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Skyridge's Jackson Horsley (10) reacts after returning an interception for a touchdown against Corner Canyon in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Skyridge's Sua Ripley (4) and Carter Seu (99) put pressure on Corner Canyon quarterback Jaxon Pehrson in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Skyridge's Beckham Bennett (4) and Jagger Fountaine (3) celebrate with teammates after a 37-27 victory against Corner Canyon in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Skyridge's Ethan Schriever (5) is greeted on the sideline after returning an interception for a touchdown against Corner Canyon in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Skyridge students react during a high school football game against Corner Canyon on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Skyridge's Daynian Afalava (51) and Omarian Sanders (1) celebrate a touchdown scored by teammate Ului Faletau in a high school football game against Corner Canyon on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Skyridge quarterback Jagger Fountaine throws a pass against Corner Canyon in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Skyridge running back Beckham Bennett carries the ball against Corner Canyon in a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Skyridge captains (from left) Jagger Fountaine, Rex Caswell, Dax Rehrer and Crew Stevens walk to the coin toss before a high school football game against Corner Canyon on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Skyridge football team takes the field before the start of a high school game against Corner Canyon on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

Big-play offense, meet big-play defense.

Corner Canyon came into Friday night’s showdown with Skyridge averaging better than 42 points per game behind a powerful running game and a potent passing attack.

Like a thief in the night the Falcons stole five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, in a 37-27 victory.

“Our defense stepped up,” said senior defensive back Jackson Horsley, who got the party started with a pick-six midway through the first quarter. “That’s what we planned all week.”

The plan went so well, in fact, that Skyridge held a stunning 27-0 lead midway through the second quarter on the three-time defending 6A champions.

“I thought our defense did a great job to help us get in that situation,” Falcons head coach Justin Hemm said. “Offensively, I thought we executed. We talked all week about winning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, taking care of the football and being great on special teams. For the most part, I thought we did a great job of that. And winning the turnover battle was huge.”

With the five interceptions, an onside kick recovery and two fourth-down stands, the Skyridge defense totaled eight change of possessions to keep Corner Canyon at arms length.

“Ultimately, I think that’s who we are defensively and who we want to be,” Hemm said.

Horsley’s big play was the result of good positioning and tremendous pressure from Carter Seu and Sua Ripley. That pressure caused Jaxon Perhson’s pass to flutter and Horsley snagged it out of the air.

“My helmet broke right before the play, so I was kind of flustered with that,” Horsley said. “As soon as the ball went up, my first thought was, ‘Go get it,’ and once I got it, I took it to the crib.”

Corner Canyon’s next possession took the Chargers deep into Skyridge territory but Ethan Schriever stepped in front of a Perhson pass and sprinted down the sideline 83 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead.

The Falcons surprised the visitors with an onside kick, which was recovered by Kalani Finau at the Corner Canyon 43. Jagger Fountaine completed passes to Steeler Wesley and Omarian Sanders to move the ball inside the 10-yard line, where Ului Faletau broke three tackles to lunge into the end zone from seven yards out. With 3:48 to play in the first quarter, Skyridge led 21-0.

Senior linebacker Sa Taunvasa, who recorded 15 tackles (six solo), nabbed the first of his two interceptions to set up another Falcons score midway through the second quarter. Skyridge converted a fourth-and-2 on the ensuring drive and Beckham Bennett busted over from the 1-yard line for a 27-0 advantage.

Skyridge led 27-7 at halftime and Corner Canyon trimmed the deficit to 27-14 in the third quarter. Tanuvasa’s second interception set up a 32-yard field goal from Evan Kopp for a 30-14 lead entering the fourth.

The Chargers (5-2 overall, 1-1 Region 3) made things interesting by pulling to within 10, 30-20, and went for two after scoring on their own pick-six. But the Falcons’ defense made the stop and Bennett’s 48-yard burst to the end zone with 1:49 to play sealed the win.

Eli Mortensen had an interception to add to Tanuvasa’s two and one each for Horsley and Schriever.

“Man, for the whole week, our defense was all about consistency and discipline,” Tanuvasa said. “I have to give praise to the D-line and the DB’s. The D-line, they worked their butts off and got into the backfield. They’re not taking plays off. The DB’s are locking up and staying over the top.”

Bennett and Faletau — both around 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds — were workhorses for the Skyridge offense. Bennett had 13 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns and Faletau added 19 totes for 87 yards and a score.

“These guys are great in the weight room,” Hemm said. “They have a low center of gravity and keep those legs moving. It’s tough to find them behind the line of scrimmage and they do a great job of keeping those legs moving.”

Skyridge (6-1, 2-0) moved to the No. 1 spot in the RPI and its only loss was in the season opening to No. 2 Mountain Ridge. A victory against Corner Canyon — which has only lost seven games to Utah schools over the past eight seasons — is significant moving forward.

“I think the loss to Mountain Ridge, we beat ourselves up because of our missed assignments,” Tanvasa said. “We just have to stay disciplined as possible because if we do our assignments, no team in the state can beat us.”

The Falcons finish the season with Region 3 matchups against Lone Peak and American Fork.

“Tonight was a good win,” Hemm said. “It shows out boys a belief in the process. This is a great win that just reaffirms what we’re trying to do here.”

SKYRIDGE 37, CORNER CANYON 27

Corner Canyon 0 7 7 13 – 27

Skyridge 21 6 3 7 – 37

SR-Horsley 31 interception return (Kopp kick)

SR-Schriever 83 interception return (Kopp kick)

SR-Faletau 7 run (Kopp kick)

SR-Bennett 1 run (kick failed)

CC-Carruth 17 pass from Pehrson (Burnett kick)

CC-Dart 37 pass from Pehrson (Burnett kick)

SR-Kopp 32 FG

CC-Sudweeks 95 interception return (run failed)

SR-Bennett 48 run (Kopp kick)

CC-Dart 6 pass from Borg (Burnett kick)