No. 8 Green Canyon Dominates No. 4 Park City, Advances To 4A Title Game
Nov 9, 2023, 8:09 PM | Updated: Nov 10, 2023, 10:50 am
SALT LAKE CITY – The Green Canyon Wolves dominated the Park City Miners on both sides of the ball to advance from the semifinal round into the 4A state championship game.
Green Canyon beats Park City in 4A semifinals
The Miners and Wolves played in the 4A semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium, home of the Utah Utes, on Thursday, November 9.
Green Canyon defeated Park City, 21-0.
The Wolves blank the Miners to reach the 4A state title game. 🟢🐺🏈
FINAL@gcwolves 21@ParkCityFtbl 0
Read more about the Green Canyon's semifinal win: #GameNightLive #KSLGameNight @KSLSportsRewind @JeremiahJensen @SSylvester55 @mariluzcook https://t.co/VsEszIOznE
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 10, 2023
The Wolves controlled the contest from start to finish to advance to their first state title game.
With 8:32 remaining in the opening quarter, Payton Wilson connected with Shandon Thain for 40 yards and the first points of the night. The big touchdown gave Green Canyon an early 7-0 lead.
Following the Wolves’ touchdown, each team went scoreless on the next few possessions thanks to some stout defenses.
Green Canyon owned a 7-0 lead after the first 12 minutes of action.
With 1:17 left in the first half, the Miners sacked Wilson deep in Green Canyon’s territory. Wilson was injured on the play and limped over to the sideline.
The Wolves held the Miners scoreless in the first half and took a 7-0 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
A touchdown pass from Payton Wilson to Shandon Thain is the difference on the scoreboard.
HALFTIME @gcwolves 7@ParkCityFtbl 0
📺: https://t.co/jB2CMTG01C#GameNightLive #KSLGameNight @KSLSportsRewind @JeremiahJensen @SSylvester55 @mariluzcook pic.twitter.com/qkZwwon0V5
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 10, 2023
Following the break, Wilson returned to the field for the Wolves.
With 8:48 remaining in the third quarter, the Miners forced the Wolves into a punt on fourth down. Green Canyon kicked the ball downfield before Park City muffed it and the Thain recovered the ball for the Wolves.
A few plays later, Wilson burst into the end zone on a quarterback scramble to extend Green Canyon’s lead. The Wolves took a 14-0 lead after an extra-point kick by Caleb Butterfield.
Green Canyon stopped Park City and forced a punt on the Miners’ next drive.
After getting the ball back, the Wolves struck again.
With 3:24, Wilson hit Dewey Egan for a 32-yard touchdown. The strike stretched Green Canyon’s lead to 21-0.
The Wolves took the three-score lead into the final 12 minutes of game time.
After a clock-draining drive that took nine minutes, the Wolves were shut down inches away from another touchdown with a fourth down goal line stop by the Miners.
Despite not scoring, the run-heavy quarter helped Green Canyon secure victory.
The game ended on a somber note as Park City’s Tyler Montzingo was taken off the field by an ambulance after suffering an injury with only 11 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
WATCH LIVE: Green Canyon vs. Park City in the 4A football semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium.@JeremiahJensen @SSylvester55 @mariluzcook have the call on the @kslsports app, KSL+ app, @KSLSportsZone, and:https://t.co/jB2CMTFsc4 pic.twitter.com/3uTonwNvlM
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 10, 2023
Up next for Green Canyon football
With the win, the Green Canyon advanced to the 4A state title game. Green Canyon improved its record to 10-3 with the victory. Park City finished its season with an 11-2 record.
The Wolves will play the winner of the other semifinal matchup between the No. 2 Crimson Cliffs Mustangs and No. 6 Ridgeline Riverhawks. The Mustangs and Riverhawks will play for the final spot in the title game on November 10 at 6 p.m. (MT).
The 4A championship game will take place at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 17 at 11 a.m. The title game will be broadcast on KSLSports.com and the KSL Sports app.