by Daniel Olsen | This has been a season unlike any other, and the answer to whether anything can stop the electricity that is the Corner Canyon Chargers is a resounding no. Not even a global pandemic could stop what is now the second longest win streak in UHSAA history. They face a stiff challenge on Friday morning at Cedar Valley High School at 11 AM Mountain Time. Let’s take a look at the first of three football championships that will be played this weekend.
#1 Corner Canyon Chasing History:
The Chargers won yet another game over an opposing team. It’s getting to be as automatic as tying their shoes. They won a hard fought game over a pesky East team that would not be another victim to get completely embarrassed by the Jaxson Dart show. The Leopards defense did allow 45 points but that was the fewest points allowed since a 29-26 point thriller over Skyridge. They also put up a respectable 30 points of their own. Corner Canyon has now won 39 straight games and hope to reach the big 40 without going over the hill this weekend.
Some of the starters on the Corner Canyon team sound like they are coming out of a MaxPreps advertisement. There is Dart, the greatest name for a quarterbacks since Johnny Football. Manziel’s last name isn’t really football so the award actually goes to Dart. Then there’s Jackson Light, the 275 pound center who is committed to Oregon.
#2 Lone Peak looking to break history:
The Knights are used to winning championships but that is mostly in basketball. While the football version of Frank Jackson isn’t walking onto the field, John Henry Daley is as close as it gets for the Knights. He is the 10th highest rated recruit in the class of 2021 in Utah according to MaxPreps. He has a tall frame at 6 foot 4 and will likely bulk up on that 215 pound frame wherever he plays.
The Knights have beaten every team not named Corner Canyon this year which has earned them the second spot in the RPI in 6A. They are also getting some respect nationally. They may not be the 8th ranked team in the nation like Corner Canyon but 39th isn’t bad. Only two teams have come within a possession of Lone Peak in their 12 wins.
Prediction: While I fully expect this to be one of the biggest dogfights of the year for Corner Canyon, I still think their championship mentality powers them to a win. They haven’t lost since BYU quarterback and Heisman candidate Zach Wilson lost a heartbreaking 34-33 title game to Skyridge. Wilson hasn’t been shy about his support for the Chargers. He will be gunning the football just down the interstate this weekend when BYU takes on North Alabama. A third straight Corner Canyon championship might make him move with a little more pep in his step. Corner Canyon is on upset alert but to be honest, everyone is in the state championship regardless of division. These teams didn’t get here by default and Region 4 bragging rights are on the line. A similarly close score to the 2017 title game will occur and it’s one that lifelong Corner Canyon and Ute fan Zach Wilson is familiar with.
Final Score Pick: Corner Canyon 34 Lone Peak 31