POCATELLO — As the defending champs, the Highland Rams had a lot to live up to. The perfect 12-0 record. A preseason No. 1 ranking.

The Rams didn’t play their best game. The offense had to rely on short, quick plays and the defense gave up big scoring plays.

But when it was crunch time and Highland needed a stop, the Rams made a stop. Highland beat Utah’s American Fork 28-21 Saturday at Holt Arena in the final game of the Rocky Mountain Rumble.

Highland (1-0) won the turnover battle and got three touchdowns from an offense that features 10 new starters. But it’s only August, which means there’s lots of time to improve for head coach Gino Mariani.

“We’ve got a long road to go,” Mariani said. “But we beat a good team tonight. There’s no doubt about that.”

American Fork (1-1) was ranked No. 7 in the Deseret News top 25 5A poll that was released Aug. 24. The Cavemen marched to the state title game last season and brought back several key players from their 11-3, state runner-up campaign.

Senior quarterback Tanner Smith threw for 323 yards and American Fork’s defense recorded three sacks while routinely forcing Highland QB Connor Harding to scurry away from pressure.

But the Rams held a 21-14 lead early in the fourth, and it only got worse from there for the Cavemen. Aren Manu’s pick-six put the Rams up 28-14 with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. American Fork punted on its next possession and was running out of time.

The Cavemen stayed alive when Smith hit Nathan Honey for a 66-yard touchdown with 2:42 remaining in the fourth. Highland ran the ball three times and punted the ball back to American Fork with under two minutes left. Smith’s first pass of the drive was intercepted by Brittan Bell, and the Rams kneeled out the clock.

“We battled. That’s a good football team,” Mariani said. “They’re big, they’re physical. ... It was a battle all the way through.”

The teams played to a 14-14 tie at halftime and the stalemate lasted through the third quarter. An 11-play Highland drive was capped off by a 1-yard pass from Harding to Bowen Curtis on fourth and goal at the 1 to open the fourth quarter and give the Rams a 21-14 lead.

Highland’s defense intercepted Smith twice and came up with two sacks in the final 12 minutes to close out their 13th consecutive victory.

The Rams’ defensive front amassed six sacks Saturday. The front four has been lauded as one of the best in Idaho, and they showed why.

“We’ve had a lot of hype behind us so it was kind of a little bit of pressure on us,” said senior end/linebacker Hunter Eborn. “I think it made us play a little bit better.”

Eborn was part of four sacks, three in the second half. Sophomore tackle Tommy Togiai was in on four, and Wayne Kirby and Aisa Kelemete each had at least a partial sack. The front seven helped hold Cavemen running back Honey to 82 yards on 14 carries and forced a fumble on his first touch of the game.

“I’m glad I don’t have to block them every game,” Mariani said.

Harding, making his first start at quarterback, completed 22 of 30 passes for 191 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Many of his completions were quick out routes or check-downs, but the senior controlled the game despite a consistent heavy rush from American Fork’s defense.

“He’s getting there,” Mariani said. “He’s still got to survey the field a little bit better. But we’re going to get there. He made the plays he needed to.”

Kaden Buttars led the Rams’ rushing attack with 48 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. He also pulled in five catches for 43 yards, both team highs.

Honey led American Fork with 119 receiving yards on two receptions — both touchdowns.

Highland still has some fine-tuning and ironing out to do. That message was clear. But the Cavemen are one of the best teams the Rams will play this season, and they took care of business.

On to the Black and Blue Bowl next Friday.