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AROUND THE BEEHIVE — Week 1 of the Utah high school football season wasn't just about introducing a new squad to the 2021 season.
In some cases, it also involved introducing a new player to the state's competition.
Such was the case for Corner Canyon quarterback Devin Brown. The 6-foot-3, 189-pound signal caller transferred to the three-time defending champions on Charger Way in Draper, where he spent all summer competing with sophomore quarterback Isaac Wilson for the starting job.
Brown earned it for Week 1, and made the most of his minutes.
Here are five players who had breakout performances in Week 1 of the 2021 season, including the Southern California commit and Corner Canyon's latest in a long line of star quarterbacks.
SHEESH! 🎯 @dbrownqb33pic.twitter.com/xBBCyqGPiI
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) August 14, 2021
Corner Canyon 72, Farmington 21
Welcome to Utah high school football, Devin Brown.
The Arizona transfer quarterback threw for eight touchdowns in his first career start in the Beehive State as the top-ranked Chargers won their 41st consecutive game with a rout of Farmington. The first-half performance set a school record at Corner Canyon, and tied for third all-time in Utah High School Activities Association history.
It's the most since Taylorsville's Dane Leituala threw for eight touchdowns against Jordan on Sept. 9, 2016, and also ties a mark set by Jordan's Alex Hart against Taylorsville in 2009 and Jordan's Austin Kafentzis against Copper Hills in 2012 — another quarterback coached by Corner Canyon head coach Eric Kjar.
Cody Hagen caught four touchdown passes for Corner Canyon, and Jett Meine added three for the three-time defending champion Chargers, who picked up right where they left off in 2020.
Mountain Ridge 37, Olympus 19
Cade Uluave had a season-opening 100-yard kick return for a touchdown on his first touch of the 2021 season, then added two more rushing touchdowns as the Sentinels pulled away from Olympus for the third-year program's second-straight win over the Titans.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound three-star linebacker with offers from Utah State and Weber State can also apparently squat 500 pounds, according to video on his Twitter account.
Great win with the team last night!! Glad to start the season off with a BANG!!! @mtridge_FBpic.twitter.com/UZtm7fy5AU
— Cade Uluave (@CadeUluave) August 14, 2021
Brighton 49, Pleasant Grove 24
New starter Jackson Johnson debuted with four touchdown strikes as the Bengals pulled away from the Vikings, and teammate Lander Barton — the top uncommitted recruit in the state — returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown to break a 14-14 tie in the second quarter.
Alta 34, Layton 27
BYU commit Maika Kaufusi caught three touchdown passes in the second quarter, including hauls of 50 and 80 yards, to lead the Hawks past the Lancers.
Sky View 21, Herriman 10
Garrett Zollinger threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the 4A Bobcats extended their winning streak to 26 in a row with a win over 6A Herriman.
Sky View hasn't lost since an 18-10 loss at Skyridge, Aug. 23, 2019.
Honorable mention: Bingham 55, Weber 35
The Miners scored seven of their eight touchdowns on the ground, including three from quarterback Dallen Martinez that included a 78-yard blitz on the first play of the game.
Bingham jumped out to a 35-7 lead midway through the second quarter, but Utah commit Aisea Moa's 25-yard pick-six capped a 21-0 spurt that pulled the Warriors within a score by halftime. That's when Martinez helped finished off Weber with two of the next three touchdowns during a 21-0 blitz, including an 8-yard run to put the game away with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter.
