trip to the state finals for the first time in school history.

“I thought our team played hard and this doesn’t take away from that fact that we had a great season — one of the greatest seasons in Spanish Fork history,” Chambers said. “I’m proud of my team and they fought hard.”

Fighting particularly hard until the very end were seniors such as Money, Braxton Argyle and Colton Olsen, among many others.

“The seniors have been the heart and soul of this team,” Chambers said. “We’re certainly going to miss them and I’m very dejected that they didn’t get to leave (this program) with a win. It just really breaks my heart.”

After a successful playing career in the NFL, Chambers is poised and excited to build on this first season at Spanish Fork.

“We have a lot of pieces in place, but we got to do a lot of work to get back here,” Chambers said. “It just doesn’t happen. It may be my first year, but I realize how fortunate we are to be here and we’re going to have to fight to get back. We‘ve felt all the emotions (throughout the year) and I‘m just heartbroken. … But it‘s been a good ride.”

Email: bgurney@desnews.com

Twitter: @BrandonCGurney