No. 8 Syracuse (9-2) at No. 1 Corner Canyon (11-0)
- 6A state tournament quarterfinal
- Friday, 4 p.m.
- Parry’s Power Guide: Corner Canyon by 36
- All-time series: First meeting
- Coach vs. coach: First meeting between Syracuse’s Mike Knight and Corner Canyon’s Eric Kjar
DRAPER — The Corner Canyon Chargers are nowhere near satisfied.
Sure, they’re the defending 5A state champions and yes, they’ve rolled through the 6A classification this season, en route to a perfect 11-0 overall record and a 5-0 mark in Region 4.
They boast one of, if not the top running backs in the state in Austin Bell (126 carries for 1,070 yards and 22 touchdowns).
The same can be said for starting quarterback Cole Hagen, who has completed 168 of 276 pass attempts this year, at a clip of 60.1%, for 2,807 yards and 32 TDs, compared to only seven interceptions.
Offensively, there has been no team better, as the Chargers boast the top scoring offense in the classification, averaging 45.6 points per game.
Defensively they aren’t far off, with the fourth-best scoring defense (16.9 ppg) in 6A, a unit led by stalwarts such as Josh Wilson (95 tackles and four interceptions), Cade McDougal (79 tackles), Van Fillinger (11.5 sacks), Steve Street (11 sacks) and Andrew McDonald (five interceptions).
For all their success, more accurately called dominance — Corner Canyon’s margin of victory this season is 28.5 points — the Chargers want more.
They want it all and they continually want to be better.
“I think our team continues to improve and we still have things we can get better at,” Corner Canyon head coach Eric Kjar said. “As a coach, even the kids, they always want to do things better and they feel like they can. We are always going to try and work on that.”
Coming off a 53-21 second-round win over Westlake, the Chargers are playing pretty well, though.
“Both sides of the ball have been executing really well, even compared to where we were at earlier in the year,” Kjar said.
The Syracuse Titans agree.
Syracuse is the latest team to stand in the way of the Chargers’ state title aspirations.
The Titans were the best team out of Region 1 this year and are coming off their best victory this season, a 27-14 triumph over Pleasant Grove last Friday.
“Right now we are playing the best football we have all year, obviously beating a good PG team,” Syracuse head coach Mike Knight said. “The kids came out and executed. Everything isn’t always pretty, but we are about as consistent as we have been all year. I feel good about the way were are playing.”
The Titans have been led by quarterback Bridger Hamblin, who statistically is right there with the best the state has to offer.
Hamblin has thrown for 2,135 yards and 26 TDs, completing 66.8% of his passes. He is also the team’s leading rusher, with 948 yards and 16 TDs.
The receiving duo of Sam Adams (49 receptions, 822 yards and 9 TDs) and Ty Burke (43 rec., 769 yards, 12 TDs) has proven effective and the Titans defense, once a liability, has only grown stronger as the season has progressed.
“We have definitely improved,” said Knight. “Once we started to settle in and gain more confidence the kids have played really well. Last week, was I believe our best defensive effort of the year and we knew going into it that that was needed. That (Pleasant Grove) is a great team and they played a tough schedule.”
No one has been better this year than Corner Canyon, and the Titans are well aware of the challenge that awaits them Friday afternoon in Draper.
“Obviously Corner Canyon, as everyone in the state knows, is the team to beat,” said Knight. “They have a lot of good players, are well-coached and play extremely hard. I think for us, we have to maximize our opportunities and we can’t have catastrophic mistakes. They’ve (Corner Canyon) had a tendency all year to make teams really pay for bad mistakes. They create turnovers, they score quickly and before you know (the game) is out of your hands. We have to make the most of our opportunities, because there will be chances. There are chances in every football game. We just have to make those plays, for sure.”
Syracuse statistical breakdown
- Scoring offense: 35.5 ppg (5th in 6A)
- Scoring defense: 18.7 ppg (7th in 6A)
- Passing leader: Bridger Hamblin (155-232, 66.8%, 2,135 yards, 26 TDs, 7 INTs)
- Rushing leaders: Bridger Hamblin (158 carries, 948 yards, 16 TDs), Tre’Vaun Peoples (74 carries, 440 yards, 5 TDs)
- Receiving leaders: Sam Adams (49 rec., 822 yards, 9 TDs), Ty Burke (43 rec., 769 yards, 12 TDs)
- Tackles leaders: Jordan Davies (67 tackles), Mikey Metcalfe (63 tackles)
- Sack leaders: Parker Schow (4.5 sacks), Kobe Rusch (4 sacks)
- Interception leaders: Trey Schofield (3 INTs)
Corner Canyon statistical breakdown
- Scoring offense: 45.6 ppg (1st in 6A)
- Scoring defense: 16.9 ppg (4th in 6A)
- Passing leader: Cole Hagen (168-276, 60.1%, 2,807 yards, 32 TDs, 7 INTs)
- Rushing leaders: Austin Bell (126 carries, 1,070 yards, 22 TDs), Cole Hagen (102 carries, 851 yards, 8 TDs)
- Receiving leaders: Noah Kjar (60 rec., 962 yards, 7 TDs), Cody Hagen (41 rec., 746 yards, 9 TDs)
- Tackles leaders: Josh Wilson (95 tackles), Cade McDougal (79 tackles)
- Sack leaders: Van Fillinger (11.5 sacks), Steve Street (11 sacks)
- Interception leaders: Andrew McDonald (5 INTs), Josh Wilson (4 INTs)
Felt’s Facts for Syracuse High School
- All-time record: 89-52 (13 years)
- Region championships: 2 (2012, 2016 co, 2019)
- Playoff appearances: 11
- All-time playoff record: 12-10
- State championships: 0
- State championship record: 0-1
Felt’s Facts for Corner Canyon High School
- All-time record: 62-20 (7 years)
- Region championships: 5 (2013 co, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- Playoff appearances: 6
- All-time playoff record: 11-4
- State championships: 1 (2018)
- State championship record: 1-0