Historic win vaults Corner Canyon to a top-10 national ranking
Sep 10, 2024 12:30PM ● By Catherine Garrett
Twenty-five Corner Canyon High seniors are back to help the Chargers defend its 6A state title this season. (Photo courtesy A Strong Photography)
For the past several years, the Corner Canyon High football program has been establishing its dominance in Utah with four state titles and two runner-up finishes in the last six seasons. On Aug. 22, the Chargers made sure that the country is also taking notice at any even higher level with a 35-34 win over defending national champion IMG Academy (Florida). And, when national rankings were released the following week, Corner Canyon was recognized as anywhere from sixth to ninth depending on the poll.
"We just kept telling our kids, believe in yourselves," head coach Eric Kjar said of the biggest win in program history.
The game was all tied at 7 after the first quarter when the Chargers answered an IMG touchdown with one of their own—a 45-yard touchdown reception for junior wide receiver Kai Meza from four-star junior quarterback Helaman Casuga. Corner Canyon gave up three touchdowns in the second quarter while scoring just once on a 33-yard strike from Casuga to five-star senior wideout Jerome Myles to find themselves down 28-14 at the half.
With an emphasis on more assignment-sound defense after a halftime pep talk from defensive coordinator Cody Gardner, Corner Canyon responded with a near shutout over the game’s next 30 minutes while the offense put up three scores and took a 35-28 lead. With under two minutes left, IMG scored a TD and head coach Bill Miller elected to go for a two-point conversion which senior free safety Brock White stuffed near the goal line, giving the Chargers a one-point win.
Casuga threw for over 300 yards and four TDs and ran another score in from one yard out. Three of those through the air were to Myles, including a one-handed 25-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter to tie things up, as part of his five catches for 125 yards outing. On the defensive side, junior outside linebacker Dustin Otuafi recorded 13 tackles while White and sophomore linebacker Diesel Dart had 10 each.
“Our kids just kicked butt, especially in the second half,” Kjar said.
In its first game of the season Aug. 16, Corner Canyon senior running back Bryton Brady took the opening handoff from Casuga 75 yards to the end zone in a 70-42 win over American Fork. Senior wide receiver Chryshaun Lee had three touchdown receptions while Meza, junior Bronson Evans and senior lineman Zion Finau also scored.
The defending 6A state champion Chargers are also being led this year by key returners in senior offensive tackle Paxton Naegle, senior offensive guard Kaydon Williams, senior center Nai Filivao, junior offensive lineman Esun Tafu, senior wide receiver Drew Whatcott, senior cornerback Keaton Adamson, senior defensive back Seth Carlson and senior linebacker Jayden Talauega.
Other newcomers who are expected contributors are sophomore offensive tackle Jackson West, junior offensive tackle William Chandler, junior wide receiver Blake Ames, junior running back Weston Briggs, junior middle linebacker Mason Wood, senior defensive back David Conan, junior free safety Mason Hamilton, senior free safety Brendan Peavley, junior outside linebacker Jaxon Evans, junior outside linebacker Tate Patterson, senior defensive tackle Nathan Holladay, junior defensive end Jayden Pearce, senior defensive end Eli Paynter and senior defensive back McKay Wells.
Also on the CCHS squad this fall are seniors Jordan Barlow, Mason Brady, Kingston Cooper, Teagan Johnson, Aedan Marr, Xavier Shaefer, Dallon Stokes and Preston Whatcott; juniors Tanner Adamson, Jaden Allen, Cole Bonham, Eli Borg, Tinau Fiaui, Ryan Harkness, Jabez Haungatau, Lucas Jackson, Rhett King, Deken Knowles, Jase Kozlowski, Micah Larkins, Bridger Matthews, Solomone Nau, Davis Nelson, Scottie Pepper, Alapati Pili, Jake Roe, Luis Sanchez, Kaigan Solberg and Drew Towner; sophomores Zach Adamson, Ethan Alejo, Mason Ames, Tui Angilau, Hudson Armstrong, Jackson Boswell, James Bowman, Dallin Bradshaw, Manase Brown, Carson Burnett, Jackson Carruth, Mateo Castro, Braxton Crawford, Pierson DeGracie, James Dowland, Kampton Dutton, Owen England, Will England, Breven Ewing, Lisiate Fevaleaki, Luke Hale, Josh Harris, Rylan Hughes, Carter Kjar, Dylan Macievic, Daegan Mason, Axyl Meine, George Neibaur, Alex Orr, Marshall Ostler, Eddie Otuafi, Isaac Otuafi, Blake Parkinson, Jaxon Pehrson, Chase Peterson, Cale Rashid, Jack Rasmussen, Parker Reading, Chase Richards, Crue Rugg, Omarion Sanders, William Tenney, Fui Vakapuna, Dayton Vance, Wyatt Warner, Landon Welling and Cameron Wade; and freshman Bridger Young.
(After press deadline) Corner Canyon was upset by third-ranked Lone Peak and is also scheduled to face Farmington and Skyridge before Region 2 play begins. λ