This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

With momentum shifting to their side after a fumble recovery deep in their own territory, American Fork was driving — down 10-0 — with just a couple minutes left in the first half. A big pass here, a key quarterback scramble there and the Cavemen were about to score.

American Fork's Nate Heaps snagged a pass, cut upfield, and bounced off defenders. He reached the 2-yard line, straining for the goal line and … all of a sudden, the momentum swung right back.

In a game of impressive defense, it can be said that Simote Lokotui's last-ditch effort was the title-clincher for the Miners. By not giving up on the play, Lokotui was able to launch himself at the Cavemen tight end and jar the ball loose. As the ball bounced and rolled out the side of the end zone, the resulting touchback didn't just deprive AF of needed points, and didn't just give Bingham the ball — it became the game-defining play.

"You know what, that was huge because if they go in and score there, they go in with some momentum. But, you know what, they didn't get it," said Bingham coach Dave Peck. "We came up, we made a play and that's football."

Had Lokotui reacted a split-second later, the Cavemen likely would have been looking at a 10-7 deficit. Instead, the Miners took a shutout into the half.

Plays like this win championships. Plays like this can zap all the energy from a team.

"If not for the fumble before half, it would have been close," American Fork coach Aaron Behm said.

To the Cavemen's credit, they battled to the end, but their offensive confidence was just never the same.

All game long, the Miners' defense came through with timely stops. While Lokotui's hit may go down in Bingham lore, he said there was nothing special about his play.

"I just saw an opportunity, and I attacked it," Lokotui said. "I just hit him, and then that ball just came out."

He also was quick to share the credit, saying the defense as a whole did what it always strives to do.

"Our motto is, 'Leave no doubt.' That's what our defense did, left no doubt," Lokotui said.

And from that point on, the Miners left no doubt who the best team in 5A was.