BREAKING: Corner Canyon’s Utah three-peat meets a national reality check
Corner Canyon climbed the Utah mountain again. Then a national giant met the Chargers at the summit. St. Frances Academy beat Corner Canyon 37–20 in the inaugural Overtime Nationals on Wednesday night, closing a remarkable season with a hard lesson and a higher ceiling. The loss does not erase what the Chargers built. It shows what comes next.
The three-peat that launched a national shot
On November 20, Corner Canyon finished a dominant in-state run with a 35–20 win over Lone Peak to win the Utah 6A title. It was the program’s third straight championship. Senior running back Weston Briggs played like a star in lights, rolling to 170 yards and four touchdowns in the title game. That is the blueprint this program trusts. Run with force. Play fast. Finish drives.
Head coach Eric Kjar now holds seven state championships. His eight-year stretch with the Chargers has rewritten the standard for Utah high school football. The machine is real, and it travels.
Weston Briggs tied a championship game mark with four touchdowns in the 6A final. The senior set the tone for the Chargers’ season.
The payoff for that work was clear. A national invitation. A shot at history. Corner Canyon accepted the call.
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What went wrong in Baltimore
The Overtime Nationals brought top stakes, a national TV window on ESPN2, and a winner’s prize of 250,000 dollars for the athletic department. The venue was Under Armour Stadium. The opponent, St. Frances Academy, is a heavyweight with front line speed and depth. That frame told the story early.
St. Frances’ defense strangled the run game in the first half, holding Corner Canyon to negative rushing yards at the break. The Panthers controlled the line, won first down, and turned throws into third and long. On offense, St. Frances mixed power and pace. Their backs hit gaps with burst, and quarterback Jae’Oyn Williams landed three touchdown throws. Jaylen Burke churned past 100 yards on the ground. The Panthers built a cushion and forced Corner Canyon to chase.
Key moments
- A St. Frances sack stopped Corner Canyon’s first red zone trip.
- A long Panthers run set up the first touchdown, and a quick strike pass made it 14–0.
- Special teams punched back when Eli Borge scored on a return, sparking life.
- Backup quarterback Bronson Evans fired two fourth quarter touchdown passes to keep hope alive.
Corner Canyon never quit. The late surge showed heart, depth, and resolve. Evans’ timing throws and Borge’s spark trimmed the margin. The clock did not cooperate. St. Frances closed with heavy runs and clean tackles. The national crown stayed in Baltimore.
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What the loss reveals about the Chargers
This game spotlighted the gap that exists on the edges and in the trenches at the national level. Corner Canyon’s skill talent can score on anyone. The Chargers’ special teams can flip a game. The quarterback room is deeper than most. Those are real strengths.
The issue on Wednesday was clear. St. Frances owned the first quarter and the line of scrimmage. When the run game stalls, the Chargers need quicker answers. Screens, tempo, and perimeter touches must arrive earlier. Protection must hold up when the defense pins its ears back. Those fixes are teachable. They are also testable in spring and summer work.
The offseason focus is simple. Add trench depth, speed up early answers against elite fronts, and keep building special teams edges.
Program impact and what comes next
Even with the loss, Corner Canyon leaves this season with a bigger brand and stronger momentum. Three straight titles. A national stage. A national power across the field. Recruits and families see a program that plays for trophies in November and invitations in December. That matters.
Kjar’s staff will use the tape like a mirror. Which sets travel against national fronts. Which players win one-on-one late in games. Who holds up on third down. Evans put productive snaps on film that will shape the quarterback room. Briggs’ standard in the run game now becomes a challenge for the next feature back. The Chargers will lift, retool, and schedule with intent. They do not wait for the moment. They build toward it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Corner Canyon achieve this season?
A: The Chargers won a third straight Utah 6A state title, beating Lone Peak 35–20, and earned a berth in the first Overtime Nationals.
Q: Why did Corner Canyon lose to St. Frances?
A: St. Frances controlled the line early, stuffed the run, and hit explosive plays. Corner Canyon rallied late but ran out of time.
Q: Who stood out for Corner Canyon?
A: In-state, senior back Weston Briggs dominated the title game with 170 yards and four scores. In Baltimore, Eli Borge scored on special teams and backup quarterback Bronson Evans threw two late touchdowns.
Q: What was at stake at Overtime Nationals?
A: A national title and a 250,000 dollar donation to the winning school’s athletic department.
Q: How does this affect next season?
A: The experience raises the bar. Expect a focus on line play, early-game adjustments, and keeping the tempo high from the first snap.
Corner Canyon’s season ends with a bruise, not a blemish. Utah’s standard-bearer proved it belongs in December’s biggest rooms. The Chargers now know exactly where the national bar sits. They have the culture, the coaching, and the hunger to clear it next fall. 🏈
