High school football: Green Canyon pulls off upset, beats Crimson Cliffs to advance to 4A championship game

Third time is the charm for No. 14 Green Canyon.

After losing to Crimson Cliffs in the state championship game two years ago and then again getting knocked out of the playoffs by the Mustangs in the quarterfinals just last year, the Wolves finally were able to solve the puzzle by defeating No. 2 Crimson Cliffs 24-21 Friday in the 4A state semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Green Canyon kicker Tanner Holt converted on a clutch 40-yard field goal with two minutes left to push his team through to the title game.

With the win, Green Canyon continues its incredible Cinderella run, with mighty Ridgeline waiting for all the marbles.

Much of the Wolves’ success this postseason can be attributed to quarterback Ethan Munk, who had a game to remember Friday. Munk finished with 193 passing yards and two touchdowns, and he was also his team’s leading rusher with 103 yards and another touchdown.

“I think both teams felt a lot of urgency throughout the game, especially early on. I think we were still trying to figure each other out in the first half and in the second half, we knew we had to let loose and try to get a few more points,” said Green Canyon head coach JT Tauiliili.

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Green Canyon is no stranger to close games, especially in these playoffs. After Holt’s field goal, Crimson Cliffs had the ball at midfield with 1:30 left in the game, but the stout Green Canyon defense did what it has been doing on tournament long and came up huge when it mattered most.

“Our defense was really great. We put them in a tough spot. I think we were able to get two turnovers in that first half. The important thing for us was that we were able to go in at halftime tied up, kind of reset and get back after it,” said Tauiliili.

If before the game you told Tauiliili that Green Canyon would lose the turnover battle and Crimson Cliffs would have the ball to end the game, he said he probably wouldn’t like his team’s chances, but you have to adapt to the way the game plays out and find a way to get the job done, which is what Green Canyon did.

“At the end of the day, you just have to play the game as it comes to you,” Tauiliili said. “I felt like that’s what we did. To be able to know that you get one more week with your guys, that you’re going to be the last ones playing, is super special.”