RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Lone Peak’s Cruz Christensen gets rocked by IMG’s Zyron Forstall after throwing the pass as they play in Highland on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMG won 59-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
When Lone Peak put national high school football powerhouse IMG Academy on its 2026 schedule, coach Bart Brockbank figured it would likely take a perfect effort for the Knights to pull off the upset.
In front of a big crowd and a locally televised audience, they never got the chance as IMG took advantage of four turnovers, a muffed punt attempt and its own talented players to roll to an impressive 59-3 win Friday night.
“That’s the best team I’ve seen, by far,” said Brockbank, whose squad finished with 79 total yards and barely avoided what would have been its first shutout since 2007. “We learned right away that this (opponent) is the NBA.”
Lone Peak Knights’ Ayden Laws is brought down by a group of IMG Ascenders as they play in Highland on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMG won 59-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Lone Peak’s Cruz Christensen gets rocked by IMG’s Zyron Forstall after throwing the pass as they play in Highland on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMG won 59-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Lone Peak and IMG play in Highland on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMG won 59-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
IMG’s Elijah Newman Hall dives for the goalline as Lone Peak’s Kingston Stroshine tries to keep him from scoring as they play in Highland on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMG won 59-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Lone Peak and IMG play in Highland on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMG won 59-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
IMG’s Aaryn Washington defends Lone Peak’s Krew Robinson as the ball drops short as they play in Highland on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMG won 59-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
IMG’s Osani Gayles makes the catch as Lone Peak’s Kingston Stroshine just misses the ball as they play in Highland on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. IMG won 59-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
It took less than 30 seconds of clock time for IMG, ranked as the fifth-best team in the county, to set itself apart.
Lone Peak started at its own 20-yard line after IMG’s talented kicker, Zach Brien, used the wind at his back to send the kickoff halfway to Provo. Knights quarterback Cruz Christensen’s first pass attempt was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and fell incomplete. So, did his second attempt. His third-down pass was then intercepted by Amari Irvin, who returned it to the 17-yard line.
The Ascenders needed just two plays — a 16-yard completion and a 1-yard run — to make it 7-0.
Lone Peak lost seven yards on its next possession (three plays), and IMG’s defense line raced through the Knights’ offensive line so quickly that punter Cameron Wray was tackled for another loss before he could get his kick away.
IMG then needed just two plays to reach the end zone again and the rout was on. The lead was 21-0 by the end of the first quarter and reached 38-0 by halftime, thanks to a 95-yard punt return by Keith Smith.
Ascenders quarterback Jayden Wade was on target most of the evening, completing 14 of 20 passes for 214 yards. He threw mostly short passes and let speedy backs such as Osani Gayles and Eric McFarland outrun the Lone Peak secondary for big plays.
Brockbank, however, said he was proud the Knights never gave up. His special teams unit gave the fans reasons to cheer with several lengthy kickoff returns, and Zachary Zolman booted a 45-yard field goal with 2:02 left in the third quarter to avoid the shutout.
Zolman’s kick came at the end of Lone Peak’s only positive drive, which consisted primarily of a 51-yard run by Christensen. Brockbank said Lone Peak’s special teams unit was also important in the Knights’ 33-21 win over Crimson Cliffs last week and has developed well this early in the season.
“There were some positives,” he said. “We saw greatness on the other side of the field, and we obviously didn’t match it. They punched us in the face right at the start and it took us a while, especially our offense, to respond, but we’ll see how our team adjusts to this.
“It will help us when we get into region.”
The Knights, of course, play in what is likely Utah’s toughest region but probably won’t face a squad as talented at IMG, a private school located in Bradenton, Florida.
IMG welcomes talented students and athletes and heavily promotes its football program, which will likely have most of its 50-man roster eventually earn college scholarships and lately has had at least two players drafted into the NFL every year.
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