Region 2 Preview: Six Months Out

The UHSAA realignment completely shook up Region 2. Gone are all the old teams from the region, and in are all the teams from Region 3 except West Jordan, who moved to Region 4 in 5A. However, Region 2 added Corner Canyon. The Chargers join the conference off four straight state championship game appearances and two titles. The new look Region 2 will feature great matchups between some of the state's best teams. Here is how each team looks just a few weeks away from spring ball.   Corner Canyon Chargers    No team in the state has won more games than Corner Canyon over the past six seasons. The Chargers are a combined 74-6 in that span, and Head Coach Eric Kjar has built his program into a dynasty. They lost three games last season in what some may consider a "down year," but that was not the case if you look closer. Corner Canyon losses were to Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, one of the top teams in the country. Then to Lehi Pioneers and Skyridge Falcons, the 5A and 6A state champions. Skyridge and the 2021 state champion Lone Peak Knights were stacked with talented players who are or will soon be playing in college. Make no mistake, the Chargers are still the top program in the state and should be considered the favorite to win Region three and the 6A state championship. Corner Canyon is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and this year they won't have to go through the gauntlet that was Region 4. Region 3 has many formidable teams, but none have won the last five state championships as Region 4 teams had. In 2023 the Chargers will return the state's top quarterback-receiver duo in [player_tooltip player_id='406954' first='Isaac' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='572405' first='Tate' last='Kjar']. The terrific tandem connected for 18 touchdown passes, with Wilson scoring 45 total touchdowns last season. Defensively the Chargers return one of the state's top pass rushers in [player_tooltip player_id='406961' first='Kash' last='Dillion'], and with linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='406966' first='Bo' last='Tate'] transferring in, they now have one of the state's best defensive duos as well. Corner Canyon could run the table in 2023, and the new look Region 2 will instantly run through them.   Bingham Miners    The Miners are coming off a perfect 5-0 Region 3 season and a semi-finals appearance. Bingham was 10-3 overall on the season, with those three losses to teams that either made the 5A or 6A state championship games. The Miners have much to replace in 2023 if they hope to make it back to Rice Eccles Stadium, but with Head Coach Eric Jones and Offensive Coordinator Fred Fernandes at the helm, they are well-positioned to do so. Offensively the Miners lost quarterback Dallen Martinez, their leading rusher [player_tooltip player_id='532628' first='Havea' last='Fotu'], and their second leading receiver [player_tooltip player_id='532626' first='Maddax' last='Peck']. But, they return one of the state's top athletes in [player_tooltip player_id='532681' first='Carson' last='Sudbury'], who led Bingham with nearly 1,350 yards from scrimmage. He's an elite receiver and running back who can affect the game in a multitude of ways. In addition, Linebacker Tyson McBride leads a defense that lost many of its key contributors. The new makeup of Region 2 could be challenging for Bingham but with their elite combination of coaches and talented players.   Riverton Silverwolves   The 2022 season was a 7-5 rollercoaster for the Silverwolves. They had some great wins vs. Syracuse, Springville, and Mountain Ridge. But they also had some tough losses to Dixie, Pleasant Grove, West Jordan, and a playoff loss to Davis. They gave up 55 points to the Darts in that round-one loss. Heading into 2023, the Silverwolves will welcome new head James Freeland to a talented roster. Gone is quarterback Jake Meyers but [player_tooltip player_id='488339' first='Easton' last='Hicks'] returns as one of the state's top athletes with over 1,793 all-purpose yards in 2022. He's an elite running back, returner, and receiver out of the backfield. The Silverwolves also have Derek Ratliff returning, who had over 300 yards on the ground and through the air. Defensively leading tackler Gage Watt is back, and so is Brook Hoffhine, who should be a force in the front seven. Region 2 is loaded, but Riverton will have a chance to make things interesting come November.   Mountain Ridge Sentinels    The Sentinels jumped out to a 5-1 start with impressive wins over Olympus, Granger, and Wasatch. Mountain Ridge had a few bumps in the road vs. Bingham, Riverton, and Herriman during the second half of their season. But they still came together and avenged a midseason loss to Westlake to beat the Thunder in the playoffs. They would fall at the hands of American Fork in round two in another wild season for a new Region 3 team. Head Coach Mike Meifu may be losing two of the state's best players in linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='406858' first='Cade' last='Uluave'], who missed most of the 2023 season but has been a key player to the program since its inception in 2019. [player_tooltip player_id='406861' first='Jr' last='Sia'] is also gone and was one of the state's top tackles for the last few seasons. The Sentinels return their quarterback in Jaxson Reiser, one of the state's best running backs in [player_tooltip player_id='532689' first='Semisi' last='Kinikini'], and their leader in receiving touchdowns [player_tooltip player_id='402749' first='Kai' last='Meza']. Kinikin rushed for nearly 1,200 yards last year, while Meza will be a sophomore in 2023. Defensively Mountain Ridge returns one of the state's best pass rushers in Taylor Higham, who had 11 sacks as a sophomore last season. Coach Meifu also employs one of the state's top kickers, [player_tooltip player_id='532698' first='Brody' last='Laga'], who scored 149 points in 2022. The Sentinels are sleepers to win Region 3 with so much elite talent returning.   Herriman Mustangs    No one had a tougher schedule to start the season than the Mustangs. In their first three games, they faced off with Corner Canyon, Timpview, and Skyridge. However, they didn't quit after this brutal start and rallied for wins over Westlake and Kearns before entering Region 3 play. Head Coach Dustin Pearce's program fought hard all season, only losing to Bingham, West Jordan, and Riverton by a combined 22 points. They closed the regular season with dominant wins over Copper Hills and Mountain Ridge before falling to Layton in the first round of the playoffs. As they navigate the transition to Region 2, the Mustangs return their leading rusher and passer in quarterback Freddy Ta'Ai. Herriman also returns Chachi Pan, who was a force for them on both sides of the ball in 2022. Holden McKell also returns after accumulating 67 tackles last season and should lead the defense in 2023. Herriman fought hard all season and should be a tough out in 2023 for any Region 2 foe.   Copper Hills Grizzlies    The Grizzlies had a rough go in 2022. They finished the year 2-9 and 0-5 in Region 3 play. In their two wins, they did outscore their two opponents 84-17. As they transition to Region 2, Head Coach Corey Dodds will look to turn his program around. Fournely for him and the Grizzlies, they have star back Nate Kitchen returning. Kitchen rushed for over 1,250 yards in 2022. He carried the rock 269 times while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. If the Grizzlies want to be more potent in 2023, they must get more production out of the quarterback position. Copper Hills signal callers combined for just seven touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Defensively the Grizzlies return four of their top five tackles, including their sack leader [player_tooltip player_id='460227' first='Donovan' last='Arnold']. The Grizzlies allowed 395 points last season, but with so many of their young defenders having gained valuable experience, expect that number to drop significantly in 2023.

The UHSAA realignment completely shook up Region 2. Gone are all the old teams from the region, and in are all the teams from Region 3 except West Jordan, who moved to Region 4 in 5A. However, Region 2 added Corner Canyon. The Chargers join the conference off four straight state championship game appearances and two titles. The new look Region 2 will feature great matchups between some of the state's best teams. Here is how each team looks just a few weeks away from spring ball.