SALT LAKE CITY — On Park City’s first offensive play in a state championship game in 18 years Friday afternoon, it went for the home run pass play. It fell incomplete.
In fact, most of Park City’s pass attempts were incompletions and that inability to pull Sky View’s defense away from the line of scrimmage was ultimately the difference as the Miners were shut out in the 4A final at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
“We needed to make a few pass plays down the field and complete those to get them to back off a little bit and we just weren’t able to get that done,” said Park City coach Josh Montzingo, whose team was undefeated heading into the title game.
“But those guys aren’t only big, they’re athletic and that combination definitely gave us fits. That is an incredible team.” — Park City coach Josh Montzingo
“They beat us up front, give them a lot of credit. They had a great game plan. They were physical up front at the point of attack, made it hard for us to get a running game grounded and going.”
Park City leading rusher Dylan Bauer still finished with a decent day on the ground with 121 yards, but his team was 1 of 10 on third-down conversions and as it couldn’t sustain anything offensively against the Bobcats’ stout defensive front.
Pound for pound Park City was outmanned at the line of scrimmage in many games this year, but Montzingo said his team was able to counteract that with speed.
“But those guys aren’t only big, they’re athletic and that combination definitely gave us fits,” said Montzingo. “That is an incredible team.”
Park City had been equally incredible all year, but it needed to play its best game of the year on Friday to win its first state championship in school history. Not having standout lineman Coco Lukrich, who was injured in the semifinals, made that even more difficult.
His presence was missed on Park City’s best chance to score down 21-0 early in the second quarter. Park City had first-and-goal at the 1-yard-line, but was stuffed on two straight running plays and then sacked on third down. On fourth down, it threw an interception in the corner of the end zone.
“We have a short field, we’ve really got to capitalize on those opportunities. When they got a short field they capitalized and did a great job. Definitely would like to have that one back,” said Montzingo.
Park City only crossed midfield one other time offensively.
- Watch the replay: Sky View 35, Park City 0
Despite the disappointment of Friday’s result, Montzingo told his players to hold their heads high in an emotional postgame speech at the southeast corner of Rice-Eccles Stadium.
He praised his seniors for changing the culture of the program, the first group he coached all the way through. They’ve changed expectations for future Park City teams.
“We haven’t reached the pinnacle yet, we came up short today. I think they’ve put us in position to play for this game, which is what every team asks for,” said Montzingo. “Now we’re in the position where I think we’re deeper, we’re stronger and everybody has an expectation we can do it.”