Simple Formula Spilling into an Array

While trying to set up a simple IF statement with an AVERAGE function, I am getting results spilling out into an array over a number of cells below the formula. Specifically, I get a set of cells starting with the one with the formula and going down a coulumn to equal the number of cells I specified in the formula, surrou ded by a light blue border along the outside. An example of my formula is below:

=IF(C14:C17<>"",AVERAGE(C14:C17),"")

As this is being used as part of a form I am making, there are no values in any cell surrounding the formula except the cell to its left being a row label (just says "Average"). And AVERAGE function should also only provide one solution as well. I cannot figure out what Excel is trying to do or how to correct it.

Does anyone have a similar issue with this happening? I am curious if this is a new example of an update breaking something in Excel it shouldn't have. Also, is there a solution I can try? I tried the "@" addition, but that didn't work as intended.

Any help would be most helpful.