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American Fork • Bronson Barron sold the play-action and patiently waited for Farrell Dean to create separation down the sideline. With the rain pouring down, Barron feathered a perfect strike from 35 yards out.

The touchdown afforded a two-score lead for the Cavemen against Lehi early in the second quarter. It was one of many highlight plays for the American Fork junior quarterback in a commanding 38-14 win on Friday.

Barron didn't hesitate in expressing how he took the individual matchup personally. Lehi quarterback Cammon Cooper, also a junior, is one the top-rated pocket passers in the nation, while Barron has slid under the radar.

Round 1 was a knockout punch for Barron.

"He's a good quarterback, but I wanted to prove to the state what I know I can do," Barron said.

Added Cavemen coach Aaron Behm: "That's certainly what he's capable of. He's shown flashes. He put a whole game together tonight. This is a big one for him because they've got a great quarterback. We feel like we've got a great quarterback, and he wanted to show what he can do."

No. 6 American Fork improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Region 4, with its only loss on the road in Illinois. Lehi, which entered ranked 18th in the state, fell to 4-2 and 1-1 in league play. The Pioneers started 3-1 last season before losing six straight in league play, and are trying to avoid a similar fate this year.

AF took a 7-0 lead on the first drive of the game after Christian Snowden rumbled in from 2 yards out. Then two consecutive Barron to Dean touchdown connections, including one on fourth-and-16 on the 24-yard line, sandwiched Cooper's 75-yard touchdown pass to Dallin Holker, which occurred on a blown coverage.

Barron threw his third touchdown pass in the first half to sophomore Chase Roberts for a 28-7 lead at intermission. American Fork then went to work behind its massive offensive line, draining the clock with a flurry of runs.

"Great win. Had a lot of new guys step up," Behm said. "Joe Hernandez, our D-coordinator, had the defense dialed in. One big play in the first half, one in the second, and we were able to hold them to 14. That's a real good offense."

Lehi entered as one of the top passing offenses in the state, and while the weather certainly complicated production, American Fork applied constant pressure with Davis Rasmussen, Jonah Leung-Wai and Josh Howden from the interior of the defense, which correlated with two interceptions in the secondary.

"They were able to force [Cooper] into earlier decisions [and] into third-and-long, which no offensive coordinator wants to be in," Behm said. "The weather helps a little bit, but I think our guys just executed."

tphibbs@sltrib.com Twitter: @trevorphibbs —

Storylines

R American Fork takes commanding lead in the first half and puts the second 24 minutes on cruise control.

• AF's Bronson Barron throws three first-half touchdown passes in a duel against Lehi's Cammon Cooper.

• The Cavemen snag two interceptions.