High school football is here.
Starting this week, the entire state of Utah will get the chance to enjoy the most dominant teams and up-and-coming players battle it out on the prep gridiron. The season began Thursday with a matchup between Desert Hills and Brighton, with fall’s first full slate of games coming a day later.
Last season, there were upsets up and down the state both in the regular season and in the various state tournaments. And 2022 could promise to be another unpredictable year.
Here are the top 10 games to watch during the high school football season in the Beehive State.
1. Lone Peak vs. Corner Canyon
When: Oct. 7, 8 p.m.
Where: Lone Peak High School
Notes: Not only did the Knights end the Chargers’ storied 48-game winning streak, they also ended the Draper team’s run of state titles in thrilling fashion. Chargers quarterback Isaac Wilson — brother of Zach Wilson — will be a player to watch, as will linebacker and BYU commit Owen Borg. This game will also air on ESPNU.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Aiden McDonald (23) of Corner Canyon pressures Ezekiel Greco (13) of Skyridge in prep football action between the Corner Canyon Chargers and the Skyridge Falcons, on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Draper.
2. Timpview vs. Skyridge
When: Sept. 9, 7 p.m.
Where: Timpview High School
Notes: This is one of those non-region matchups with plenty of intrigue. The top two uncommitted four-star recruits in Utah are facing off against each other — Tausili Akana of Skyridge and Spencer Fano of Timpview. Siale Esera is yet another four-star recruit at Timpview that could see action in that game, while Smith Snowden is a three-star recruit for Skyridge.
3. Corner Canyon at Bishop Gorman (Nevada)
When: Aug. 19
Where: Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas
Notes: The Gaels are ranked No. 13 among the High School Football America 100. The Chargers are ranked No. 93. Enough said.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lone Peak celebrates their win over Corner Canyon in the 6A high school football championship game in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021.
4. Lone Peak at Liberty (Nevada)
When: Aug. 26, 7 p.m.
Where: Lone Peak HS
Notes: Another game where two nationally ranked teams will face off. The Knights are No. 84 in the High School Football America 100 , and Liberty is No. 96.
5. West at Mater Dei
When: Aug. 19, 7 p.m.
Where: Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, Calif.
Notes: Non-region schedules are generally to help a team prepare for the regular season by setting up games with some tougher competition. Nothing perhaps is more indicative of that than West playing against a team that is considered the best high school football program in the United States. The game will be streamed on KSL.
(George Frey | Special to The Tribune) Springville High School quarterback Ryder Burton talks to his head coach Dave Valeti, left, during practices on Aug. 8, 2022. Burton has committed to play football at BYU after his high school career.
6. Springville at Spanish Fork
When: Sept. 9, 7 p.m.
Where: Spanish Fork HS
Notes: Rising senior and BYU commit Ryder Burton exploded for 2,301 passing yards last season at quarterback. He very well could be the next great QB for the Cougars. Fans can watch him all season, but this particular game against Spanish Fork will be interesting considering Springville lost last year’s matchup.
7. Skyline vs. Olympus
When: Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
Where: Olympus HS
Notes: The 2022 installment of the Battle of the Rock. Olympus took the rock last season, while Skyline took it the year before.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Chance Hoggard (71) goes after a fumble for the Broncos Cobe Carter loses the ball for the Beavers, in 2A Football Championship action between The San Juan Broncos and the Beaver Beavers, at the Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart Stadium in Ogden, on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.
8. San Juan vs. Beaver
When: Oct. 7, 7 p.m.
Where: San Juan HS
Notes: These two teams lost a total of three games all last season and met in the 2A championship game, which San Juan won.
9. Snow Canyon at Pine View
When: Oct. 7, 7 p.m.
Where: Pine View HS
Notes: The two St. George teams battled out in the regular season 4A finale in 2021 as well as the first round of the state tournament. Pine View has had Snow Canyon’s number the last few years, but can the Warriors turn it around in 2022?
10. Box Elder at Bear River
When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
Where: Bear River HS
Notes: This is one of the longest-running rivalries in all of Utah high school football. The game will be the 102nd uninterrupted installment. Box Elder took last year’s matchup, and Bear won the year before.
