San Juan ranked first in 2A preseason coaches poll, Monticello and Whitehorse top 5 in 8-player classification

by David Boyle
News Director
Three San Juan County teams are in the top five preseason coaches rankings for football. Leading the way are the San Juan Broncos who are looking for a sixth straight title in the 2A classification.
The Deseret News published the coaches rankings, noting the Broncos have a record of 59-5 over the past five years with four of those five losses coming against upper-classification teams.
After a season with an 11-2 record and a fifth straight title, the Broncos are returning about half of their starters.
Speaking with the Deseret News, Head Coach Barkley Christensen said the team has embraced the challenge ahead.
“We are coming into the season with a team that lacks some varsity experience, but what they lack in experience they are making up for by the hard work this summer,” said Christensen.
“We have been very pleased with this group’s summer attendance and these guys have attacked the weight room and offseason program with a level of commitment that has us coaches very excited.
“They have embraced the challenge of carrying on the standard that has been built here over the past several years.”
Rounding out the 2A top five are Summit Academy in second, South Summit in third, South Sevier in fourth, and Delta in fifth.
In the 1A 8-player rankings, Monticello is ranked third. The Buckaroos were defeated in the state semifinals by eventual runner-up Milford to end the 2025 season.
Monticello finished the season with a 5-6 record and it was the first time Monticello missed the 8-player finals since the league began in 2022.
The Bucks lost seven seniors but will return several key contributors on both sides of the ball this season.
Also in the 1A 8-player rankings are the Whitehorse Raiders, ranked fifth. Whitehorse was defeated in the state semifinals by the eventual state champion Rich Rebels to end the 2025 season.
Their 6-3 record and state semifinal finish could be considered the Raiders’ best season in Utah play in school history. The team graduated five contributing seniors but returns starters on both sides of the ball this season.
Rich is ranked first in the 8-player preseason rankings, Milford is second, and Altamont is fourth.

The Deseret News article can be read here:

https://www.deseret.com/sports/2026/07/20/high-school-football-6a-5a-4a-...