High School Football: Skyridge defense stands tall in win over Lehi

It wasn't always easy or pretty, but Skyridge found a way to defeat one of the top teams in the state on Thursday night in Lehi, winning 20-16 in a strong defensive battle to hand the Pioneers their first loss of the season.

“I have to put the spotlight on the entire defense. The boys were flying around and nothing was easy for us. We had a couple of crucial goal line stops and were in some crucial four-down situations and the guys were able to come up big in the big moments,” Skyridge head coach Justin Hemm said.

Skyridge scored on its first possession of the game on a 1-yard run by Zaeden Helu. It took a while, but Lehi finally got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter on a 40-yard field goal by Gavin Fenn.

Lehi then briefly took a 10-7 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jett Niu with 1:13 left in the first half, but Skyridge tied it at two on a 38-yard field goal by Blake Hester The break was over with seconds to go.

The score remained at 10 until Hester hit a 20-yard field goal with just under six minutes left in the third quarter to give Skyridge a 13-10 lead.

Towards the end of the game, Lehi had a unique opportunity to at least equalize. With eight minutes left, the ball was at the Skyridge 2-yard line and Lehi elected to go for fourth down instead of kicking the short field goal, but the Falcons stopped them just short of the goal line.

“We have excellent leadership. We have guys that are coachable, that want a good challenge, that want to be pushed and pushed out of their comfort zone, and that’s a credit to those guys,” Hemm said.

“We weren't perfect and here we are hoping to clean up a few things and if we can do that and put together a complete game, I think our chances are good.”

The gamble proved costly as Skyridge made Lehi pay on the ensuing possession, scoring on a 17-yard run by quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne.

Lehi scored its only points in the second half on a 13-yard touchdown scramble by Niu that tied the game.

“Lehi and coach (Ed) Larson are doing an excellent job and we knew what the task was tonight,” Hemm said. “They have great kids and we knew this was going to be a battle and a fight. It sheds a lot of light on our team. It was a great win and I’m really happy for our boys.”