“Remember, it’s not about you…it’s about the mission and how best to accomplish it. With that attitude exemplified in you and your key leaders, your team will dominate.” – Jocko Willink
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CORNER CANYON: Coach Kjar and the Dynasty Forged in Fire
The Corner Canyon Chargers repeated as state champs’ last season. The Chargers fell behind Lone Peak early but rallied and scored 23 unanswered points to win 30-27 this past November in the title game earning Head Coach Eric Kjar a fifth State Title in eight seasons. To go along with those titles is an outstanding 100-8 record through those 8 seasons. He is a High School Football Living Legend with his best years still to come.
- Corner Canyon lost a handful of great high school players along with four that earned scholarships.
KEY PLAYERS to REPLACE
- Wide Receiver Jerome Myles was the Number One football recruit in Utah in the 2025 Class. Texas A & M
- Tight End Jordan Vyborny #24 recruit: Oklahoma St
- Defensive Linemen Paxton Naegle #25 recruit: Utah St
- Interior O-lineman Zion Finau #35 Recruit: Weber St
- Playing unbeaten Montana at 1:00!
Yet, they continue to do nothing but win. But how? How are they doing this year in and year out to achieve these phenomenal results?
Well, I think the answer might be this.
Before I get to what I think Coach Kjar has been doing–I’ll start with an example from my first game seeing Corner Canyon.
“There’s no Safety over the top!! Hit em deep!”- middle school aged kid behind me yelling from the stands. He was very much into the game and as football savvy as any other adult football fan I know. The little master knew the game and knew when to exploit the weaknesses. I heard and felt this disappointment when the play turned out to be a run to the right for a gain of 1. “Why didn’t we throw it deep? That was an easy touchdown.”
The opposing defense stacked the line and left Single High coverage pre-snap. Then, the Single High Safety surprisingly crept forward about seven yards or so and the Corner was in press coverage on Minnesota commit Kai Meza. It was a no-brainer. So, why run to the right?
Casuga could’ve hit Meza four times for four scores in the first half of that game. The opposing defense was scrambling and leaving acres of space in the secondary. So why not exploit it? Why not do the video game move and run the score up with your SEC bound QB throwing eight touchdowns? I mean, if they are giving it to you, why not take it?
On that specific drive alone, Kai Meza was wide open four times and was targeted zero. The young lad behind me just couldn’t understand. The drive ended in a touchdown, but it was one that was earned and required the entire team to get involved. “Well, I’m glad we scored but we could’ve done it a long time ago.” He wasn’t wrong.
Several times I asked myself, what is this guy doing?
Like I said, this was the way back in August–I think it’s clear exactly what he is doing.
SYSTEM
He’s building a dynasty. Powerhouse programs are not this long standing without a system. Now, I’m not so bold as to say that I know Coach Kjar’s System, but I think these may be pieces of that system.
- Never rely on just one player, even two. No matter how great one player may be–it takes eleven to win each play.
- Give Each Player quality snaps and let them feel the fire once in a while. Fire only makes the unit stronger.
- Coach, Correct, Move on to the next play.
- Each play matters. Effort from all eleven is essential.
Cheesy? Sure. Equally true from my vantage point.
Coach Kjar is forging a stronger team with each and every down they play. By rotating the players and giving each of them touches or moments to impact the game, it builds confidence. Confidence from the ground up. It also brings a healthy amount of inner-squad competitiveness which sharpens the iron that gets forged.
While Corner Canyon feature some absolutely phenomenal players that will be playing ball for the next decade or so, they will not be playing for Corner Canyon much longer. Coach Kjar knows this which is exactly why he coaches the way he does. The constant mixing and matching of players and balanced play calling gives everyone a chance and keeps every involved. Everyone must feel the fire.
Because if he doesn’t have a Zach Wilson or Jaxson Dart or Casuga on his team, he still wants to win every game. And you win when there are three to four guys at every position that are confident in themselves that when they are called upon, they will make the play.
There will certainly be moments when failures happen, but it’s the fire of those failing moments that make a team what it is. The fire makes the metal vulnerable, so the craftsman, in this case a coach can– ‘Coach, Correct, Move on to the next one’ with a better, stronger team.
It takes the fire of failure to build a team that plays with such confidence. When that level of confidence seeps that deep in the depth chart, the unit becomes unstoppable.
Sure, it’s a wonderful thing to have a well-spring of talent in the corner of the canyon, but talent doesn’t always win. You have to be forged in fire, and Coach Kjar has been a smithy now eight years or so. He has carefully crafted this program to be strong and sharp and built to last. A team that can be down three scores in a championship game and score twenty-three unanswered to win. He’s Forging a dynasty. The word applies.
So, for the bright sir behind me asking fair and logical football questions through an exasperated tone, “Why didn’t he throw it to him?” Because he wants your team to win, not just this play or today, but tomorrow and next season and the one after that. ‘”The proof is in the pudding.”
As of fan of greatness in the game of football, it was worth a moment to highlight Coach Kjar through my personal observations. Only up Coach.
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Yesterday, when I was looking through the top players in the state by statistic, I noticed that Corner was lacking in some categories comparatively to how good they have been, and it led to this moment to highlight the eight going on nine years for Coach Kjar and Corner Canyon.
Nine losses in that span is an incredible thing to achieve. He’d probably say, “you just can’t lose the last one.”
Ledger Wight, Ryker Van Komen, and Syracuse play at Corner Canyon under the lights next Friday. Coach Kjar’s story is far from complete.
It’s time to move on to the next play.
Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’
Whit W.