This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Pleasant Grove • Every time Pleasant Grove seemed to be on the verge of getting upset Friday night, Malik Overstreet came up big.

The senior star hauled in a 76-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 89 yards to lead the Vikings to a hard-fought 28-19 victory over Corner Canyon.

The Chargers had cut Pleasant Grove's lead to 14-13 on Conner Ebling's second field goal when the Vikings' Isaac Hamilton found Overstreet on the long pass play.

Then, after a great Pleasant Grove defensive stand on a Corner Canyon two-point conversion try, the Vikings offense gave the ball right back to the Chargers.

But the strong PG defense forced a punt and Overstreet returned it 89 yards to seal the victory.

"I got as far right as I could," said Overstreet. "I saw the lane open left so I cut across as fast as I could."

Pleasant Grove coach Les Hamilton could not say enough good things about Overstreet.

"I expect it from him," said the Viking coach. "He's a stud. He is fast and athletic and we can't get him the ball enough."

This was a typical opening night game that included a plethora of penalties by both teams and big defensive plays on both sides.

Corner Canyon intercepted Pleasant Grove three times, including two by Spencer Sorensen.

And, after Hayden Borg's 7-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Miller brought the Chargers within two at 21-19 and a penalty moved the ball to the 11/2-yard line, a major defensive stop by Pleasant Grove seemed to take the air out of Corner Canyon.

Hamilton said that defensive stand may have taken the wind out of Corner Canyon's comeback hopes.

"We were good defensively," he said. "They tried to slow it down, we tried to speed it up. … I was proud of our defense. This was the first game of the season and we need to fix some of our mistakes. But our defense stepped up time after time."

Pleasant Grove scored first on a 32-yard run by Koy Wilkinson, but Corner Canyon's Nate Cutler quickly answered with a 95-yard kickoff return. The Chargers took a 10-7 lead on a 46-yard field goal by Ebling, only to watch Hamilton hit Overstreet for an 8-yard scoring pass.

"We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times and our offensive line didn't protect the quarterback," said Corner Canyon coach Don Eck. "But they are a good ballclub. We are not going to hang our heads."

The loss could have also been costly as well. Star Charger running back Cameron Forte was taken to American Fork hospital with a thigh injury and big lineman Keaton Bills missed most of the fourth quarter when he tweaked an ankle. Eck wasn't sure about Forte's status, but said he expected Bills back.

Twitter @tribtomwharton —

Pleasant Grove 28, Corner Canyon 19

• Pleasant Grove's Malik Overstreet catches touchdown passes of 76 yards and 8 yards, plus returns a punt 89 yards for a score.

• Nate Cutler returns a kickoff 95 yards for Corner Canyon.

• Charger stars Cameron Forte and Keaton Bills are injured. Forte was taken to American Fork hospital with a thigh injury. Bills had an ankle injury, but limped off the field on his own power.