KSL.com HS FB Top 20+1: Pair of top-5 teams post shutouts, and No. 1 almost did


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SALT LAKE CITY — Before Week 1 of the Utah high school football season, every team is undefeated and every defense has yet to give up a point.

Half of all teams in the state can say the former in Week 2. To say the latter takes a special team, though.

A few teams postured some seriously stout defensive performances, like Spanish Fork's 10-3 win over Cedar, Box Elder's 47-7 winer Kearns, and top-ranked Skyridge's 52-7 victory over Fremont.

But eight teams pitched a complete-game shutout in Week 1. That means eight teams that combined for as many points as the combined writers of this article, and you, the readership at home. The winning pitchers were:

  • Snow Canyon 41, Northridge 0
  • American Fork 48, Roy 0
  • Grand 50, Water Canyon 0
  • Carbon 3, Hillcrest 0
  • West 43, Clearfield 0
  • Mountain Crest 27, Hurricane 0
  • Lehi 48, Davis 0
  • Cyprus 24, Tooele 0

Let's re-rank the top 20 after those efforts:

1. Skyridge (1-0)

If last year's 11-2 run to the 6A state semifinals didn't impress you, then the Falcons' 52-7 rout at Fremont might. Utah State commit McCae Hillstead has been starting for seven years (it's really three), and looked like a poised veteran throwing for 232 yards and running for 47 more with two scores.

Home opener is Friday against East.

2. Corner Canyon (1-0)

How did four-star quarterback recruit Isaac Wilson — yes, that Wilson — perform in his first varsity start? Just threw for 450 yards and six touchdowns in a 45-7 win at Herriman.

It's easy with receivers like Tate Kjar (206 yards, two touchdowns) and Quinn Hale (112 yards, one touchdown) and a defense led by BYU commit Owen Borg (seven tackles, one interception).

Next week's trip to Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman (Nevada) will teach us if the Chargers can compete on a national stage.

3. Lehi (1-0)

The best team in 5A last year ... still looks like the best team in 5A, after Colorado State commit Jackson Brsea completed 21-of-23 passes for 343 yards with three touchdowns and another score in a rout of Davis.

More impressive might be the Pioneers' 48-0 shutout of the Darts, though.

The home of "Footloose" will take its Kevin Bacon on the road to face Salem Hills this week.

4. American Fork (1-0)

The post-Mad Dog Madsen era looks just fine after Cavemen quarterbacks Lincoln Jackson and Champion Edwards combined for 321 yards and three touchdowns, and Trey Roberts caught six passes for 127 yards and two scores in a 48-0 blanking of Roy.

5. Timpview (1-0)

Micah Beckstead ran for over 200 yards and two touchdowns, and Kerven Tua'one added another as the Thunderbirds made a statement with a 31-10 win over Lone Peak at Provo High's home-away-from-home while the school district finishes work on Timpview's new campus.

6. Bingham (1-0)

The twin turbines of Havea Fotu and Carson Sudbury each ran for three touchdowns as the Miners pounded Weber 42-14. Bingham will head to Nevada to face Bishop Manogue in the Reno area this week before returning home to host Corner Canyon.

7. Springville (1-0)

BYU quarterback commit Ryder Burton, who ran for two touchdowns, may want to bring along teammate Tevita Valeti, who ran for 256 yards and three scores in a 41-14 road win over Dixie. Or maybe he'll stick with a defense led by Dallin Johnson, Tyson Nafahu and Sifa Kolomalu that limited the Flyers to 27 yards on the ground a week before the home opener against Skyline.

8. Riverton (1-0)

Jake Meyers and Sam Woolley connected for two touchdowns, and the Silverwolves' defense held the lead for 11 minutes and 5 seconds after Riverton took a 27-25 lead to open the fourth quarter to hold off Syracuse.

Riverton’s Easton Hicks runs past the reach of Syracuse High’s Eason Craythorne during a varsity football game at Riverton High School in Riverton on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Riverton won 27-25.
Riverton’s Easton Hicks runs past the reach of Syracuse High’s Eason Craythorne during a varsity football game at Riverton High School in Riverton on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Riverton won 27-25. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

9. Lone Peak (0-1)

Kaden Hodson, who has about a month's experience of being the Knights' starting quarterback, looked better in the second half after Timpview posted a 21-0 lead, and finished with 149 yards and an interception while his defense held the Thunderbirds to 10 second-half points.

Lone Peak will have to get a lot better next week in traveling to California's Bishop Alemany, though.

10. Stansbury (1-0)

Is Stansbury the best team no one was talking about all summer? The Stallions certainly looked like it, getting 102 yards and two touchdowns from Utah commit Mateaki Helu and another 161 passing yards and four touchdowns from Ezra Harris in a 72-13 statement win over Pine View.

Welcome to the top 10, Stallions, whose 72 points set a program record against last year's 4A semifinalists.

"You've got to earn your way into that," Stansbury coach Eric Alder told the Deseret News.

11. Mountain Ridge (1-0)

Semisi Kinikini ran for 94 yards and two touchdowns, and Cal commit Cade Uluave added 74 yards and two scores as the Sentinels overturned a 21-7 deficit midway through the third quarter to edge Olympus 31-27.

12. Orem (1-0)

Cole Johnson flipped into the end zone with a 5-yard pass from Lance Reynolds, and Mack Hixson ran for two scores as the Tigers fended off East 22-21 in the season opener.

13. Syracuse (0-1)

Jake Hopkins threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in the Titans' late loss at Riverton but can get back to winning ways at home against Brighton.

14. West (1-0)

Isaiah SueSue was electric with three passing touchdowns and another rushing score in the Panthers' 43-0 shutout of Clearfield, but a whole new challenge comes next week at Mater Dei (California), followed by a visit to Utah County against American Fork.

15. Desert Hills (1-0)

Noah Fuailetolo threw for two touchdowns, and the Thunder looked like the team to beat in 4A after surviving host Brighton and a 90-minute weather delay 28-21 in a standalone game last Thursday night.

Desert Hills rolls into a home game with Cedar Valley on Friday.

16. East (0-1)

Sione Vallahi ran for two touchdowns in the Leopards' late loss at Orem, and things don't get any easier Friday at top-ranked Skyridge.

Tayven Mortensen (2) of Deseret Hills tries to intercept an incomplete pass thrown by the Brighton Bengals in Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022.
Tayven Mortensen (2) of Deseret Hills tries to intercept an incomplete pass thrown by the Brighton Bengals in Cottonwood Heights on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (Photo: Ben B. Braun, Deseret News)

17. Farmington (1-0)

Boston Reinhold ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in a return from last season's knee injury, and the Phoenix looked like Region 1 favorites in a 19-14 win at Pleasant Grove.

18. Bountiful (1-0)

Faletau Satuaia returned an interception 84 yards for the season-opening touchdown, and Corin Cottle added a 95-yard kick return to help the Redhawks open with a special 28-3 win over Highland.

19. Skyline (1-0)

Josh Calvert threw three of his four touchdown passes to BYU commit Miles Hall as the Eagles opened the season win over Juan Diego, setting up a Week 2 showdown at Springville.

20. Snow Canyon (1-0)

Hunter Johnson completed 15-of-24 passes for 242 yards and six touchdowns, and the Warriors did all their scoring in the first half to overwhelm visiting Northridge 48-7.

Plus-1. Taylorsville (1-0)

Cole Kramer threw for three touchdowns, Tyler Kirkman caught two of them, and the Warriors did something in Week 1 that they didn't do all year in 2021: win.

The 27-6 victory over Murray was Taylorsville's first win since Oct. 9, 2020, snapping a 10-game losing skid that included an 0-9 campaign last year.

"The kids have worked extremely hard to change the culture here. And they are seeing their hard efforts payoff," Taylorsville coach Chris Rosales told the Deseret News. "Defense played lights out, offense moved the ball, and special teams rang the bell. Solid team effort! On to Week 2."

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