Finally seeing what it is that makes San Juan football successful

by Art Adair
Football Fan, Coach, Father, Broadcaster
My reflection of this season of San Juan High School football actually begins at the 2023 state semifinal game at Zions Bank Stadium. San Juan had just beaten Summit Academy to advance to what we now know would be their third straight state championship title.
As we were finishing the broadcast on Redrock 92, I noticed Coach Barkley Christensen walking along the front of the grandstand where he paused and conversed with a group of boys who were mostly eighth-grade future players.
I thought to myself, “How cool is it that after winning a game to propel him into his third straight championship game he would take the time to visit with the next generation of Broncos?”
Flip back to this season where I saw firsthand the level of commitment and involvement, not only from Coach Christensen but also from his whole staff as they worked with over 70 players.
When you look back on the 2024 championship season, you may remember the exciting cutbacks and long touchdown runs by Jagger Nieves or the thrilling one-handed toe-tapping catches by Javin Montella.
You may remember the for-sure interception taken away by Owen Adams in the semifinal game that fired up the crowd along with his many other great catches throughout the season.
You may recall the reads on the run-pass options (RPOs), the dime passes, or the up-the-middle draws from quarterback Jaiten Knight that excited us all.
Or you may think of the toughness and grit of JD Palmer, Jake Ivins, and George McNaughton or the many other players and their accomplishments throughout the season.
As exciting as those players were among many others, I found myself often looking to the buildup of those big plays and what it took to accomplish such a feat.
From my vantage point in the press box, some quite precarious, I was often reminded of my time on the sidelines and what kind of effort and preparation is required to create those big scoring plays or the big-time catches.
Often my attention would be drawn to the five guys in the trenches. Whether it was on an RPO or a long pass, oftentimes the result was directly affected by those five.
From their downfield blocking to the giant holes they would open up play after play, I was amazed at the athleticism and the quickness of each of these five linemen.
Most times in a long run, you would see two or three of them downfield continuing to block 15-20 yards throughout the play. And on passing plays you would see them create a pocket, allowing the quarterback to survey the field and find a receiver.
I would also notice the receivers continuing to block downfield throughout run plays and pass plays in order for their teammates to make the big play.
My attention was also often drawn to the many players standing on the sidelines during those big plays and key moments in games. It’s no secret that when you play for a team with as many players and as much talent as the San Juan Broncos possess, some are often found watching from the sidelines.
I would often look at many of those seniors and juniors who would come into the game, sometimes not until the fourth quarter after it was easily in hand. I would think to myself, “I hope they know how important they are to that team.”
Any coach will tell you that you’re only as good as your next man up and while they may not have started or played in the majority of the varsity games on a Friday night, they were a big reason for the whole team’s success.
Friday night games are won Monday through Thursday. The value of the scout defense and scout offense should never be underrated. That is the reason many teams find success on a Friday night.
The old adage that “iron sharpens iron” is true. So, whether you played every down on Friday night, got in for one or two series, or stood on the sidelines, you should hold your head high knowing that you are and will forever be remembered as a member of the 2024 San Juan Bronco State Championship Team.
Finally, my hat is off to all the mothers who continually put together dinners throughout the season, parents who showed up to fundraisers and events. Seniors who helped the freshmen learn the ropes and were so encouraging to the younger players.
Coaches who showed up early and stayed late, spending long hours through the summer in the weight room in film study and taking kids to camps. The fans who were always there on a Friday night, no matter how far they traveled, many times outnumbering the home fans.
If you think it was only about winning, you have missed out. I encourage you to look a little deeper and you’ll see what I saw this season.
I saw a community and parents giving young men an experience of a lifetime and memories they’ll never forget. I saw 70+ student-athletes working hard in the classroom to be eligible to participate on a team not only for themselves but for their brothers.
I saw an administration and coaches wanting young men to flourish and have the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves – a family!
In the end, I think I finally saw what makes San Juan football the successful program that it is.