KSL.com HS FB Top 20+1: Bold statements from the first 2 weeks of the 2022 season

SALT LAKE CITY — Only two weeks into the 2022 Utah high school football season and it's time to make some way-too-early superlatives.

Let's try this: We'll make three bold statements based off limited data and then provide some context to dial it back a little bit. You can choose to believe whichever facts you like.

Here's an example: Lehi is the best team in 5A. Not hot enough?

The Pioneers are defending champions for a reason, bring back a host of starters, including Colorado State quarterback commit Jackson Brousseau, and have certainly looked like the team to beat in 5A's early games.

Region 1 bold statement: Farmington is a contender in 6A.

Context: The Phoenix are 2-0 coming off Friday's 24-3 drubbing of Bountiful in the KSL.com Game of the Week, though the Redhawks were thought to be a contender in Region 5 (and may still be).

Boston Reinhold is averaging 5.22 yards per carry for 120 yards and two touchdowns a year after shutting down his season early with an ACL injury, and quarterback Easton "Easy E" Wight is a 68% passer for 152 yards and three touchdowns — but more importantly, no interceptions through two games. Led by Ethan Briggs and Dayton Runyan, Farmington's defense allowed a combined 17 points to Pleasant Grove and Bountiful.

Still, former BYU tight end Daniel Coats is just 23-24 as Farmington's head coach, and the Phoenix were just 8-4 before losing to Skyridge 52-7 in last year's 6A quarterfinals. Is there a ceiling on Farmington; and if there is, how do they fit Lagoon underneath it?

Region 2 bold statement: Cyprus or Taylorsville will win a region title.

Particularly bold, because region play won't tip off for either team for another week. But both squads are 2-0, which is something that should be noted.

Context: The Warriors, who have wins over Murray and Jordan, can move to 3-0 for the first time since 2002 with a win at Juan Diego Friday. A year after an 0-9 season, Taylorsville has already won as many games as the past two years combined. Sure, Murray (0-2), Jordan (0-2) and Juan Diego (0-2) are hardly a murderers' row, but a win is a win in the Warriors' case.

Cyprus (2-0) is in the same position after shutting out Tooele 25-0 in Week 1 and slipping past an equally winless Highland 16-14 in Week 2. But for a team that hasn't won more than three games in a season since 2018, when the Pirates finished 7-3 before a 6A first-round loss to Fremont, any win will be celebrated.

Of course, West is still in Region 2, and the Panthers' only loss came 42-0 at California power Mater Dei following a 43-0 win over Clearfield. So the defending region champs are still positive on the season's aggregate scoring.

Region 3/4 bold statement: Bingham will beat Corner Canyon on Friday.

Context: Only one of these teams enters Friday night's megaclash with a loss, and it's the Region 4 power with three-straight 6A state titles recently. Bingham is 2-0 after thumping Reno's Bishop Manogue 48-9 last week behind 123 passing yards and three touchdowns from Dallen Martinez.

The Chargers' lone loss came last week in a 42-7 loss to Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman, the No. 6-ranked team in the country by MaxPreps, so take it with a grain of salt. Isaac Wilson, the junior quarterback whose older brother plays for a green team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, also continued the hot start to his career as a starting quarterback with his seventh touchdown pass of the season.

Friday's game might be the closest between the two non-region rivals in years. Can Bingham beat Corner Canyon? Sure. But will the Miners beat Corner Canyon? Well, let's just say Eric Kjar is 64-4 as a head coach for a reason.

Watch out for Tate Kjar in this one.

Now here's this week's Top 20+1.

1. Skyridge (2-0)

Season to date: 94 points scored, 7 points against. Yeah, Utah State commit McCae Hillstead, BYU target Smith Snowden and the Falcons are still on top.

2. Lehi (2-0)

Back-to-back 48-0 wins over Davis and Salem Hills won't dampen expectations on Pioneer Way.

3. American Fork (2-0)

After victories over Region 2's Roy and Region 1's Weber, a win over West on Friday should put the Cavemen halfway to a region title outside of the SEC of Utah high school football.

4. Timpview (2-0)

If Lehi is team 1a in 5A, then Quezon Villa, Tei Nacua and Pokai Huanga are team 1b.

5. Corner Canyon (1-1)

The Chargers slipped up after the loss to Gorman but can make up a lot of ground with a bounceback win over Bingham.

6. Bingham (2-0)

Martinez has the Miners primed for battle on KMYU.

7. Springville (2-0)

A lot of you are talking about BYU quarterback commit Ryder Burton, and for good reason. But you should be talking about his backfield mate Tevita Valeti, who has 256 yards and four touchdowns after Friday's 45-17 win over Skyline.

8. Lone Peak (1-1)

Any reports of the Knights' demise have been greatly exaggerated since Kaden Hodson, Cole Christensen and Lone Peak bounced back for a 49-20 win over Bishop Alemany in California.

9. Orem (2-0)

Maybe 6-foot-5 tight end Roger Saleapaga should play basketball, because he balled out for the Tigers in a 21-14 win over Las Vegas' Desert Pines.

10. Stansbury (2-0)

The Stallions have big wins over both 4A regions in Pine View and Ridgeline, and can add another over Idaho's Skyline before jumping into Region 7 play against Uintah.

11. Mountain Ridge (2-0)

Semisi Kinikini, Cade Uluave and the Sentinels will be must-see TV this Thursday.

12. Farmington (2-0)

Are the Phoenix true contenders in 6A? We still don't know. But are they fun to watch? Absolutely.

13. Desert Hills (2-0)

When things looked bleak, the Thunder rallied with a 28-7 second-half spurt before Tristin John kicked a 25-yard field goal in overtime to beat Cedar Valley in the home opener.

14. Riverton (1-1)

The Silverwolves' good vibes of a 27-25 win over Syracuse were all-but erased by a 17-13 road setback to 4A Dixie. Can they bounce back this week against suddenly surging Cyprus?

15. Layton (2-0)

We've been told that not enough people are talking about Braxton Martin and the Lancers, who beat Northridge 45-28 after a defensively dominant 16-9 win over Alta.

16. West (1-1)

We won't hold that loss to Mater Dei against the Panthers, but a Friday night road trip to American Fork could spell trouble more than S-u-e-S-u-e.

17. Timpanogos (2-0)

If you aren't a believer in Luke Livingston or Chase Riggs, who have four touchdowns each through two games, then we can't convince you.

18. Viewmont (2-0)

Anyone else who goes undefeated after a 73-9 win gets a free week in the Top 20. Promise.

19. Syracuse (0-2)

There's been a little bit of bad luck in the Titans' poor start of two losses by a combined 9 points. Will they find their luck again Friday against Westlake?

20. West Jordan (2-0)

The Jaguars were 8-3 in coach Ron Halbert's first season, and kept the good vibes going with wins over Woods Cross and Davis.

Plus-1. Dixie (1-1)

The Flyers, who went 9-4 last year en route to the 4A state championship game, rebounded from a 41-14 loss to 5A Springville by pitching a second-half shutout in a 17-13 win over 6A Riverton.

After trailing 13-7 at the break, Jalen Schultz — who ran for 321 yards scored on a 5-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter while the defense got interceptions from Chet Atkinson and Mason Kesterson to rally for the win. Jake Dombroski had a team-high 16 tackles, and Treven Alldredge added 13 stops and a sack for Dixie.

"Our kids worked hard this week," head coach Blaine Monkres told the Deseret News. "It paid off with a hard fought win over a really good Riverton team. Great team effort on defense."

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