Park City earns redemption and secures spot in 4A state championship game with 48-21 rout of Pine View

Box score

SALT LAKE CITY — Just over a year ago, Nov. 8, 2018, to be exact, the Park City Miners found themselves within the confines of Rice-Eccles Stadium, a place few outside the program imagined they would be.

The Miners upset the Sky View Bobcats to earn a spot in the 4A semifinals and with a matchup against Dixie, they had every chance to make it to the 2018 state title game.

Only, on that night, Park City was not up to the task.

The Miners fell to the Flyers 20-0, a disappointing end to an otherwise great season.

The loss stuck with them throughout the offseason, into training and over the course of a perfect regular season this year.

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The loss remained with them even as they defeated Logan 20-0 in the second round of this year’s state tournament, and again in the Miners’ 14-10 quarterfinal win over Snow Canyon.

Thursday night in Salt Lake City, the Miners finally washed the taste of that bitter defeat away.

Powered by what can only be described as a complete team effort, the No. 1 seeded Miners handled No. 5 Pine View 48-21, earning a berth in the 4A state title game.

“This is great,” quarterback Jack Skidmore said. “We wanted to come back and take care of business. We wanted redemption for last year.”

“I think it is huge,” linebacker Chase Johansen added. “Ever since we lost that (Dixie) game, this is all we have been thinking about. This is what we have been working towards. To get here and make it happen, to be on the other side of it, it is amazing.”

“I think it is huge. Ever since we lost that (Dixie) game, this is all we have been thinking about. This is what we have been working towards. To get here and make it happen, to be on the other side of it, it is amazing.” — Park City linebacker Chase Johansen

Skidmore led the Park City offense to 410 total yards, throwing for 163 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 109 yards and two more scores.

Running back Dylan Bauer rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns himself, while dynamic receiver Mark McCurdy hauled in four catches for 127 and a score.

The trio has been dynamic all season long, per Park City head coach Josh Montzingo.

“They are amazing,” he said. “We have some guys out there and if we need one to step up they usually do.”

The Miners have some guys on defense too, not a surprise given Park City boasts the No. 1 scoring defense in the classification.

That defense all but shut down the premier offensive attack in 4A, though, not an easy task.

“This defense is everything,” said Montzingo. “We have been very proud of our defense. We think physical ball is the way the game should be played and we showed that on defense, against an electric, high-flying offense.”

• Watch replay: Park City 48, Pine View 21

Defensive back Kirby Baynes finished as the teams leading tackler with 13 but was one of many standouts.

Linebacker Brady Baumann finished with 12 tackles and a tackle for loss, while fellow backer Stone Combs added 10 tackles.

Johansen led the team in sacks, with three — six Park City players recorded at least half a sack — and finished with seven tackles and a forced fumble.

Then there were interceptions, recorded by Grant Warner and McCurdy.

“They were a great team, a great offense,” Johansen said. “Everyone just stepped up. Coach made a great game plan and it worked. People were winning their battles, but it was a great game plan with some good blitzes that were put in.”

“I expect nothing less from our defense,” Skidmore added. “They are fantastic. They are a great group of guys, and I don’t expect anything less from them.”

The expectation now is a victory in the state championship game, which would be the first state title in Park City history.

After their latest win, it is the only expectation the Miners have.

“We still have one more game,” said Skidmore. “We are not done yet. We have a week to do what we need to do to hopefully bring home a state championship.”