San Juan football cruises to 59-6 homecoming victory over South Sevier on September 18

It’s been a back-and-forth season so far for the San Juan High School football team. Wins over Monticello August 28 and American Leadership September 4 are the only back-to-back wins for the Broncos this year.

To their credit, San Juan hadn’t lost back-to-back games coming into their homecoming matchup with South Sevier this past Friday, and they weren’t about to let that happen after suffering a tough loss to Grantsville on September 11.

The Bronco faithful who crowded the stands at the San Juan High School football field on September 18 weren’t disapppointed. Their team scored early and often, dominating the Rams from start to finish 59-6.

It only took San Juan 21 seconds to score the first touchdown of the game after receiving the opening kick and beginning their first possession at their own 20.

On the first play from scrimmage, junior quarterback Jace Palmer connected with junior Cooper Black on a pass to the left flats.

Black got some good blocking, made a move to the sideline, and promptly raced 80 yards to the house. Weston Laws added the extra point and the Broncos were up 7-0 almost before the game began.

They scored their second TD just three minutes later on a 30-yard pass from Palmer to birthday boy Jerzy Nieves. Again, the Bronco offense provided good blocking and the receiver did most of the work getting the ball to the end zone.

Following the second score, a San Juan onside kick attempt failed, giving South Sevier good field position. A Bronco personal foul helped the Rams sustain a drive that took the ball inside the San Juan five yard line.

Lining up in their own end zone, San Juan stopped two South Sevier rushing attempts, then caught a break when a sure touchdown pass was dropped on the goal line by a would-be Ram receiver.

The Broncos stopped one more South Sevier rushing attempt to complete a solid goal-line stand and close out the first quarter with their 14-0 lead intact.

From that moment the rout was on. San Juan scored three touchdowns in the second quarter, including back-to-back pick-sixes by Jensen Grover and Jace Palmer, to lead 42-0 at halftime. The big lead set up a running clock for the entire second half.

They added two TDs in the third quarter to go up 56-0 before South Sevier finally broke through for their first score – a 50-yard run by Jaxin Torgerson with 1:56 to go in the quarter.

Weston Laws completed the scoring on the night with a 26-yard field goal with 5:16 to go in the game. He was also a perfect eight-for-eight in the PAT department.

Palmer completed 12 of 20 pass attempts on the night for 218 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those went to Jerzy Nieves, who enjoyed a sweet 16 birthday party indeed.

The other two TDs went to Cooper Black and Ladd Ivins. Black made two catches on the night for 91 yards. Ivins caught five Palmer passes for 58 yards and Nieves caught the two TDs for 57 yards.

Jensen Grover led the way defensively for San Juan with 10 tackles on the night. Sophomores Collin Baker and Magnum Nielson had eight apiece and Shawn Black and Ladd Ivins both got five each.

San Juan forced four South Sevier turnovers in the game. Grover and Palmer got the aforementioned interceptions; Baker and Maddax Lee recovered one fumble apiece.

The Broncos are shooting for back-to-back wins for the second time this year when they travel to Moab to take on the rival Grand County Red Devils this Friday, September 25.

Though Grand is 0-6 on the year, San Juan Head Coach Barkley Christensen knows the local rivalry will be a factor and the Red Devils will bring their best game. He said his team will have to be ready to take care of business.

The kickoff is once again set for 7 p.m., and you can hear the live broadcast on “Friday Night Lights” on Redrock 92.7 FM beginning with the pregame at 6:30.