High school football: Lone Peak forces 5 turnovers, earns statement win over No. 1 Corner Canyon

Sometimes, a high school football game can be summarized with one stat, and it’s usually turnovers.

Top-ranked Corner Canyon turned the ball over in the first minute of its game Friday against No. 3 Lone Peak, in the last minute and three more times in between as Lone Peak rolled to the convincing 42-21 victory on its home field.

Lone Peak coach Bart Brockbank said it was a huge win for his team, but the turnaround is quick.

“It’s always big, because I love playing these guys. They’re so well coached. It’s always a measuring stick for any team in the state to play these guys,” said Brockbank.

“So as far as wins go it’s huge ‘cause it’s a region win, but again, win or lose a region game you still got another one coming up next week. So yeah, it’s a great win, but it’s one, and we still have a lot left.”

Both teams now sit at 5-1 on the season, with Lone Peak facing American Fork next week and Corner Canyon facing Skyridge.

Leading 28-21 at the half, Lone Peak intercepted quarterback Helaman Casuga three times in the second half in holding the Chargers scoreless in a dominant performance in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

It was the type of performance Brockbank expected from his linemen, and they delivered.

“I thought offensively we controlled the line of scrimmage that second half for sure. Even in the first half, I thought we did a pretty good job,” he said.

“Defensively I was really, really happy with our defensive front seven. I thought we controlled the front really well. I think we pushed Helaman into some bad spots on some throws.”

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Both sides of the ball flexed their muscles during the decisive 10-minute stretch in the second half.

After Corner Canyon punted on its first offensive possession of the third quarter, it found a rhythm on its second drive, picking up a couple first downs and moving into Lone Peak territory.

The promising drive ended in an interception as Lone Peak’s defensive line pushed the pocket into Casuga, whose arm was hit as he attempted a pass, with Tevita Mounga easily running under the wounded duck for the pick.

Offensively, Lone Peak followed with a 17-play scoring drive that Sean Tahi capped with a three-yard touchdown run at the 5:29 mark of the fourth quarter for the 35-21 lead.

Brockbank was hoping to come of the half with a drive like that, and even though his team didn’t, it still won the field position battle in the third quarter.

While Lone Peak’s defense was an obvious talking point in shutting down Corner Canyon’s offense in the second half, on the other side of the ball backup quarterback Cruz Christensen was outstanding.

He tossed four touchdowns — three of which went to Jaron Pula — and then also added a rushing touchdown in the final minute as the junior started in place of the injured Kepa Niumeitolu.

“I thought he was great tonight. He was poised. I thought he did really well managing the team, managing the offense. The thing about Cruz is he’d be starting at lots of other schools,” said Brockbank.

Without a timeline for Niumeitolu’s return, Christensen will likely be in line for more starts this season.

After going ahead 35-21 on Tahi’s late touchdown, Lone Peak’s defense made sure there’d be no dramatic Corner Canyon comeback — which has happened before — as it intercepted Casuga two more times before the game ended, including another by Mounga.

While Lone Peak enjoyed momentum pretty much the entire second half, the first half was a wild, back-and-forth affair in which the teams combined for 49 points and four turnovers — two each.

Lone Peak struck first on a Pula five-yard TD pass from Christensen, but Corner Canyon responded quickly as Casuga hit Lucas Jackson on a 2-yard TD pass.

As quickly as Corner Canyon tied the game, Lone Peak was back in front as Christensen connected with Pula again on a 56-yard TD pass for the 14-7 lead.

Lone Peak’s defense got a quick stop, and the offense looked poised to double the lead early in the second quarter but it fumble the ball away on the 10 yard line with Isaiah Morris recovering it.

Five plays later, Kai Meza walked into the end zone untouched on a 15-yard TD pass from Casuga tying the game at 14-14 with 10:44 remaining in the game.

Lone Peak’s ensuing possession proved to be arguably the biggest moment of the game. After picking up a couple first downs, the offense stalled and faced a fourth and 15 at Corner Canyon’s 34 yard line.

The coaches decided it was too close to punt and too far to try a field goal, so they went for it. Brockbank figured Corner Canyon’s defense would be “playing the sticks,” so they decided to throw the ball to Pula in the end zone, which he grabbed in single coverage for the 34-yard TD reception and the 21-14 lead.

“Sometimes in football you’ve just got to throw up the ball to your playmakers,” said a smiling Brockbank. “Sometimes guys just make such great plays.

You can’t even say ‘Hey, that was a great offensive play call.’ It’s just like, throw it up to the dude that’s four stars and going to the University of Utah.”

Instead of still being tied, Corner Canyon now trailed. It eventually tied the game up at 21-21 with 4:52 left in the second quarter on a Weston Briggs touchdown, but it could’ve been a go-ahead TD had the Chargers defended that key fourth down better.

Lone Peak regained the lead for good on its ensuing possession with a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive that Kennan Pula capped with an 18-yard TD pass from Christensen with 21 seconds left in the half.