Snow Canyon quarterback Matt Hickman was one of many returning Warriors that fell in last year's state championship game, but with Saturday's 21-14 victory over crosstown rival Dixie, the Warriors, who finished 12-0, finally took care of their unfinished business.
"We had a big obligation to do," Hickman said. "We felt like we had to be back and get the 3A Super Bowl."The junior quarterback, who took over after starting quarterback Drew Solmonson broke his leg in the state quarterfinals, went 8-for-17 for 141 yards and a touchdown to lead the third-year Warriors to their first-ever state title.
"A year ago we were disappointed with what happened in the championship game and the way things turned out," Snow Canyon coach Bill Jacobsen said. "The statement made afterward (Last years final) that we would be back and I really believed that and I think the kids picked up on it and believed it."
SC's Brooksby Stafford returned the opening kick 66 yards to the Dixie 22 and two plays later he punched it in from 1-yard out to give the Warriors the early 7-0 lead.
Dixie's Cole Carter, who rushed for 162 yards on 25 carries, answered SC's score with an 80-yard run midway through the second quarter to knot the score at 7-7.
With under a minute to play Hickman capped a 5-play, 36-second drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Barry Sorenson to give the Warriors the 14-7 lead at the half.
Dixie chewed up almost nine minutes of the third quarter on its opening drive, but came away empty-handed when Doug Jolley's fourth-and-eight pass fell incomplete.
"We weren't coming here to finish second. We didn't think three points would help us. We needed a touchdown," Dixie coach Jerry Dyer said of the fourth down play instead of the field goal.
After SC's only three plays in the third quarter, the Flyers pulled within the SC 18, but were halted with a fumble.
Following the Dixie turnover, Stafford capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with his second one-yard touchdown run to increase the Warrior lead to 21-7.
Carter answered SC's score with a 1-yard run two minutes later to trim the lead to 21-14, but the first of two Brock Jacobsen interceptions halted Dixie's final serious threat with just over two minutes left in the contest.
The Flyers neutralized SC's running game by holding the Warriors to 89 rushing yards, and Stafford, a consistant 100-yard gainer, to just 47 yards.
"His yards weren't real good," Jacobsen said. "We didn't do a good job run blocking for him. They we so concerned about stopping the run that it allowed Matt to pass."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
He inspired them
ST. GEORGE - Snow Canyon quarterback Drew Solmonson didn't take one snap for the Warriors in their 21-14 victory over Dixie Saturday in the 3A state championship game, but he can take a lot of credit for the Warriors title run.
In the first game of the state playoffs Solmonson broke his leg in SC's 47-0 rout over Emery, so Saturday he watched on the sidelines in his wheelchair, 15 staples and 36 stitches.
"Drew was a vital part of our football program," Snow Canyon coach Bill Jacobsen said. "He led us to 10-0 and did a great job for us. He waited two years for the opportunity to play and he earned that spot."
In SC's first 10 games, Solmonson was 66-for-126 for 955 yards and 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
"I wish I would have been out there, but I'm happy for the team," Solmonson said. "I knew after halftime that we had it."
-Jay Hinton