This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Eric Kjar is hoping that playing some of the nation's top teams at the Rio Tinto Stadium becomes an annual thing.
The Jordan coach confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune Wednesday afternoon that his defending Class 5A state champion Beetdiggers are set to face Bergen Catholic High School sometime this fall at the Real Salt Lake stadium in Sandy.
Jordan faced St. John Bosco from Bellflower, Calif., at Rio Tinto on Sept. 29, 2012, but lost 34-33.
Kjar said having the opportunity to face some of the top high school teams in the country in his own backyard is something he could not turn down and he welcomes the challenge with open arms.
"It's good for us and a good to challenge our kids," Kjar said. "You always want to push your program. It's a good opportunity to test them against one of the best teams in the country."
Kjar said the folks at Rio Tinto Stadium have helped organize for the Xfinity Challenge in Sandy and all he had to do was say yes when approached with the oportuntiy to play Bergen Catholic.
"They do a good job of setting us up," he said.
Bergen Catholic finished the 2012 season 8-4 and was ranked as the No. 4 in the Garden State by MaxPreps.com. Jordan, which went on to dominate 5A football after its lone loss to St. John Bosco in late September, went 12-1 and was led by sophomore quarterback Austin Kafentzis, threw for 3,018 yards and 32 touchdowns and ran for 1,884 yards and 26 touchdown and was most recently named as MaxPreps.com's National Sophomore of the Year.
"Year in and year out, we'd like to be playing the top teams," Kjar said. "There's good football in this state and we want a chance to showcase it."
-Chris Kamrani
Twitter: @chriskamrani