High school football: San Juan slips past Delta for its 6th straight 2A title in the highest-scoring championship game in state history
· Yahoo Sports
The uniqueness of the moment was not lost on Barkley Christensen as he laid on the SUU turf along with all of his players and coaching staff flashing six fingers in celebration of winning their sixth straight 2A championship.
Not only did the San Juan Broncos become the first team in state history to win a six straight titles in over 100 years Saturday, but they did so by winning arguably the most epic championship game in state history as well.
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In a game in which San Juan and the Delta Rabbits both scored eight touchdowns and combined for over 1200 yards of offense, it was the Broncos’ pair of two-point conversions in the fourth quarter that were the difference as they triumphed 58-55 on the record-breaking afternoon.
“I hope these kids understand how rare it is, and it comes down to their work ethic,” Christensen said. “It gets harder it seems every year to keep that motivation.
“This isn’t normal, but they worked so hard. I know it sounds cliché. It seriously comes down to just what they’ve done from June. Non-mandatory days, they’re there. They just know how to compete, so it means everything.”
After the game, Christensen joked that he thought his players would’ve been sick of playing 100-point contests after surviving South Summit 57-50 in the semifinals the week prior, but guess not.
San Juan’s defense didn’t get many stops against South Summit or in Saturday’s championship, but it came up big when it mattered most on a fourth-down stop with 55 seconds remaining to preserve the win.
Until that point, Delta was 6 of 6 on fourth-downs as it moved the ball pretty much at will against the beleaguered Broncos defense.
“We didn’t get a ton of stops last week, but when they needed to get stops, they got stops, and that’s what they did tonight, too,” Christensen said.
San Juan Broncos quarterback Beau Yeomans (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos Randall Black (21) passes the ball off to San Juan Broncos Brigg Palmer (13) during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos quarterback Beau Yeomans (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos Brigg Palmer (13) is brought down with the ball during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsDelta Rabbits Drake Norman (3) jumps over San Juan Broncos Quincy Singer (14) before ending out of bounds during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsDelta Rabbits Bodey Shurtz (5) brings down San Juan Broncos Kooper Laws (3) during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThe San Juan Broncos and Delta Rabbits play against each other during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos players watch as the San Juan Broncos play against the Delta Rabbits during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos players celebrate after the San Juan Broncos scored a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos players celebrate after the San Juan Broncos scored a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsDelta Rabbits Bodey Shurtz (5) runs the ball during a 2A football state championship against the San Juan Broncos held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsDelta Rabbits McCrae Wade (4) runs in to the end-zone to score a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the San Juan Broncos held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThe San Juan Broncos and Delta Rabbits play against each other during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos Brigg Palmer (13) runs into the end-zone to score a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos Brigg Palmer (13) runs into the end-zone to score a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsDelta Rabbits Korver Pace (25) runs down the field to score a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the San Juan Broncos held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsDelta Rabbits Korver Pace (25) runs down the field to score a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the San Juan Broncos held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos quarterback Beau Yeomans (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsDelta Rabbits Bronx Hunt (2) runs down the field to score a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the San Juan Broncos held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos Brigg Palmer (13) scores an extra two points for the San Juan Broncos, securing their victory against the Delta Rabbits, during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos Andrew Nielson (11) fails to catch the ball defended by Delta Rabbits Ashur Bussari (13) during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThe San Juan Broncos celebrate with their trophy after winning against the Delta Rabbits during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsDelta Rabbits fans cheer during a 2A football state championship against the San Juan Broncos held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos Gaige Palmer (70) celebrates with teammates after the San Juan Broncos won against the Delta Rabbits during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThe San Juan Broncos celebrate with their trophy after winning against the Delta Rabbits during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThe San Juan Broncos celebrate after winning against the Delta Rabbits during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThe San Juan Broncos celebrate after winning against the Delta Rabbits during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThe San Juan Broncos celebrate after winning against the Delta Rabbits during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsSan Juan Broncos Brigg Palmer (13) hugs San Juan Broncos assistant coach Ryan Palmer after winning against the Delta Rabbits during a 2A football state championship held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThe combined 113 points broke the previous state championship record of 112 from two years ago when Crimson Cliffs beat Spanish Fork 57-55 in triple overtime in the 4A title game.
The previous record for a state championship regulation game was 88 points, with Dixie beating Morgan 58-30 in 1972.
Both teams Saturday broke Timpview’s previous total offense championship game record of 611 yards. San Juan finished with 628 and Delta with 624.
Broncos quarterback Beau Yeomans was extremely hobbled by a knee injury and playing about 50% but still passed for 438 yards, which ranks third all time in state championship history.
Christensen didn’t even know if his junior quarterback would be able to play this week.
“Up to him and his parents. They gave us the green light and he gutted it out. He couldn’t even barely walk the other day. He just freaking shouldered it, but I’m proud of all of them. The (offensive) line, a lot of guys going both ways, they’re just warriors,” Christensen said.
San Juan running back Brigg Palmer also played through a sprained MCL, but he said there was no way he was not going to play.
“Just a little sprained MCL. Been battling past couple weeks, but it’s all right. Tough it out,” said Palmer, who finished with 242 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.
The game featured an insane pace from the opening whistle and never really slowed, with the teams tied 35-35 at halftime.
Delta scored TDs on five of six drives in the first half, while San Juan scored on five of seven drives. The Rabbits scored first, and the teams traded touchdowns the entire first half, with the Broncos never leading.
Among the many scores, Korver Pace’s 89-yard touchdown reception from Brodey Shurtz tied a state record for longest touchdown pass in a championship game.
The second half started to unfold similarly, with Delta scoring first to go up 42-35. San Juan answered to tie the game 42-42, and then the Rabbits scoring for the 49-42 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.
San Juan Broncos Brigg Palmer (13) runs into the end-zone to score a touchdown during a 2A football state championship against the Delta Rabbits held at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret NewsThat’s when Christensen decided that if his team scored again, he needed to mix things up.
Sure enough, the Broncos marched downfield in less than 90 seconds and scored a touchdown on a 23-yard run from Palmer, and Christensen kept his offense on the field instead of sending out kicker Luke Jeppesen — who perfect on the day on extra points.
“This summer in a 7-on-7, we had an opportunity to go for two in a game and I played it conservative and lost the game and I just said that’s not our culture, man,” Christensen said. “We’ve always been high scoring and fast and been aggressive, so at that point, I’m like, ‘We gotta go for two. We gotta try to take the lead.’
“I didn’t even like the call after I made it, and they couldn’t hear anything I was saying, so they went with it and we executed it.”
Andrew Nielson ran in the two-point conversion for the 50-49 lead. It was San Juan’s first lead of the game, and Christensen was hoping it might put some pressure on Delta’s offense.
It didn’t.
The Rabbits answered right back in eight plays, with Dayson Meinhardt marching into the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the game, as Delta pulled back in front 55-50 with 6:55 remaining.
The Broncos were up to the challenge, scoring quickly once again. A holding penalty put them behind the sticks, but Christensen dialed up the perfect play call on second and 20.
“We had ran that screen a couple times and the keys were all on this. We ran the throwback to the other side. Beau found him,” said Christensen, recounting Yeomans’ 23-yard touchdown pass to Randall Black for the 58-55 lead with 4:45 left.
The Rabbit offense went right back to work, converting a third and fourth down to move the ball to San Juan’s 33-yard line with under two minutes remaining.
The drive stalled, however, as Bronco Thomas Harden recorded a tackle for loss on the decisive fourth down run to seal the victory in a game Delta was trying to win its first state championship since 2001.
San Juan has won nine since then, the last six under coach Christensen.
Palmer has been a part of the last three, and he’s already looking forward to a personal four-peat next year.
“Luckily I’ve been a part of three of those and hopefully one more next year. Gotta keep grinding for that,” he said. “It really just shows the community and dedication that we have to this program and our coaches’ dedication.”