High school football: Skyridge Falcons 2020 preview

Note: Skyridge finished with a 7-3 overall record in 2019 and was tied for second in Region 4 with a 3-2 record. It was RPI seed No. 4 in the 6A playoffs, and was eliminated by Lone Peak 30-6 in second round.

LEHI — Making the jump to the 6A classification is rarely easy, but put a Region 4 assignment to the team moving up classifications, and it makes it all the more difficult.

Head coach: Jon Lehman

Entering his fifth season as head coach at Skyridge, where his teams have posted a 36-12 record the past four years and state runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018. He’s a graduate of Milford High School in Ohio and Trinity College in Connecticut.

Even so, Skyridge has done well in moving from 5A competition to 6A, as evidenced by a 7-3 record posted a year ago, despite playing against the state’s best competition week in and week out.

“We wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Skyridge coach Jon Lehman. “Sure, we could get more wins playing against teams that aren’t as good, but it makes it that much more worth it when you play against, and then can beat the very best. I know our kids feel the same.”

The Falcons this year return a decent amount of starters on both sides of the football, yet will be hard-pressed to finish above their predicted fifth-place finish, due to the existing strength of Region 4.

Still, Lehman is optimistic about his team’s chances.

“This is a good group of players that know how to work and we’ve already felt good chemistry,” Lehman said. “They’re excited to come together and play their best ball against the top competition in the state.”

Skyridge Falcons at a glance

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

“It was really different in the spring, for everyone, but I think things have been trending back to normal, and our kids have done well adjusting to all of it. They’re resilient, and dealt with it like we’d expect. They’ve followed the rules and now it certainly looks like they’ll be rewarded for it. So I’ve been real happy with their attitude about all of it.”

2020 Schedule

Aug. 14 — at Alta, 7 p.m.

Aug. 21 — DESERT PINES, NEV., 7 p.m.

Aug. 29 — OREM, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 — JORDAN, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 — AMERICAN FORK, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25 — at Pleasant Grove, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 — at Lone Peak, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 — CORNER CANYON, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 — WESTLAKE, 7 p.m.

Skyridge Offensive Snapshot

Offensive coordinator: Joel Lira

2019 offense: 28.6 ppg (12th in 6A)

2019 offensive statistics

• 5 returning starters
• Spread offense

Returning offensive starters

• Mitch Adamson (WR)
• James Palmer (WR)
• Jeter Fenton (RB)
• Dallin Richards (OL)
• Teedrick Toilolo (OL)

Offensive newcomers to watch

• McCae Hillstead (QB)
• Jack Hadfield (WR)
• Zeke Greco (WR)
• Teagan Calton (TE)
• Kaden Loftin (TE)

Coach Lehman’s keys for offensive success in 2020:

“I think we’ll have good balance. We have some good returning players there, and some receivers who can really play. And then Jeter Fenton is a really good running back for us. At quarterback we feel McCae Hillstead is executing at a high level, so we think we’ll be good there. Key for us will be to be balanced, especially with a new quarterback.”

Skyridge Defensive Snapshot

Defensive coordinator: Jon Lehman

2019 defense: 24.3 ppg (15th in 6A)

2019 defensive statistics

• 5 returning starters
• 4-3 defense

Returning defensive starters

• Stone Mulitalo (DL)
• Stanley Raass (DL)
• Colby Dulle (LB)
• Eli Crockett (DB)
• Jackson Lambert (DB)

Defensive newcomers to watch

• Maka Fainga (LB)
• Coleman Beck (DB)
• Smith Snowden (DB)

Coach Lehman’s keys for defensive success in 2020:

“Up front is where we have the most experience, which is a big thing for us. We’re also experienced in the secondary and have a really good linebacker in Colby Dulle. So we like the make up of our defense, even though we don’t have a lot of returning starters, but really good players looking to start and ready for it.”

Deseret News outlook for 2020

Skyridge will prove a good football team, but it’s very hard to predict a high finish in Region 4. The state’s toughest region looks to be improved from top to bottom, leading to a rough schedule ahead for the Falcons, and difficulty matching the seven wins garnered a season ago. Still, Skyridge should prove to be a problem for all five other Region 4 teams, given the team’s overall talent and depth.

Felt’s Facts for Skyridge

• All-time record: 36-12 (4 years)

• Region championships: 1

• Playoff appearances: 3
• All-time playoff record: 6-3
• State championships: 0
• State championship record: 0-2

Last 5 Seasons

• 2019 — 7-3 (3-2 in Region 4 – 6A Second round)
• 2018 — 11-2 (5-0 in Region 8 – 5A Runner-up)
• 2017 — 12-2 (4-1 in Region 8 – 5A Runner-up)
• 2016 — 6-5 (4-3 in Region 7 – Missed playoffs)

Skyridge coaching history


• 2016-current — Jon Lehman (36-12)

Deseret News All-State Archives

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

Skyridge All-State at-a-glance

Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years


• 2019 — Ioholani Raass, DE
• 2018 — Ma’a Notoa, RB
• 2018 — Nathan Upham, WR
• 2018 — Logan Sagapolu, C
• 2017 — Alex Palmer, CB
• 2017 — Charles Raass, DT
• 2017 — Logan Sagapolu, OT
• 2016 — Wyatt Parkinson, WR