Big plays, timely defense sends Skyridge past Lone Peak
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- Skyridge quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne (right) celebrates with teammate Jasean Mayberry after scoring a touchdown against Lone Peak in a high school football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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- Skyridge senior Boston Sorensen (5) leaps to block a field goal attempt by Lone Peak during a high school football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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- Lone Peak students, dressed in pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, react during a high school football game against Skyridge on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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- Lone Peak quarterback Kepa Niumeitolu throws a pass in a high school football game against Skyridge on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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- Lone Peak’s Owen McNeel (10) is dragged down by a Skyridge defender after catching a pass in a high school football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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- Lone Peak’s Jayden Mayberry (1) returns a kickoff against Skyridge in a high school football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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- The Lone Peak football team takes the field before a game against Skyridge on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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- Lone Peak quarterbacks Kepa Niumeitolu (12) and Cruz Christensen warm up before the start of a high school football game against Skyridge on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
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- Skyridge quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne (right) celebrates with teammate Jasean Mayberry after scoring a touchdown against Lone Peak in a high school football game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
The vibe of Friday’s Region 3 showdown between Skyridge and Lone Peak changed in a hurry.
The Knights led 10-7 at halftime and chewed up most of the third quarter on a long drive that reached the Falcons 17-yard line for what could have resulted in a decisive score.
Instead, Skyridge pulled off two huge plays — an interception from Darian Diarte and a big scoring run from Zaeden Selu — to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
There were some interesting moments in the final few minutes, but the visitors held on for a 21-16 victory, the second straight week the Falcons pulled off an upset.
Last week, it was undefeated Lehi that fell.
Skyridge is on a roll.
“We came into this week (preparing) like never before,” Selu said. “We were more focused this week and had more intensity in practice. It means a lot to us to get this win.”
Diarte’s pick thwarted Lone Peak’s drive and two plays later, Selu came up with his biggest run of the night. The senior dipped inside then outside, racing down the sideline on a 70-yard scoring scamper for a 14-10 Falcons lead with 52.4 seconds to play in the third quarter.
“Honestly, I was out of my mind right there,” Selu said. I couldn’t think. All I thought was just ‘keep my feet moving.’ That’s all I could do. It was supposed to go inside but I had to cut out.”
Skyridge hit some more big plays on its next drive, including a great running throw from Kaneal Sweetwyne to Josh Hansen for 30 yards and a 20-yard run from Jared Iakopo to the Lone Peak 6. Two plays later, Selu busted over for the touchdown from the 2-yard line and it was a 21-10 Falcons lead with 6:27 to play.
Moments later, Knights quarterback Kepa Niumeitolu broke loose on a 36-yard run to set his team up with the ball at the Skyridge 15-yard line, but four straight incompletions led to a turnover on downs with 4:02 remaining.
The Falcons took a risk and went for it on fourth and less than a yard from their own 24 with 2:53 to play but Lone Peak stopped Selu short. The Knights scored on a 1-yard Niumeitolu run a few plays later but failed on the two-point conversion, trimming the deficit to 21-16 at the 2:29 mark.
The Knights had two chances at an onside kick but couldn’t get the ball and Skyridge ran out the clock from there after Iakopo ran for a first down.
“Our defense came up huge twice with a turnover right before the first half,” Falcons coach Justin Hemm said. “And then again, when they get down in the red zone, another big turnover. And then two explosive big plays. We really changed the tide, the emotion and the energy. And Z (Selu) was a game breaker, right there, right? A game changer, as far as being able to finish that thing and put it in our hands.”
Skyridge broke out on top first, taking over on the Lone Peak 35-yard line early in the first quarter after a bad Knights punt snap. Sweetwyne sprinted 35 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and it was a 7-0 Falcons lead with 10:07 to play in the first.
Lone Peak trailed 7-3 when Sean Tahi took off on a 39-yard touchdown run for a 10-7 lead with 3:47 left in the half. Skyridge kicker Blake Hester missed a 36-yard field goal when the ball bounced off the upright with 30.5 seconds to play. Samuel Pollman intercepted a Niumeitolu pass at the Lone Peak 23 moments later but with 14.5 seconds on the clock a tipped pass resulted in a pick by the Knights Landon Goff to close out the half.
The Lehi and Lone Peak wins give Skyridge momentum heading into the regular season stretch run.
“I don’t know if much has changed,” Hemm said. “We’ve had a tough schedule, and that’s what we want. That was part of it, right? The ball sometimes doesn’t bounce our way but we want to learn from our mistakes and continue to grow. And I think that’s just going to continue to make us better in the long run.”
Skyridge (6-2 overall, 3-0 Region 3) has now won four straight against Lone Peak. The Falcons will be at Pleasant Grove next Thursday.
Lone Peak (6-2, 2-1), whose only other loss was to Centennial (Calif.), has another big game on the schedule next Thursday hosting Lehi.
SKYRIDGE 21, LONE PEAK 16
Skyridge 7 0 7 7 — 21
Lone Peak 3 7 0 7 — 16
SR-Sweetwyne 35 run (Hester kick)
LP-Carr 38 FG
LP-Tahi 39 run (Carr kick)
SR-Selu 70 run (Hester kick)
SR-Selu 2 run (Hester kick)
LP-Niumeitolu 1 run (pass failed)
