Three-star wide receiver Dillon Sykes, a University of Utah commit ranked No. 165 nationally at his position, is leaving Rancho Cucamonga, California, to play his senior season at Lone Peak High School in Highland.

The transfer, first reported July 15 by Rivals analyst Greg Biggins on On3, gives the Knights a proven playmaker for a 2026 schedule that includes a Friday, Sept. 18 trip to Corner Canyon in a rematch of last year's 6A state championship.

"I was always told to be the best, you have to play the best and beat the best," Sykes told Biggins when announcing the move. "Lone Peak is consistently playing at a high level so I'm excited about this opportunity."

Sykes caught 25 passes for 381 yards and five touchdowns last fall for an 8-4 Rancho Cucamonga squad. He is ranked No. 88 in California by the Rivals Industry Rankings. At Lone Peak, he joins quarterback Cruz Christiensen, who threw for 1,524 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2025, behind an offensive line anchored by 6-foot-6, 292-pound tackle Gavin Gunstream.

The rematch

Corner Canyon beat Lone Peak 35-20 in the 6A state championship on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at Rice-Eccles Stadium to claim a third consecutive title. The Chargers enter 2026 ranked No. 1 in the Deseret News preseason coaches poll with five first-place votes from 6A coaches, while Lone Peak sits at No. 3 with four. The Deseret News calls the Sept. 18 contest the game "pushing to be the biggest of the regular season state-wide."

The Chargers will look different. Corner Canyon is under new head coach Casey Sutera, who replaced Eric Kjar after Kjar left for Weber State. Sutera spent the previous four years leading Brighton and served as the Chargers' defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2021.

Marquee games on the Knights' schedule

Lone Peak's fall slate is loaded with Utah commits on both sidelines:

• Friday, Aug. 28 at Skyline: Sykes and the Knights face Skyline running back Jonah Mailei, another 2027 Utah commit who rushed for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Mailei is the highest-rated running back prospect in Utah per 247Sports composite rankings.
• Friday, Sept. 11 vs. Timpview (home): Three Utah commits on the field, including Timpview's Fui Vakapuna and Ian Aloisio. Lone Peak won the 2025 meeting 42-10.
• Thursday, Oct. 15 vs. Bingham (home): Bingham edge rusher Monson Tukuafu, a 2027 Utah commit ranked No. 13 in the state, brings 47 tackles and three sacks from his junior campaign.

Area teams in the mix

Skyridge enters the season ranked No. 2 in the Deseret News coaches poll after finishing 9-3 in 2025. The Falcons open Thursday, Aug. 13 at Mountain Ridge. High School Football America ranks Lone Peak No. 2 in Utah and No. 135 nationally in its preseason Top 10, with Skyridge at No. 3 and No. 144 nationally.

On defense, the Knights also return sophomore linebacker Kingston Stroshine, a second-team Rivals All-American as a freshman in 2025.

The 6A season opens Thursday, Aug. 13, with a full slate following Friday, Aug. 14.