High school boys lacrosse: A new era? Skyridge dethrones Corner Canyon for 6A state championship

Published: May 23, 2026, 8:14 p.m. MDT

Skyridge celebrates after defeating Corner Canyon 12-11 in the 6A boys lacrosse championship game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

By Bruce Smith

Ever since the Utah High School Activities Association added lacrosse to its list of sanctioned sports, the 6A state championship has gone through Corner Canyon.

The Chargers have had an elite program, and have won every 6A boys state title since 2021. They were heavily favored to do it again this season, but the Skyridge Falcons had other ideas.

The Falcons got four goals from Dylan Forsgren, but it was Tamanuitoi Johnson’s score with 2:29 left that lifted Skyridge to a 12-11 win over the Chargers Saturday afternoon at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.

The Falcons rallied from a 4-0 deficit, and even trailed going into the final quarter, but Kaiden Hobbs scored two goals and Carson Butterfield, Forsgen and Johnson each found the net in the final period to help second-seeded Skyridge at least start to see some level of parity among the state’s biggest schools.

“We were playing our best lacrosse at the end,” said Falcons coach Bart Butterfield, whose team finished with a 17-2 record and celebrated wildly Saturday after losing in the semifinals last year.

“Shock. Disbelief. That’s what I’m feeling right now,” he added. “We pulled it off after a lot of work.”

Skyridge's Tamanuitoi Johnson (33) celebrates with Grady Gunter (7) and Kaiden Hobbs (27) after scoring the game winning goal against Corner Canyon in the 6A boys lacrosse championship game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Skyridge plays Corner Canyon in the 6A boys lacrosse championship game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, May 23, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Corner Canyon's Kampton Dutton (7) shoots between Skyridge's Covelli Moore (12) and Max Poecker (88) during the 6A boys lacrosse championship game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, May 23, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Corner Canyon's Kampton Dutton (7) smacks his head into his stick after missing a chance against Skyridge during the 6A boys lacrosse championship game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Skyridge's Cabell Buechner (99) cuts a piece of the net after Skyridge defeated Corner Canyon 12-11 to win the 6A boys lacrosse championship at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Corner Canyon sailed through its regular-season schedule, earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament and then defeated tournament opponents such as Cedar Valley 27-3, Westlake 22-5 and then Mountain Ridge 22-3.

Coach Jeff King was obviously uncertain how to react after this rare loss but praised Skyridge for being prepared for the championship environment, playing in front of a big crowd, 85-degree weather and an unfamiliar stadium.

The Chargers defeated the Falcons 15-10 in late April on the Falcons’ home field thanks to seven goals in the third period. Pierson DeGracie, who scored seven times in the game last month, had only two this time and none after halftime.

“They ran a great zone (defense),” said King, who grew up in New York and won three national championships at Hobart College. “We started the game well and got a lot of momentum but couldn’t keep it. Credit to Skyridge … they took us out of our game.”

View Comments

The second half was particularly exciting. Corner Canyon led 6-4 at intermission but Skyridge eventually tied it 7-7 thanks to three straight goals from Forsgren. Hobbs and Forsgren later added consecutive goals midway through the fourth period to give Skyridge its first lead.

Corner Canyon had a chance to tie the contest in the final minutes but officials waived off the Chargers’ tying score because one of their players was inside the crease (goalkeeper’s box) at the time.

King admitted that was the case and didn’t argue. The Chargers gave up the ball and Skyridge kept possession for the rest of the match to take home the trophy.

“We’ll be back,” said King. “The kids will remember what this feels like and they’ll use it to motivate themselves for next year. The game is improving (locally) and all the teams push each other. It gets better every year.”

Looking for comments?

Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.