KSL.com HS Football Top 20+1: Lehi, Skyridge notch signature wins to pace 5A, 6A

SALT LAKE CITY — The top-four schools in Utah high school football have remained virtually unchanged through five weeks of the season, with some combination of Skyridge, Corner Canyon, Timpview and Lehi rotating among themselves.

But who have they beaten, someone would invariably ask? And now, we have an answer.

After a College Football Playoff-style showdown where the top-four teams played each other on one excellent Week 5 night of the season, two teams emerged unscathed — Skyridge, which rallied from a 13-0 deficit to edge Timpview 20-13 without its starting quarterback; and Lehi, which overcame a 24-0 deficit to hand Corner Canyon its first in-state loss of the year 25-24.

Those two teams are now the teams to beat in their respective classifications: the Falcons in 6A and the defending champion Pioneers in 5A.

"I am so proud of our players and the toughness and perseverance they showed tonight," Lehi coach Ed Larson said after Colorado State quarterback commit Jackson Brousseau threw for 191 yards and three touchdowns with an interception against the Chargers. "These wins are program builders because of who we beat.

"Coach Kjar and his storied program has been the bench mark in the state for several years. I was proud of the way we responded to Corner Canyon taking it to us in the first half. As a coach, you now work on making this type of win an added feature to our belief mantra and mindset."

Don't worry; the Thunderbirds (4-1) and Chargers (3-2) aren't going far. That's what happens when good teams play tough competition. But at least for now, we have a better idea of how those top-four rank amongst themselves.

Here's how the rest of the KSL.com Top 20+1 fell together after Week 5 of the 2022 high school football season.

1. Skyridge (5-0)

The Falcons overcame the loss of starting quarterback McCae Hillstead, who left with an ankle injury in the first quarter, when backup Trent Call threw a touchdown pass and ran for another to rally by Timpview 20-13 and hand the Thunderbirds their first loss of the season.

Skyridge also relied on a stellar defensive performance, led by top-rated four-star linebacker Tausili Akana and Collin Sheffield, who returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown to open the second half of a 13-0 sprint to the finish.

Region 4 play begins this week at home against Westlake.

2. Lehi (5-0)

If you thought the Falcons were down, the Pioneers got down 24-0 when Isaac Wilson and Drew Patterson scored on back-to-back touchdown runs early in the third quarter.

But Lehi didn't quit, and Brousseau showed to be one of the best quarterbacks in the state by leading a touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter; he capped it off with a 37-yard strike to Jace John for the go-ahead score. The Pioneers also blocked a field-goal attempt as time expired that would've given the Chargers the win.

Lehi hosts Fremont and has games against Jordan and Alta before the circled date on the calendar: Thursday, Oct. 6 against Timpview.

3. Timpview (4-1)

Thunderbirds defensive end Siale Esera, who committed to BYU before the Cougars' 26-20 double-overtime win over then-No. 9 Baylor, looked like the best player on the field in Timpview's loss on Mountain View's home turf. No shame as they head to Alta and Orem before the aforementioned showdown with the Pioneers.

4. Corner Canyon (3-2)

The Chargers have losses to a top-10 team nationally in Bishop Gorman and an unsettling loss to Lehi, but still have a 1,000-yard (and counting) passer in Wilson. and a 400-yard rusher in Patterson, to say nothing of star wide receiver Tate Kjar and BYU linebacker commit Owen Borg on defense.

We think they'll be fine as they open Region 4 play hosting American Fork on Friday.

5. Farmington (5-0)

Easton Wright and Mitch Nielsen connected on two of Wright's five touchdowns to open Region 1 play with a 42-13 rout of winless Clearfield. Tougher games await the Phoenix, including Friday against Layton.

6. Lone Peak (3-1)

The Knights shut out Highland (Arizona) 13-0 and now have wins over teams from California, Nevada and the Grand Canyon State, and an 0-1 record against in-state competition. Kade Hodson would love nothing more than to get his first win as a starter over a Utah team Friday night against Pleasant Grove.

7. Stansbury (5-0)

Ezra Harris and the Stallions rolled to a 56-7 win over Hillcrest, and Stansbury's defense has now allowed just 15 points in the last two weeks to open region play with a bang. Next up is a rivalry game at Tooele.

8. Pleasant Grove (4-1)

The Vikings haven't lost since a 19-14 setback to Farmington in Week 1. Will that streak continue Friday night against Lone Peak?

9. Bingham (3-2)

Dallen Martinez was responsible for four touchdowns — two rushing and two passing — to help the Miners snap a two-game skid and hand American Fork its first loss of the season before hitting Region 3 play this week against Herriman.

10. American Fork (4-1)

With no spotless record to maintain, what will that mean for the Cavemen at Corner Canyon?

11. Springville (4-1)

Ryder Burton regained his swagger with three passing touchdowns and helped his teammate Kini Fonohema earn a scholarship offer from BYU with a 35-21 rivalry win at Spanish Fork.

But the Red Devils face a big challenge in the Thursday game, hosting Provo.

12. West (3-2)

Isaiah SueSue threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the Panthers laid the points against Roy in a 49-19 win.

13. Provo (4-01)

Kyson Condie scored four touchdowns as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 41-0 halftime lead and cruised to an easy 47-10 win over Maple Mountain to extend their winning streak to four-straight games.

14. Mountain Ridge (4-1)

Aiden Bayless led a spectacular rally for Westlake, and scored four touchdowns that included 21-unanswered points in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter to force overtime and stun the Sentinels with a 2-point conversion in double overtime.

Mountain Ridge can rebound with three-straight home games, beginning Friday against Copper Hills.

15. Riverton (3-2)

The Silverwolves took their second loss of the year when Jaeden Wright scored the only touchdown of the second half with 9:49 remaining in the third quarter. Can Riverton rebound Friday against West Jordan?

16. Bonneville (5-0)

The Lakers used a 21-0 spurt in the second half to hold off host Viewmont 24-21 and stay unbeaten before Friday's home game against Bountiful.

17. West Jordan (3-1)

The Jaguars were off last week before opening region play Friday at Riverton.

18. Brighton (4-1)

After dropping the season opener to 4A Desert Hills, the Bengals have won four in a row with Friday's 28-17 victory over Olympus.

19. Crimson Cliffs (4-1)

The Mustangs stopped a 2-point conversion with just over a minute left to remain unbeaten in Region 10 play with a 27-25 victory over Snow Canyon.

20. Timpanogos (4-1)

The Timberwolves fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 49-6 loss to Payson in the Thursday night game. Offensive line injuries played into the setback for a team that now faces a two-game road trip and three of the next four away from home.

Plus-1. Payson (3-2)

The Arnold Ale era is going just fine at Payson High.

The Lions upset Timpanogos for the first time with a Thursday night stunner, rolling to a 49-6 lead that included a running clock at halftime behind four touchdowns from Kade Edwards — including two to Dylan Wall — and two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

The win doesn't cement Payson as a contender in 5A, necessarily, but it does provide confidence for a program that has won five games once in the past 13 years.

"It's our first win against Timpanogos," Ale said. "And it sets us up to possibly a winning season, which hasn't happened here in 40-something years. But we've got to take it one game at a time."

Payson hosts Uintah on Friday, with remaining games against Hillcrest, Tooele, Stansbury and Mountain View.

Related topics