Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

SALT LAKE CITY — Lone Peak learned from its mistakes and the Knights are headed to the 6A football state finals.

Landon Goff returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and the Lone Peak defense caused three turnovers, the final one thwarting a last-minute drive by Skyridge, in Thursday’s 28-21 victory in the 6A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

When the two teams met in Region 3 play on Oct. 4, Lone Peak had all the momentum but an interception and big run by Skyridge in the third quarter flipped the script in a 21-16 Falcons win.

“Our problem was that we allowed that momentum to continue for about another quarter before we took it back,” Lone Peak coach Bart Brockbank said. “You can’t do that. Great teams get the momentum right back. They don’t allow teams to kind of take that momentum. I felt like today, when we had bad things happen, we actually came back and just executed and settled in. We didn’t let them take the momentum from us.”

One of those big momentum plays was Goff’s first quarter kickoff return. Skyridge went 80 yards in 10 plays on its first possession, quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne taking the ball into the end zone from 10 yards out for a 7-0 lead.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

Goff took the ensuing kickoff on the bounce and weaved his way 95 yards for the tying score.

“We’ve been blocking it great all year,” Goff said. “Coach (Ryan) Denney focuses on special teams. I saw the gap and I just knew it was a wrap from there.”

Brockbank said receiver coach Jason Kukuahiko predicted before the game that the Knights would score on special teams.

“We saw it on film where if they gave us a kick down the middle, we felt like we could get to the right side,” Brockbank said. “Oftentimes, they try to kick to the left hash and force us all the way across, but the kick landed middle. It bounced once and we got it down that right side. We felt like we had the strength on that side and the quickness to be able get there before they could get everybody around.”

Goff was untouched as he sped past all defenders into the end zone.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

“It’s so good, that feeling,” Goff said. “I’ve got to thank my blockers for that one.”

Lone Peak forced a pair of turnovers to take the lead. A Jayden Mayberry hit caused a Skyridge fumble, recovered by Jr. Tahi. Five plays later, quarterback Kepa Niumeitolu scrambled seven yards into the end zone for the 14-7 lead.

Goff played a part in the next Lone Peak takeaway, picking off a Sweetwyne pass and returning the ball to midfield with 9:14 to play in the second quarter. On third and goal, Niumeitolu bought some time and eventually found Jaesean Mayberry for a seven-yard scoring play, forging a 21-7 lead with 4:30 to go in the half.

Skyridge responded with an eight-play, 94-yard drive for a score just before halftime. Sweetwyne connected with Adam Warren on a 30-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds to play, sending the Falcons in the locker room down 21-14 at halftime.

Sean Tahi, who rushed for 115 yards on 13 carries, ripped off three big runs to set up Lone Peak’s next score. Niumeitolu lofted a pass in the corner to 6-foot-5 Isaac Staley, who reached over a defender for an impressive catch and a 21-yard touchdown. The Knights led 28-14 with 9:18 to play in the third.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

Skyridge got that score back on its next drive as Sweetwyne escaped the rush and sprinted 45 yards into Lone Peak territory. Zaeden Selu bulled over from 1-yard out a few plays later to cut the Lone Peak lead to 28-21 with 5:23 left in the game.

Skyridge forced a punt and took over with four minutes to play and 80 yards to go to tie the game. A pass interference penalty on Lone Peak set up the Falcons near midfield. The Lone Peak defense stepped up with a huge play moments later as Tahi sacked Sweetwyne and forced a fumble, recovered by Bott Mulitalo with 1:15 to play.

The Knights took over possession and on third-and-12, Samuel Wright outraced the Skyridge defense to the corner to pick up a first down with 55 seconds remaining. Lone Peak was able to run out the clock from there.

Sweetwyne ran for 97 yards and passed for 149 for Skyridge (10-3), which was denied a third straight trip to the 6A finals.

Cade Hansen (13 tackles) and Kalvin Liavaa (11) spearheaded the Lone Peak defensive effort and Goff also punted four times for a 43.2 yard average.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

“Resiliency has been a big one for us this year,” Brockbank said. “That’s why the (earlier) loss to Skyridge was such a frustrating one. When bad things happen to us, we generally punch right back and get back in the game. That’s been the hallmark of this team. Kepa is a leader on offense. Sometimes I test his pulse on the sideline. And then on defense, Jayden and Landon keep them calm and they just don’t let anyone beat them.”

Lone Peak (11-2) gets a rematch with top-seed Corner Canyon (12-1) in next week’s championship game. The two teams met on Aug. 30 in Highland in a game won by the Knights 28-21.

Lone Peak and Corner Canyon have played twice in the 6A finals, with the Chargers winning 45-7 in 2020 and the Knights claiming a 49-42 victory in 2021.

Corner Canyon edged Lehi 35-34 in overtime in the earlier 6A semifinal on Thursday.

“Coach (Eric) Kjar is great,” Bott said. “He always runs a great offense. We’ll just have to play really sound defense and play the best we can.”

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

Lone Peak football coach Bart Brockbank talks to his team after a 28-21 6A semifinal victory against Skyridge at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

The Lone Peak football team celebrates a 28-21 6A semifinal win against Skyridge at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

Zaeden Selu of Skyridge (4) runs the football against Lone Peak in a 6A semifinal game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

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