“Putting Utah on the Map”: Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart hypes up former coach Eric Kjar following 35-34 showdown against IMG Academy

By Aman Sharma

Modified Aug 23, 2024 14:47 GMT

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Jaxson Dart praised his former coach, Eric Kjar, after a thrilling game in which his former school Corner Canyon High School edged out IMG Academy, the nation’s third-ranked team, with a 35-34 victory on Thursday night.

Former Corner Canyon quarterback and current Ole Miss standout Jaxson Dart expressed his excitement by taking to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the win and praise his former coach, Eric Kjar.

"Coach Kjar putting Utah on the map! So proud of you and the boys!"

Since the establishment of the football program at Corner Canyon High School in 2013, Coach Kjar has been instrumental in turning the Chargers into a top contender in the state of Utah. Recalling the victory, Kjar stressed the significance of the self-trust, especially after the failures in the past.

“We got rolled by (Bishop Gorman) two years ago and played a pretty tight game last year,” Kjar said. (per Deseret News) “We just kept telling our kids ‘Believe in yourselves.’”

The game initially seemed to favor IMG, who took a 28-14 lead by halftime, thanks to a 21-point second quarter. Corner Canyon’s defense struggled under IMG’s relentless offensive pressure, making a comeback seem unlikely. However, led by four-star quarterback Helaman Casuga and five-star wide receiver Jerome Myles, the Chargers staged a stunning rally.

Casuga’s connection with Myles, including a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch that tied the game at 28-28, set the stage for their eventual lead and victory. Casuga, a new addition to the team recorded 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions in just two games.

After the game, Casuga expressed his disbelief and gratitude for the hard-fought win.

“I was shocked,” Casuga said. “I’m super blessed and grateful for the opportunity. IMG is just a great team. They obviously made it hard, and it wasn’t an easy game. I’m grateful for our team. We worked all year for this.”

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Jaxson Dart secures major NIL deal with Beats by Dre ahead of 2024 season

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart recently added another impressive NIL deal to his portfolio, signing with Beats by Dr. Dre as part of their “Beats Elite” campaign for 2024. Dart, now in his third year as a starter, is among 11 top-tier college football players chosen by the company.

Jaxson Dart's growing list of NIL partnerships also includes deals with Best Buy and Nicholas Air. During his time at Ole Miss, he has proven his worth on the field, completing 64% of his passes for 6,338 yards and 43 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,003 yards.

Jaxson Dart has also played a vital part in keeping the team's key players and attracting top talent via the transfer portal. The Rebels, who are placed on the preseason ranking at No. 6, are set to have their 2024 season opener against Furman on August 31 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with the game available on ESPN+/SECN+.