Estimated read time: 7-8 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY — There's been a flip flop at the top — again.
Eventually the Skyridge-Corner Canyon debate could be settled on the field (due to realignment, though, that won't be until the playoffs). Until then, the top two teams in the state may just keep switching positions depending on the most recent week ... or maybe not. Time will tell.
Here's the latest KSL.com Sports Top 20+1.
1. Skyridge (2-0, 6A Region 3)
The defending 6A state champions are back at the top of the rankings after a dominant 48-23 win over East. Jackson Stevens threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns in the win, and the Falcons demonstrated the same explosive big-play ability that had them leading all of 6A last season.
Skyridge and Corner Canyon have flip-flopped the top ranking over the first weeks of the season. Don't be surprised if that's a trend that continues right to the end of the season.
2. Corner Canyon (1-1, 6A Region 2)
The Chargers lost a 63-42 shootout to Bishop Gorman (Nevada), which was ranked No. 2 in the nation Friday. Corner Canyon showed it could score on the best of the best with Isaac Wilson throwing for 369 yards and three touchdowns.
Wilson led a late scoring drive in the first half to give Corner Canyon the lead at the break, but Bishop Gorman outscored the Chargers 42-14 in the second half to pull away.
Losing to one of the best teams in the nation dropped the Chargers from the No. 1 spot, but that's all it dropped them.
3. Timpview (1-1, 5A Region 7)
The Thunderbirds showed well in its season opener with a hard-fought loss to Skyridge. A week later, they proved they could beat a 6A power, too.
The Thunderbirds got one of the best wins of the early season Friday with a 31-28 road victory over Lone Peak. The Knights surged to a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter, but it was all Timpview after that. The Thunderbirds' electric offense scored two quick touchdowns to pull even at the half, and their defense held Lone Peak in check in the second half to get the win.
4. American Fork (2-0, 6A Region 3)
Dylan Story connected with Josh Andrus for a late 3-yard touchdown pass, and American Fork's defense held firm on a late fourth-and-goal opportunity to give the Cavemen a 24-20 win over Orem.
Story threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, and Andrus had seven catches for 77 yards and the game-winning score.
Next up for AF: A top 10 battle with West.
5. Lehi (2-0, 6A Region 3)
Jett Niu threw four touchdown passes as Lehi showcased its offensive strength in a 31-14 win over the visiting Desert Hills Thunder.
Lehi, last season's 5A state champions, still has much to prove after moving up into 6A (and being placed in the state's most-stacked region). But the Pioneers have started the season strong, especially after returning just five starters.
6. Lone Peak (1-1, 6A Region 3)
Lone Peak fell to Timpview 31-28 in the inter-classification heavyweight bout on Friday. Jackson Blake threw three touchdowns, but the Knights couldn't find the game-winning score after going down by three with 9:26 left in the fourth quarter.
It doesn't get much easier next week for Lone Peak — which may end up playing the most difficult schedule in the state — when it travels to Draper to play Corner Canyon.
7. Syracuse (2-0, 6A Region 1)
The Titans picked up a hard-fought 23-17 win at Brighton Thursday behind a stellar defensive performance. Syracuse's defense intercepted the ball three times, and its offense scored three times in the final 8:02, including the go-ahead touchdown with 2:48 left to claim the win.
Syracuse will face another Top 20 team in Herriman Friday.
8. West (0-1, 5A Region 6)
Isaiah Su'esu'e threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-27 loss to California's Santa Margarito, a team MaxPreps ranked in the national top 100. The Panthers went for the win late, but their 2-point conversion was unsuccessful.
West will play its first game against in-state competition this week against American Fork.
9. Bingham (1-1, 6A Region 2)
Triston Brimhall rushed for 146 yards to help lead the Miners to a back-and-forth 26-23 win over Crimson Cliffs, one of the early 4A favorites.
The Miners, which opened the season with a loss to Lone Peak, will next welcome the No. 1 team in the country — California's Mater Dei — to South Jordan Saturday.
10. Pleasant Grove (2-0, 6A Region 3)
Carson Rassmussen rushed for 145 yards and threw for 129 more in Pleasant Grove's 40-14 rout of Weber last weekend. Rassmussen combined for five touchdowns (three passing and two rushing) to lead the electric Vikings offense.
Pleasant Grove will have to wait a few more weeks to show it can really be a player in the overpowered Region 3, but a strong start to the season has raised expectations.
11. Alta (2-0, 5A Region 6)
Alta's defense held Westlake scoreless in the final three quarters in a dominant 34-6 win. Alta quarterback Matt McKea ran for a 94-yard touchdown, which was the first of four rushing touchdowns for the Hawks.
Alta's defense has allowed just 10.0 points per game over the first two weeks of the season.
12. Orem (1-1, 5A Region 7)
The Tigers were 6 yards away from a game-winning score against American Fork Friday, but they couldn't punch it in late.
Lance Reynolds III threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns to lead Orem, which controlled large portions of the game against the Cavemen.
13. Springville (2-0, 5A Region 7)
Springville keeps handing the ball to Tevita Valeti, and he keeps delivering. Valeti had five rushing touchdowns, including a 62-yard jaunt, in the Red Devils' 36-8 win over Bonneville.
Springville will head south to face Crimson Cliffs this week.
14. Herriman (2-0, 6A Region 2)
Quarterback Frederick Ta'ai threw for 140 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 65 yards and another score to lead Herriman to a 30-18 win over Green Valley (Nevada). The Mustangs are 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
15. Brighton (1-1, 5A Region 6)
Quarterback Jack Johnson threw for 322 yards, but Brighton fell late in a hard-fought 23-17 loss to Syracuse. Brighton will be at Riverton Friday.
16. Crimson Cliffs (1-1, 4A Region 9)
Crimson Cliffs fell 26-23 to 6A Bingham Friday. Steele Barben threw for two touchdown passes for the Mustangs, including a 47-yard strike that put Crimson Cliffs up 17-13 in the second half.
Crimson Cliffs will play Springville Friday.
17. Provo (2-0, 4A Region 8)
Running back Feitagai Lesa ran for 137 yards and a touchdown to lead Provo to a 21-10 win over Olympus. Drew Deucher found Bryant Larsen for a 66-yard game-winning touchdown pass in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
Provo gets cross-town rival Timpview this week.
18. Box Elder (2-0, 5A Region 5)
Dax Sumko was the hero on Friday for Box Elder. The senior running back broke free for an 18-yard touchdown with just 19 seconds left to give the Bees a 21-20 win over Mountain Crest.
19. Mountain Ridge (2-0, 6A Region 2)
Jesus Hernandez scored on an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to lift Mountain Ridge to a 26-21 win over Dixie.
Sophomore QB Wyatt Bingham threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, and Semisi Kinikini rushed for 117 yards and a score.
20. Park City (2-0, 4A Region 10)
Senior safety Carson Navarro had two interceptions, including one he took back for a game-sealing touchdown in the fourth quarter, as Park City beat Timpanogos 35-33.
Will McCurdy had 211 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Miners.
Plus-1: Ogden (2-0, 3A North)
It stands to reason that Ogden will give up a score at some point this season, but it hasn't happened yet.
After a dominant 42-0 win over Judge Memorial, the Tigers have started the season with back-to-back shutouts. That type of thing hasn't happened often in Ogden.
You have to go all the way back to 1962 to find the last time Ogden has shut out two consecutive opponents, according to the Standard-Examiner. It's fair to say offenses have evolved since then. That season, according to the Ogden paper, the Tigers had three straight shutouts and six overall.
