Tom Zulewski
| For 63 years, the Hurricane Tigers couldn't bag the big one - a Utah state football championship. Grandfathers tried but couldn't so much as get to a final. Fathers like Randy Edwards saw the top of the championship mountain, but ended up falling short.
Even brothers like former Tiger kicker Cory Edwards endured their share of disappointment in especially harsh fashion - three times on the final play of the game.
Jared Edwards did his part and helped put an end to the misery once and for all as the snowflakes fell at Rice-Eccles Stadium in a 21-0 Hurricane victory over Region 9 rival Desert Hills
Considering it was the first time since 1994 a state title game was played in snow on the University of Utah's home field (Pine View vs. Uintah) the moment seemed as perfect as a winter wonderland for the Tigers.
"It's a very emotional time," Jared Edwards said. "My oldest brother is excited, Cory's been there three times, and it got away. É This team is the community, and the community loves the team. We all did this together."
And with his dad snapping pictures on the sidelines, Jared got the simplest bit of advice before he took the field.
"He said my grandpa's been there as a coach, he was there, heartbroken twice, and both my brothers. It's all on you now," Jared Edwards said. "I'm the last son in the family, so we had to get it done soon."
Edwards, a junior, had four carries for 20 yards on offense and a game-high 10 tackles on the defensive end. For Cory Edwards, who is enrolled at BYU but heading for an LDS Church mission after this school year, the feeling was something to savor.
"I'm happy for him, but I'm also happy for Coach (Chris) Homer," Cory Edwards said. "He deserves everything he's gotten right now."
And big brother's pre-game words of advice to little bro were simple, direct and relatable.
"I told him, 'go get something done I could never do,'" Cory said.
With the win secured, the meaning and impact of what happened will be fully felt for years to come.
"When we lost, it killed us," Cory Edwards said, "but every year, they're back, showing up.
"Maybe we needed the snow. You never know."
After all the photos of the state championship trophy were snapped, and more than six decades of near misses flushed away, the entire team left their marks by making snow angels in the Rice-Eccles Stadium turf. The cheerleaders embraced the moment by splashing snow on each other as often as possible.
It was a beautiful sight indeed - for a team, a town and across the generations. All the frustration, heartache and heartbreak finally released on one glorious night on the Rice-Eccles Stadium turf.
"This is a big one for the Edwards family," Hurricane head coach Chris Homer said. "Riley and D.J. Nelson and their dad, I about called them on how they (Logan High) win (state titles). They don't lose much there. Maybe this is a fresh start for Hurricane."
After as complete an effort as the Tigers provided, no one will disagree.
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