Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
DRAPER — Thursday’s forecast for Corner Canyon’s Region 7 home opener against Timpview called for wind, showers, and plenty of bad weather at the Chargers’ home field.
Zach Wilson made sure Corner Canyon’s play didn’t reflect the team’s surroundings, though.
Wilson accounted for 292 yards of offense and three touchdowns, and the Charger defense shut out Timpview in three of four quarters, to help Corner Canyon roll to a 44-7 win Thursday night.
“They do that all the time, especially in practice. It’s not new for us,” Corner Canyon coach Eric Kjar said of his defense, who has scored a touchdown or safety in every game in 2017. “We expect that from our defense, but I’m proud of our defense. We just competed well across the board.”
Corner Canyon (5-0) wasn’t clicking on offense early with back-to-back punts to open the game. But Wilson found Colton Lawson for a 17-yard touchdown strike with 1:52 left in the first quarter, and the Charger defense took it from there.
Corner Canyon had three sacks in the first half, forcing the Thunderbirds (3-2) to punt on three of their five offensive possessions in a scoreless first half.
One of the other possessions also ended in Dalton Hagen’s 25-yard interception return for a touchdown. The senior cornerback jumped in front of a pass from Timpview quarterback Jake Biggs with 1:05 remaining in the first quarter en route to a 17-0 halftime lead for the home team.
“Our defense always comes through,” Wilson said. “Going up 14-0 that quick gave us all the momentum on our side. We knew our defense would hold them, and we just slowly put up points. Everything was going to go our way.”
Corner Canyon, ranked third in Class 5A by the Deseret News, held fourth-ranked Timpview off the scoreboard until Biggs hit Hunter Erickson with a 60-yard TD strike with 8:02 left in the third quarter.
But by then, the Chargers had stretched their lead to 31-7 on Wilson’s second TD strike to Lawson and a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Tai Gonzales, who finished with 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
“Athletically, he’s pretty special,” Kjar said of Wilson. “He runs the ball as well as he throws, and his run game today really made the difference.”
Wilson showed off the dual-threat ability that landed him a scholarship offer from Boise State, rushing for 138 yards on 28 carries as the Chargers relied on his scrambling to keep plays alive during the downpour. He also completed 12-of-20 passes for 154 yards and his two scores.
“It’s like family over there,” Wilson said of the Broncos. “I love the coaches, and everyone in the program is great. The family can come see me play still, so I’m excited.”
The Thunderbirds were also deflated by a severe injury to linebacker Chandler Sorenson. The senior was carried off the field via stretcher and transported to a nearby hospital via ambulance after colliding with a scrambling Wilson on a third-down option in the third quarter.
Corner Canyon’s Kjar said the 5-foot-9, 190-pound defender was moving his extremities as he was carried away, but his status was unknown at the end of the night.
“He was moving as he came off, but I think he had a concussion and some,” said Kjar, whose team and student section gave Sorenson a loud cheer as he exited the field. “I think he’ll be OK, though.”
Biggs completed 12-of-24 passes for 143 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and Ericsson caught four passes for 87 yards and his score to lead Timpview.
