Tigers roar with dominant performance for first state title
| 9:14 AM, Nov. 19, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY - It's never easy to talk after losing a state championship game. Hurricane coach Chris Homer can attest to that. So can tight end Colton Marshall and many of the players who sat and played through each excruciating loss in each of the previous three years.
So when the clock at Rice-Eccles Stadium hit zero Friday night - giving the Tigers a 21-0 victory over Region 9 foe Desert Hills - Marshall, with tears in his eyes, let out a yell.
"Finally, we did it!"
They sure did. The Tigers, after falling short to Juan Diego in the 3A championship game three consecutive years, have a crown they've waited a lifetime to wear.
"It feels great," Marshall said once the raw emotions had finally worn off. "I remember every time before. This is by far feels the best."
His coach was just as talkative.
Homer actually looked forward to meeting with the media after a state title game for the first time.
"I haven't wanted to give an interview (after the state title game) that's for dang sure," Homer said. "It's nice to soak it in right now."
The Tigers have been on the wrong side of the more memorable state title games in recent memory, thanks to a trio of last-second defeats. There wasn't a quiet soul on the snow-covered field - just hugs, tears and a lot of gratitude.
The win, for many on hand, was an experience of pure elation, of Hurricane High getting to hoist the first-place trophy for the first time since it started competing in 11-man football in 1949.
It was for the community. It was for the players who had fallen in those three previous games. It was a win for Hurricane.
The town and the school.
"We did this for the school and the greats before us," said senior running back Weston Yardley, who was present for two of the three state title defeats. "It's amazing. I've never felt like this in my whole life."
Hurricane (13-0) won the state title game just like it had won games all year - with defense and an unstoppable rushing attack.
Running back Brian Scott was at peak form, despite a calf injury that had bothered him the entire season. He tallied all three of the Tiger touchdowns on runs of 7, 3 and 1 yard.
The scores capped a workman-like effort of 108 yards on 26 carries.
Hurricane's defense was just as impressive.
The Thunder (9-4) were unable to get any type of offensive flow going, tallying just six first downs and 117 yards from scrimmage. Mike Needham, the Thunder's bell cow running back, was contained to 37 yards on 18 carries with 26 coming in the first half.
The Tigers also picked off Porter Harris three times.
"We had some opportunities in the first half and they shut us down," Desert Hills coach Jake Nelson said. "They started running the ball and the Scott kid is absolutely unbelievable. He ran the ball hard and we came up on the short end."
The game was close for the first 24 minutes of play as both teams had to deal with weather conditions rarely seen in a Southern Utah - let alone a state title game (last time a state final game was played in snow was 1994).
There were three turnovers in the first nine minutes of play.
Nevertheless, Homer wasn't too concerned after the first 12 minutes of scoreless action, thinking the snow might actually help his team.
"We felt it (the snow) would be advantageous to us," Homer said. "When you're in a shotgun, you're making quick cuts. We're just a straight-ahead, pounding team."
Scott opened the scoring with a 7-yard plunge, but the extra point was blocked by Desert Hills.
Hurricane went into the half with a 6-0 lead, but, like the snow, the bigger flurry was still to come.
After forcing Desert Hills to go three-and-out on the first possession of the second half, the Tigers drove 41 yards on 10 plays, which allowed Ethan Stratton to boot a 45-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 9-0 advantage.
Then early in the fourth quarter, the Tigers marched up field with a seven-play, 61-yard drive capped off by a Scott 3-yard run.
Hurricane opted to go for two and make it a three-score game, and Scott broke the plain again, but it was wiped off the board by a personal foul penalty that pushed the attempt back 15 yards.
Stratton attempted to kick the extra point in the wind, but the try fell flat.
The Thunder, whose struggles were clear, tried to spark something down two scores when they attempted to pull a fake punt deep in their own territory. The play failed, giving Hurricane a short field to work with.
Then, like he had done many times before, Scott delivered the knockout blow with a 1-yard touchdown dive, giving the Tigers a 21-0 advantage.
But despite a three-touchdown lead with less than three minutes to play, Homer still wasn't going to let up and start celebrating.
"We're all cautious in our own way. You're just cautious because they're so painful when you don't win these things," he said. "I was still yelling at everybody. If we get back here and get up big, maybe I'll be nicer."
That didn't stop assistant coach Gordon Dotson from displaying proudly his state championship hat that he received from principal Kevin Pedersen.
"We've traveled four years for this," Pedersen said as he handed out hats to players and coaches.
When the final seconds ticked down and the celebration had calmed down, senior quarterback Taylor Parker, who threw for 39 yards on 2-for-6 passing, couldn't keep a smile off of his face as he took his turn to talk with the media.
"Holy cow. It's one of the best feelings in my life," Parker said. "I've always wanted it. It's a great feeling."
Homer, though, admitted the emotion hadn't fully set in.
He's aware it will only happen once the only silence comes on the bus ride home, well after the cheering finally dies down.
"I'm so cautious with my emotions. They haven't poured out," Homer said. "I get to be on a bus for five hours to enjoy it. Maybe that will be the best time of all, while being thankful. It feels good."
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