High school football: Corner Canyon Chargers 2020 preview

Note: Corner Canyon finished with a 14-0 overall record in 2019 and was first in Region 4 with a 5-0 record. It was RPI seed No. 1 in 6A playoffs, and defeated American Fork 49-14 in championship.

DRAPER — One year removed from proving one of the more dominant teams in state history, Corner Canyon doesn’t appear to be much in decline.

Head coach: Eric Kjar

In terms of winning percentage, he’s established himself as one of the best in state history with a 106-30 combined record in 11 years at Jordan and Corner Canyon. He’s entering his fourth year for the Chargers, where his teams have posted a 37-1 record and state titles in 2018 and 2019. His only coaching loss with Corner Canyon was in the 2017 championship game. He was Jordan’s head coach from 2009 to 2016, posting a 69-29 record and winning a state title in 2012. He’s a graduate of Kemmerer High School in Wyoming and Wayne State in Nebraska.

For starters, the offense returns almost entirely intact, although it may prove challenging to replace quarterback Cole Hagen. But given another promising quarterback, and eight returning starters around him, things appear to well on track for Corner Canyon coach Eric Kjar and his team.

“We have a lot of key parts returning, from our center, Jackson Light, along with running back Austin Bell, and then some really good and productive receivers,” Kjar said. “So overall we’re feeling good that we can become a real good team again.”

Goals are necessarily high for the Chargers, given their successes over the past few seasons. Nothing short of a state championship is the goal, and a very achievable one given the amount of returning talent, coupled with the program’s built-in success.

“We have a few more guys to replace on defense, but yeah, we feel good heading into the season,” Kjar said. “We’ve established a level of play here that’s pretty high, so working to match that level of expectation isn’t easy, but we’re working to get there.”

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Corner Canyon Chargers at a glance

Coach Kjar’s thoughts on how his players dealt the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:

“The kids have been good with it, but the hard part is what comes at them from the media, and then figuring out what it all really means for them and their ability to play this coming season. It’s really hard on them just because of what football means to all these kids. So having any suggestion that they may not be able to play — it’s devastating.

“I don’t know if people realize just how much it affects the kids when they post the things they do on Twitter and other places. Playing football is everything for these kids right now. They want to play so bad, and it’s tough for me, as their coach, to see them go through all of it. But it appears we’re on track now, and yeah, I’m just real proud of all my kids in dealing with it as best they can. The mental and emotional side effects of this thing is profound, though, and I don’t think a lot of people have been able to see it.”

2020 Schedule

Aug. 14 — FARMINGTON, 7 p.m.

Aug. 21 — HERRIMAN, 7 p.m.

Aug. 27 — at Bingham, 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 — at Jordan, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 — ALTA, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 — PLEASANT GROVE, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 — at Lone Peak, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 — WESTLAKE, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 — at Skyridge, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 — AMERICAN FORK, 7 p.m.

Corner Canyon offensive snapshot

Offensive coordinator: Eric Kjar

2019 offense: 45.8 (1st in 6A)

2019 offensive statistics

• 8 returning starters
• spread offense

Returning offensive starters

• Noah Kjar (WR)
• Cody Hagen (WR)
• Talmage Handley (WR)
• Austin Bell (RB)
• Luke Sampson (OL)
• Jackson Light (OL)
• Dawson Jacobsen (OL)
• Jett Meine (WR)

Offensive newcomers to watch

• Jaxson Dart (QB)
• Brennon Mangum (OL)

Coach Kjar’s keys for offensive success in 2020:

“We expect to perform at a high level and improve on what we did last year. We have a lot of guys back and some more who are ready to step up. We’re real confident in Jaxson Dart becoming a real good quarterback, and if it all comes together like we’re anticipating, we should be a very good offense.”

Corner Canyon defensive snapshot

Defensive coordinator: Casey Sutera

2019 defense: 14.8 ppg (2nd in 6A)

2019 defensive statistics

• 3 returning starters
• 4-3 defense

Returning defensive starters

• Jackson Light (DL)
• Hayden Easterly (LB)
• Ryan Cahoon (DB)

Defensive newcomers to watch

• Harrison Taggert (LB)
• Brody Ross (DL)
• Hreinson Vanover (DL)
• Micah Wilson (LB)

Coach Kjar’s keys for defensive success in 2020:

“We only have three returning starters, but it’s a very good thing for us that we have one of those guys at every level of the defense. That should help a lot in bringing the other guys along. We lost some excellent players on defense from a year ago, so other guys are going to have to step in, and I think they will effectively. But there’s definitely a lot more questions we have on defense than on offense.”

Deseret News outlook for 2020

Corner Canyon was completely dominant last season, with a more than adequate offense being led by one of the best defensive units in state history. This year, it may prove the exact opposite should Jaxson Dart meet expectations, which could easily lead to yet another championship for the Chargers. There’s little to no question Kjar’s team will be the odds-on favorite to win it all again, although competition will again be high, particularly from programs within Region 4.

Felt’s Facts for Corner Canyon High School


• All-time record: 65-20 (7 years)

• Region championships: 5 (2013 co, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019)

• Playoff appearances: 6

• All-time playoff record: 14-4

• State championships: 2 (2018, 2019)

• State championship record: 2-0


Last 5 seasons

• 2019 — 14-0 (5-0 in Region 4 – 6A Champions)
• 2018 — 12-0 (5-0 in Region 7 – 5A Championship)
• 2017 — 11-1 (5-0 in Region 7 – 5A Semifinals)
• 2016 — 6-5 (4-3 in Region 7 – Missed playoffs)
• 2015 — 4-7 (3-3 in Region 7 – 4A Quarterfinals)

Corner Canyon coaching history


• 2017-Current — Eric Kjar (37-1) *2 state titles
• 2013-2016 — Don Eck (28-19)

Deseret News All-State Archives

Check out our archives of Deseret News all-state teams from 1929 to 2019 at Deseret.com.

Corner Canyon All-State at-a-glance

Deseret News MVPs the past 10 years

• 2019 — Cole Hagen, QB
• 2018 — Caden Johnson, OLB

Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years


• 2019 — Austin Bell, TB
• 2019 — Noah Kjar, WR
• 2019 — Jonah Strong, OT
• 2019 — Jackson Light, C
• 2019 — Van Fillinger, DT
• 2019 — Josh Wilson, MLB
• 2018 — Cole Hagen, QB
• 2018 — John Mitchell, WR
• 2018 — Kingsley Holliday, OT
• 2018 — Van Fillinger, DT
• 2018 — John Scheffner, CB
• 2017 — Conner Ebeling, S
• 2017 — Caden Johnson, OLB
• 2017 — Mikey Petty, DE
• 2015 — Keaton Bills, DL
• 2014 — Riley Ogden, RB
• 2014 — Branden Bowen, OL
• 2014 — Braxton Martinson, K