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Skyridge receiver Omarian Sanders celebrates a touchdown reception during his team's 28-20 win over Lehi. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Skyridge's Drayson Afalava leads a celebration following a key fourth-down stop versus Lehi on Thursday. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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A brave and young local cancer survivor leads Lehi players on to the field prior to Thursday's game versus Skyridge. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Skyridge prepares to take the field prior to its win over Lehi on Thursday. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Lehi running back Cam Bryce looks for room to run versus Skyridge during Thursday's game. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Skyridge defensive lineman Sitiveni Fuatapu-ngata celebrates a sack during his team's 28-20 win over Lehi. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Skyridge quarterback Jagger Fountaine winds up to throw a pass during his team's game versus Lehi on Thursday. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Skyridge receiver Malosi Shepard celebrates his touchdown reception with his teammates during Thursday's game versus Lehi. September 17, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Weather delays, bus breakdowns and injuries incurred to key players. It’s all become commonplace for a Skyridge team through the midway point of the season.

But despite all of it, the Falcons have managed to rise above it at just about every turn.

On Thursday, the Falcons were made to buckle down and withstand all of it again, well save for the bus breakdown this time, in defeating crosstown rival Lehi 28-20.

For Skyridge quarterback Jagger Fountaine, who threw for three touchdown passes and ran for the other score in the win, not taking on weather delays or other issues would actually be weird at this stage. And like most good quarterbacks, the junior signal-caller was found huddling with his offensive line group postgame before taking questions from the media.

“It’s been tough, but like (Skyridge) Coach (Justin) Hemm says we love the adversity,” he said. “Like lightning delays, we’re so used to them. We go in the locker room, and it just helps us build energy at this point. So it’s been tough, but it’s also kind of been fun, and it’s fun to kind of have a lightning delay and then to be able to build off the lightning delay.”

During Thursday’s win the lightning delay hit midway through the second quarter, leading officials to clear the field for what ultimately led to a delay of around a half hour. As mentioned, the Falcons have been there before, and have incurred weather delays in four of their six games played this season, which is unlike anything Hemm has encountered in his time as Skyridge’s head coach.

But it hasn’t just been the weather delays the team has battled through. Without being too specific, Hemm mentioned other adversity his team has battled through to arrive at its stellar 5-1 record so far this season.

“There’s been a lot of things we’ve been battling kind of internally as a team, and I think our boys ,as a result, have come together and been stronger as a result,” Hemm said. “So when we get into these pressure situations, I think they’ve done a tremendous job. I mean, that’s four games now with a lightning delay. We had a bus breakdown on the way to (Las) Vegas. So yeah, each week it’s been something.”

While tough to take on at any time, Hemm firmly believes all of it has and will pay dividends for the rest of the season.

“I think ultimately that going through this grind and being in multiple one-score games,” Hemm said. “I think at the end of the day, it brings these guys closer to just trusting the unit, trusting the guy next to them, and in each guy doing their job and executing.”

As for Thursday’s win, a great deal of the adversity Skyridge faced was somewhat self-inflicted. After taking a 7-0 first quarter lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by Fountaine, Lehi managed to tie things up at the half at 14-14 after a pick-6 and then a kickoff returned for a touchdown.

But time and again it was Skyridge’s defense standing up even when handed tough situations to lead the way to the win.

We give up two non-offensive touchdowns to Lehi, and defense did a tremendous job all night long, forcing them into third-and-longs,” Hemm said. “Even the last drive, to put them in a fourth-and-17 there and limit hope.”

“I believe (we have) the best defense in the state,” Fountaine added. “That was my fault on the pick-six, and obviously (we gave up) the kickoff return, but they battled, and Coach Pat (Gleaves) is a great (defensive coordinator), and they do such a good job. They fly around, they make plays, and offensively, lthem playing well just helps us build momentum. So, shout out to our defense tonight.”

Fountaine was also quick to credit his offensive line, which allowed him on multiple occasions to sit back in the pocket to find open receivers like Omarian Sanders, who caught touchdown passes of 54 and four yards and also Malosi Shepard, who capped off the game with his own 54-yard touchdown reception.

“If I don’t have the time with the O-line, then I don’t get to throw to Milosi, who’s wide open and ran a great route,” Fountaine said. “And then Omar was running by dudes all night, too. So they were massive in the big plays.”

Adding considerably to the win was the fact that it was over Lehi, which both sides consider a big rivalry. For Fountaine, it’s a win he’ll relish for at least the next year, if not longer.

“It’s awesome,” he concluded when asked how it felt to defeat the Pioneers. “You know, this is a rivalry for the city, and, we get bragging rights for a whole year against these guys. It’s so fun. It’s so awesome.”