(5-0) #1 Corner Canyon @ (4-1) #2 Lone Peak 9/19 7pm
UHSAA 6A REGION 3
Number one versus number two in the state. This is the game we have been building towards the first half of this season.
Lone Peak and Corner Canyon have steamed through the in-state competition thus far with Lone Peak’s one loss coming at the hands of #1 team in Nevada Bishop Gorman. Incidentally, that game ended by forfeit in the 3rd quarter due to fighting and Lone Peak violating NIAA rules by leaving the sideline during the altercation.
In terms of in-state competition, so far Corner Canyon has dispatched Bingham, Fremont, and Brighton in games that were not competitive, and Lone Peak has beaten Orem, Timpview, Crimson Cliffs, and Farmington all by double digits. This top-level Region 3 matchup is one that both teams will be hungry for.
Corner Canyon has also beaten Liberty High who are back-to-back Arizona State Champs, Arizona’s number One ranked team, and a team ranked 32nd Nationally as well as winning at West Broward (FL). Both games were blowouts from start to finish. To add context, Liberty turned the ball over in their own territory three times in the first quarter and Corner Canyon put up three quick scores due to these mistakes and West Broward was playing their season opener when Corner Canyon had already brushed off the cobwebs the week prior. That said, they impressively outscored these opponents 83-27.
These two powerhouses met last season in Week 3 with Lone Peak winning on their home field 28-21 but met again in a rematch in last season’s emotional State Title game that finished 30-27 in favor of Corner Canyon. After falling behind early in the game, the Chargers scored 23 straight points to go on and win their second straight State championship. Notably, the Lone Peak QB was ejected in the fourth quarter due to unsportsmanlike conduct. He began this season by serving a two-game suspension because of this incident.
This is not just a rematch of last season’s Title game, but also a game that showcases ten of the state’s top forty-three football recruits as ranked by 247Sports. Let’s meet the young stars that will feature in this game. Some names will be familiar if you’ve read along this season and the number represents their recruitment ranking.
LONE PEAK TOP PLAYERS:
- #3 OT Bott Mulitalo (BYU)
- 6’5/ 300
- #5 WR Jaron Pula (Utah)
- 6’3/ 200
- #8 WR Keenan Pula (Utah)
- 6’3/ 195
- #42 QB Kepa Niumeitolu (Idaho St)
- 6’1/ 205
CORNER CANYON TOP PLAYERS:
- #4 Esun Tafa (USC)
- 6’5/ 355
- #6 QB Heleman Casuga (Texas A&M)
- 5’11/ 210
- #17 WR Kai Meza (Minnesota)
- 6’1/ 180
- #34 WR Isaiah Mooris uncommitted
- #36 DL Jase Kozlowski uncommitted
- 6’3/ 240
- #43 LB Mason Wood uncommitted
- 6’1/ 210
I’ve yet to wtach Lone Peak this year, but I’ve watched Corner Canyon in every game except Fremont. I can say that Tafa is a giant human with jackrabbit feet that rarely puts a step wrong.
Casuga is the real deal. He has a lightning quick release, excellent footwork, and has shown multiple times that he has pinpoint accuracy on the deep balls. He’s also deceptively fast and tough as nails. Multiple times I’ve seen him take grown man level hits while standing in the pocket. One specific hit happened in the final minute of the first half against Liberty. Boise St commit Paz St. John is 6’3/ 300 and he absolutely hulk-smashed the unsuspecting QB into the turf. It was one of those hits that echoed off the metal bleachers, and one of those hits that would be understandable to miss a play or two afterwards. Impressively, Casuga took the medicine and on his next drop back delivered a confident 19-yard strike over the middle to Kai Meza who took it the distance for an 80-yard touchdown. Casuga is the real deal. The Golden Gopher bound Kai Meza is physical and has breakaway speed.
Mason Wood and Jase Kozlowski are always right where they are supposed to be and are fearless at the point of the tact.
Other Corner Canyon players that are worth noting are Senior RB Weston Briggs, Senior WR Jasean Mayberry, Junior ATH Diesel Dart, and Junior TE/ DE Manase Brown. I’ve seen all of these players lift their team when it was needed.
Briggs is a beast. He’s got PSAC player of the year written all over his game. Mayberry fights hard to hold blocks well on the edge and can catch the deep ball. Dart starts at Free Safety, returns punts, and plays receiver occasionally. I like him at safety. He gets a little buttery on the fingertips when fielding punts at times. I’ve observed him on more than one occasion bobble the punt before corralling and advancing the ball forwards and watched him fumble just last week against Brighton. He’s a good player with good instincts, but he does seem to get in his own way. Perhaps there is a pressure to perform like his older brother who plays Backup QB for the New York Giants. Manase Brown is just a big dude that loves ball. Plays with intensity and is not afraid to flash his big smile. Keep working hard men.
So, what do I expect in this game?
This is each team’s first Region 3 matchup, and these are the wins that matter the most. Due to the stakes and magnitude of this game, I want to see Lone Peak limit their mistakes and make Corner Canyon play perfect to beat them. Corner Canyon is an elite but imperfect team, but I have yet to see anyone take advantage of their mistakes. All I really want to see is a clean, competitive game, but I expect Corner Canyon to win. I’ll take them 35-27.
Lone Peak is going to try to muddy this game as that seems to be their standard M.O. Everybody needs to keep their heads. Especially Corner Canyon’s Esun Tafa who has been dinged for multiple fifteen-yard personal fouls for after the play incidents so far this season.
Keep calm and execute the play. This is how you win the day.
For those that cannot make the game, Chargers TV will have the coverage as always. A fun fact shared by the broadcast team–during the Liberty game, there was someone watching from 48/50 states and an international audience from more than ten different countries were represented. Football is growing. These young, talented men are the reason why.
Let’s have a great game tomorrow night and I hope to see you there.
Until then,
Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’
Whit W.