Broncos close regular season with three straight wins, reclaim 2A top spot

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
There were some folks around the state of Utah speculating that maybe the San Juan Broncos weren’t unbeatable this season, that it was time for a new #1 in the 2A classification.
Much of that noise came from Monroe, UT this past week, the community the South Sevier Rams call home. The Rams were ranked first coming into their matchup with the Broncos on Friday, October 17 and they sported a perfect 9-0 record.
But San Juan quickly silenced their critics on the South Sevier football field, racking up 593 offensive yards in a 66-21 beatdown of the Rams, reclaiming their rightful position as the number-one team in the Utah 2A and dashing South Sevier’s hopes of their first-ever undefeated regular season.
The Broncos opened the scoring somewhat unconventionally when running back Jagger Nieves took a pitch to the right side, then promptly threw the ball to Tripp Palmer for a 27-yard touchdown just 1:41 into the game.
It seemed that the contest might go back and forth when the Rams answered with an 11-yard touchdown run from Cooper Castle just two minutes later.
But from that point San Juan seized control as South Sevier wilted. The Broncos shut down the Rams’ offense at every turn even as their own offense heated up.
They scored two more times in the first quarter, then added four touchdowns in the second quarter to arrive at a very familiar destination: a large halftime lead with a running clock to start the second half.
The lead was 54-7 to be exact and although the home team scored a couple touchdowns in the second half San Juan answered to keep pace on the way to the blowout win.
Sophomore quarterback Beau Yeomans ultimately threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns in the game, in addition to Nieves’s 27-yard strike. Yeomans completed 18 of his 21 passing attempts.
Nieves carried the ball 16 times for 181 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Jayce Raisor had six carries for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Tripp Palmer led the receivers with 11 catches for 176 yards and three TDs. Cole Duke caught three passes for 83 yards and a TD. And Nache Young caught two passes for 39 yards and a TD.
Nieves had a major impact on the defense too, as he led the team with 13 tackles and two for loss. Brigg Palmer and Max Stearns had seven stops apiece in the win.
The Broncos sacked South Sevier quarterback Bridger Bradshaw three times with Max Stearns collecting two of those and Tripp Palmer and Jagger Nieves splitting the other two. George McNaughtan led the defense with eight quarterback hurries.
There was movement on the individual career statistics tracker due to performances in the game with South Sevier. Jagger Nieves jumped ahead of fellow Bronco Zack Conway and Alta’s Josh Davis into third place for most career touchdowns with 74.
Nieves is now second in career points scored in Utah history with 468. He also has some amazing season numbers. His 234 points scored continues to lead the state and is now third in the nation.
His 36 total touchdowns leads the state and is tied for fourth nationwide. And he’s second in Utah in rushing yards with 1,763 (22nd in the nation).
Additionally, Tripp Palmer’s 1,113 receiving yards moves him up to fourth in the state and his 100 points scored is sixth. Beau Yeomans’s 2,823 total yards is 13th in the state.
San Juan has over a week to get ready for their first state tournament matchup. On Friday, October 31 they’ll host the winner of the game between Providence Hall and Judge Memorial.
Stay tuned to Redrock 92 Radio for updates.