SALT LAKE CITY — There's a new top-ranked team in Utah high school football.
Corner Canyon is no longer undefeated on the year, meaning the number of undefeated teams is as limited as its ever been.
The Chargers (5-1, 0-1 Region 3) were the victims of a Knight-time upset in their Region 3 opener, when backup quarterback Cruz Christensen threw for four touchdowns — three of them to Utah commit Jaron Pula — and ran for another score to lead Lone Peak to a 42-21 win Friday night in a game the hosts never trailed.
Were the Knights able to take advantage in the rankings?
1. Lone Peak (5-1, 1-0 6A Region 3)
The Knights are undefeated against in-state competition, and undefeated in games that play the full four quarters — their only loss came on the road to national power Bishop Gorman, which was officially ruled a forfeit due to a fight between the two teams. The Gaels led 35-14 in the second half.
It doesn't get any easier as Lone Peak travels to American Fork and Skyridge before hosting Lehi in the "SEC of Utah high school football."
2. Skyridge (5-1, 1-0 6A Region 3)
The Falcons flexed their comeback muscles when Kaneal Sweetwyne threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to help Skyridge overturn a 21-7 first-half deficit to beat crosstown rival Lehi.
3. Corner Canyon (5-1, 0-1 6A Region 3)
No time to sulk; the Chargers host Skyridge on Friday night.
4. Davis (5-1, 0-0 6A Region 1)
Boise State commit Tradon Bassinger completed 76% of his passes for four touchdowns without an interception as the Darts jumped out to a 17-7 halftime lead and never looked back in a 29-15 win at American Fork. That 1-point overtime loss to Fremont is looking more and more like an aberration (give credit to the Silverwolves, too).
5. Ridgeline (6-0, 3-0 4A Region 11)
Crosby West ran for a hat trick as the Riverhawks shut out an opponent for the second week in a row with a 70-0 win over first-year Deseret Peak.
6. West (5-1, 3-0 5A Region 4)
The Panthers continued to roll through region play with a 79-14 win over Hillcrest in the program's highest scoring game since 1925 (yeah, you read that right).
7. American Fork (5-1, 0-0 6A Region 3)
The smaller Region 3 means the Cavemen had an off week from league play but couldn't escape the Darts in taking their first loss of the year. Can they bounce back in a rivalry game against the top-ranked Knights?
8. Herriman (6-0, 3-0 6A Region 2)
The Mustangs are still unbeaten and making believers out of us after a 47-16 win over Westlake. Herriman has scored 263 points and allowed just 50, including shutout wins over Taylorsville and Bingham.
9. Fremont (5-1, 3-0 Region 5)
The second-highest rated team in the RPI in 5A cruised to a 3-0 start to region play as Manase Tuatagaloa ran for 104 yards and a touchdown in a 35-13 win over Northridge.
10. Lehi (3-2, 0-1 6A Region 3)
The Pioneers' strong non-region schedule keeps them in the top 10 despite a road loss in a rivalry game. But they'll host unbeaten Herriman before resuming SEC ... errr, Region 3 play.
Here's the rest of the Top 20:
- 11 - Orem (4-2, 3-0 5A Region 7)
- 12 - Syracuse (5-1, 1-0 6A Region 1)
- 13 - Mountain Ridge (4-2, 2-0 6A Region 2)
- 14 - Crimson Cliffs (5-1, 2-0 4A Region 9)
- 15 - Springville (5-1, 2-1 5A Region 7)
- 16 - Woods Cross (4-2, 1-0 5A Region 6)
- 17 - Morgan (5-1, 1-0 3A North)
- 18 - Box Elder (5-1, 2-0 5A Region 5
- 19 - Westlake (4-2, 1-1 6A Region 2)
- 20 - Snow Canyon (5-1, 2-0 4A Region 9)
Plus-1. Brighton (2-4, 1-0 5A Region 6)
If the start of region play is considered the "second season" for a program, then the Bengals are undefeated in 2025's Part 2.
After sputtering to a 1-4 non-region slate with losses to 6A Davis, 4A Ridgeline, 4A Crimson Cliffs and 6A Corner Canyon, Brighton jumped from No. 14 to No. 8 in the latest 5A RPI release following a 42-14 win over Viewmont to open Region 6 play.
Staton Gutierrez had a monster game, rushing for 204 yards and five touchdowns (not a typo) on 20 carries for the Bengals, who picked off Viewmont quarterback Jack Savage four times in the win. Shoutout to Trey Harper for a pair of picks, too.
