San Juan football closes regular season unbeaten

by David Boyle
News Director
San Juan capped off a perfect regular season with a 47-0 victory over the Grand County Red Devils in Moab on October 13.
The win gave San Juan a 10-0 record on the year as well as the region title. The undefeated regular season was the first for San Juan since 2014. San Juan now awaits their first playoff game on October 28.
San Juan opened their first drive in Moab at the 40-yard line after a good return from Collin Baker. The Broncos drove 60 yards in four plays capped off with a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Parker Snyder to Collin Baker. The point after was no good.
With their first offensive possession Grand County picked up three first downs and moved the ball to the 36-yard line where San Juan put on the brakes forcing a punt and placing the Broncos at the one-yard line for their second offensive drive.
The Broncos worked quickly driving 99-yards in just seven plays finished off by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Snyder to Zack Conway. The point-after was good making the score 13-0.
After forcing a quick punt from the Devils, the Broncos took over at their own 44-yard line. The Broncos offense again looked explosive, driving 66-yards in four plays, capped off by a 12-yard touchdown run by Conway who went up the middle untouched into the endzone. The point-after kick was good making the score 20-0.
On their third possession the Devils threw a big pass for 45-yards to set up the Devils at the San Juan 30-yard line after a rush for no gain the quarter ended with the 20-0 lead for San Juan.
To start the 2nd quarter San Juan’s defense again put a stop to Grand County’s drive forcing an incomplete pass on a fourth-down conversion attempt. 
The Broncos offense again got to work driving 66-yards in three plays for another score. Baker added his second score of the night catching a 44-yard pass from Snyder on a play where the Broncos offensive line gave their quarterback plenty of time to find the open receiver to give San Juan the 26-0 lead.
The Broncos again quickly caused the Devils to punt, setting up San Juan at the 49-yard line. The Broncos offense again efficiently drove 51-yards in 3 plays off a 25-yard run from Conway and 22-yard catch by Garrett Young. Jerzy Nieves capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown catch from Snyder making the score 33-0.
On the next series Grand picked up one first down before the Broncos forced another turnover on downs stopping Grand from picking up a fourth-down conversion.
San Juan took over on the 46 yard line where Snyder threw a 30-yard pass to Young before capping off the two-play drive with a 20-yard touchdown toss to Anthony Done making the score 40-0.
The Devils then drove down to the San Juan 25-yard line before the Broncos again put the stop to Grand’s attempt when Tyler Pehrson intercepted a pass to the end zone. 
The Broncos then drove 80-yards in two plays. A 27-yard screen pass from Snyder to Young and a 53-yard touchdown pass to Conway to make the score 47-0 in the 2nd quarter.
Neither team scored the remainder of the game making the final score 47-0.
The Broncos finished the game with 417 yards passing and 200 yards rushing.
Snyder led the Bronco passing attempt completing 17 passes on 19 attempts for 366 yards and six touchdowns.
In the second half Jaiten Knight completed three passes on three attempts for 51 yards.
The receiving group was led by Young who caught five passes for 128 yards. Conway had two catches for 80 yards, both touchdowns. Baker recorded three catches for 69-yards and two touchdowns. Nieves recorded four catches for 45-yards and one touchdown. Done had three catches for 44-yards and one touchdown.
In the second half Javin Montella caught a pass for 30-yards, while Pehrson had two catches for 21 yards.
The rushing attack was led by Conway who ran for 97 yards on five carries for an average of 19-yards a carry including a touchdown run. Snyder also ran the ball twice for 28 yards.
In the second half JD Palmer ran for 54-yards on five carries while Shawn Black rushed for 11 yards on three carries and Knight ran four times for 10 yards.
On the offensive line Taylor Black recorded three pancake blocks. While Isaac Warner, Callen Burke, Jared Burke and Collin Baker each recorded one pancake block.
On the defensive side of the ball Brad Duke recorded seven tackles including one sack for a nine-yard loss. Deklan Helquist also recorded seven tackles, while Jake Ivins had six.
The Broncos also forced three turnovers. Pehrson and Isley Singer both caught interceptions while Ivins caused one fumble recovered by Branten Bethea.
The Broncos also lost three fumbles in the second half.
San Juan ended the season with the #2 rank in the RPI and will have a bye in the first round of the football playoffs. 
In a post game interview Coach Barkley Christensen said he was proud of his team for finishing the season undefeated.
“We’re really proud of that, but we understand that our goal is four weeks away, we’ve got to keep getting healthy, keep getting better and get ready for our quarterfinal game in two weeks.”
Coach Christensen also had praise for the way the Broncos have played as a team this year.
“They all understand their role and all have really good relationships with each other, they all understand what each other is going to do and it’s a fun thing to watch.”
The Broncos will host a home playoff game on Friday October 28. San Juan will host the winner of a game between Judge Memorial and South Sevier.

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