9:03 AM, Nov. 19, 2011
| SALT LAKE CITY - The snowy weather was far from ideal for a state championship football game, but fans from Hurricane and Desert Hills high schools traveled to Salt Lake City on Friday to watch the two teams battle it out for the 3A state title.
Although Hurricane won 21-0 to secure the state title, fans said the game had plenty of appeal for people to make the trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah.
"We were way excited to come as a school and just support our team players that worked so hard throughout the football season, and it's finally paying off," said Nina Reis, a student at Desert Hills.
Desert Hills Athletic Director Kim Monkres said people made the trip for the big-game atmosphere that Rice-Eccles Stadium provides.
Hurricane resident Ryan Yardley, who made his third consecutive trip to the campus of the University of Utah on Friday, said the visit to northern Utah provided an exciting experience.
"This is a new year. New team," said Yardley, whose son, Weston Yardley, rushed for 60 yards and caught three passes for 53 yards during the game. "It's exciting. I've been close to these kids and coached these kids ... when they were freshmen. They're all sons to me."
The championship - the school's first since 1948, when Hurricane played six-man football - is expected to be the talk of the town in Hurricane upon the team's return sometime today.
"The community has longed for this for so many years," said Ryan Yardley. "There have been many great athletes to come through (the school)."
When the clock hit zero, Hurricane principal Kevin Pedersen was on the field, giving players and coaches championship hats and thanking the large group of people who traveled to support the team.
"It's the best feeling in the world. We love our fans," he said. "We've been traveling four years (to get this moment)."
Hurricane coach Chris Homer also expressed gratitude toward the fans who braved a winter snowstorm to watch his team finally secure a state title.
"It looked like we had more fans," Homer said. "They had every excuse to stay home. We love our fans and we're thankful for them."
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