The Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights and the Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons are traveling similar paths this season.
Both teams have spent time in The Sporting News Composite Rankings this fall only to fall out after losing to higher-ranked opponents. And both squads are currently 5-2 and unlikely to crack anybody's Top 25 for the rest of the season.
In Lone Peak's case, the first setback came in a 35-14 loss at the then-No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels in a game that could have been even worse. The game was called after a skirmish broke out in the third quarter, and most of Lone Peak's team left the bench area leading to mass ejections. The Knights didn't have enough players to continue so the game was called, and Bishop Gorman was awarded the win.
Skyridge's unbeaten run lasted just one more week as the Falcons' were humbled in a 51-28 loss at Colorado's top-ranked Cherry Creek [Greenwood Village, CO] Bruins on September 12. Both teams then suffered their second losses last week with Skyridge losing, 49-14, to the Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers while Lone Peak stumbled in a 31-28 loss to the American Fork [UT] Cavemen.
These two Utah powers surely won't be looking past Thursday night when they meet on Skyridge's home field in a game that will help sort out the playoff picture in the weeks to come.
MORE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
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Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights at Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons
LAST WEEK'S GAME OF THE WEEK No. 8 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels 14, No. 13 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles 0
Saturday, September 27, 2025
"The Nest" | 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST local)
TV/Streaming: KSL Sports
Local Media Coverage: Deseret News
School Athletics Websites: Lone Peak Athletics | Skyridge Athletics
School Social Media: Lone Peak Football on X.com @LPKnightsFB | Skyridge Football on X.com @skyridgefb
The Background
As noted above, both of these teams have been ranked in national Top 25 lists this year, boosting them into the SN Composite Rankings.
But September proved to be a hard on both squads, and the two teams enter this game with identical 5-2 records. This figures to be a hard-fought game that should be competitive, and the winner will bolster its position for the upcoming Utah UHSAA playoffs.
Top Recruits
- Lone Peak has four seniors listed on 247sports.com Class of 2026 for the state of Utah. Offensive tackle Bott Mulitalo (6-5, 290 lbs., BYU) is the state's No. 3 prospect, and their twin wide receivers Jaron and Kennan Pula are ranked No. 5 and No. 9, respectively. They have jointly committed to Utah. Injured QB Kepa Niumeitolu is a 3-star prospect committed to Idaho State. Junior 3-star RB Sean Tahi is the top junior in the program.
- Skyridge Skyridge has two seniors on the 247sports.com list led by QB Kaneal Sweetwyne who is uncommitted. Edge rusher Harvie Moeai (6-4, 225 lbs.) is committed to Arizona. They also have junior 3-star CB Jernaro Gilford Jr.
When Lone Peak has the ball ...
Tahi's brightest moment so far in 2025 came in Lone Peak's big win over Top 25 Corner Canyon on September 19 when he picked up 91 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown. He was less effective (9 carries for 32 yards) a week later in a loss to American Fork, and he was almost invisible in the earlier loss to Bishop Gorman (4 carries for 4 yards). Tate Barney (51 carries for 318 yards) and Isaac Fonua (39 carries for 232 yards) have also contributed heavily to the running game at various times, and collectively, the Knights' ground game helps take the heat off junior QB Cruz Christensen. He has passed for 1,099 yards (80-of-126) with 12 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions, during Niumeitolu's absence.
Senior ILB Griffin Kunz is one of the "quarterbacks" of the defense with a team-leading 59 tackles, and nine of those were made behind the line. He and Moeai have both logged 2.5 sacks on the season as well.
When Skyridge has the ball ...
Sweetwyne has been effective directing the Falcons' attack with 1,973 passing yards on 141-of-212 attempts. He's thrown 23 touchdown passes, but is also occasionally prone to throwing one to the other team with 10 interceptions. He's also been effective spreading the ball around with six different Falcon receivers logging double-digit reception totals. Skyridge has a Tahi of their own in all-purpose back Lincoln Tahi who has proven to be Sweetwyne's favorite receiver out of the backfield this year with 37 catches for 317 yards and 3 scores. Tahi and Sweetwyne have split the rushing load with the former toting the ball 62 times for 275 yards and 4 tallies while Sweetwyne has 64 carries for 427 yards and 9 touchdowns. Suffice it to say, Sweetwyne is the engine that makes the Falcons' offense go, albeit with a heavy dose of Tahi helping out.
They'll keep the pressure on a Lone Peak defense that has leaned heavily on senior SS Tony Grimmer who has 73 stops, including 9 tackles for loss. Grimmer also has two interceptions and two fumbles recovered so he can be a disruptor on the defensive side. He is assisted by the linebacking duo of freshman Kingston Stroshine (44 tackles) and junior Sa Tanuvasa (31 tackles)
Keys to the game
Lone Peak wins if Sean Tahi and his backfield mates are at their best and grinding out yards on the ground to take the pressure off the quarterback and the passing game. That will help sustain drives and keep the chains moving while neutralizing Kunz and Moeai who can spend a lot of time in the offensive backfield making negative plays for the Falcons' defense.
Skyridge wins if Sweetwyne is able to make plays with both his feet and his arm. He's most effective when he's spreading the ball around and not relying solely on Lincoln Tahi, and that includes getting the ball into the hands of his senior playmakers at receiver, including Hunter Sheffield (25-370 yards, 5 TDs) and Talmage Oswald (26-461 yards, 3 TDs). He'll have to locate Lone Peak's Grimmer in coverage and not lose track of him when he's rushed to avoid throwing those interceptions that have proven costly at times.
Looking Ahead
None of the losses by these two teams are bad, with the cumulative record of the teams that have beaten Lone Peak and Skyridge standing at 22-3. And both of these teams could still affect Utah's playoff picture as the Knights will host the Lehi [UT] Pioneers (4-3) next while Skyridge still has a contest remaining against American Fork (6-1).
Series history
Lone Peak opened in 1997, but Skyridge has only been around since 2016. They've played 10 times, splitting them evenly with each team winning five games. That includes an even split in 2024 when Skyridge won the regular-season meeting, 21-16, before Lone Peak evened things up again in the state semifinals in a 28-21 win.
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