SALT LAKE CITY — There are nights when everything just seems to click for a football player, and Friday was one of those nights for Brighton's Staton Gutierrez.
The senior running back powered the Bengals' offense with a jaw-dropping 204 rushing yards and five touchdowns, turning what could have been routine carries into momentum-shifting plays that had the Brighton crowd on its feet.
What made the performance stand out wasn't just the numbers, but the way Gutierrez earned every yard.
"The thing that stood out most about Staton's performance is how physical he ran the ball," Brighton's head coach Casey Sutera said. "Our offensive line did a great job blocking the first level, and he broke tackles in space to turn his runs into explosive plays."
It's been a season of resilience for Gutierrez, who battled back from an ankle injury in Week 2. That made Friday's breakout performance even more meaningful.
"I've been proud of Staton's resiliency," Sutera added. "He worked really hard to get back, and it was great to see him running at full strength."
Beyond the touchdowns, Gutierrez has built a reputation as the kind of teammate coaches love to point to selfless, hardworking, and consistent in every setting. Whether it's in practice, in the weight room, or on the track in the offseason, Brighton coaches say he leads by example with a great attitude and full effort.
For the Bengals, that mix of toughness, leadership, and playmaking has been invaluable. For one unforgettable Friday night, it all came together in a performance that made Gutierrez impossible to ignore.
That's why Staton Gutierrez is this week's KSL.com's High School Football Player of the Week, which is presented with support by Cafe Rio.
