PCHS Miners Freshman Football Team takes the wide win ofer rivals Wasatch at home, 39-0. Photo: Allison Zarkos

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City High School’s Freshmen Football team trounced their regional rivals from Heber City on Wednesday, with a 39 – 0 victory at home at Dozier Field.

The Wasatch Wasps had no answer to the onslaught of scoring in front of the Park City home crowd.

Two of those cheerers were Allison Zarkos and her daughter, London. The two were cheering for Zarkos’ son Niko, who is on the Miner’s freshman team.

One of the many wonderful aspects about being involved in the Miner’s football program, she explains, is just how welcoming everyone has been. The new school year has barely begun and yet she feels like her family has been a part of the team for a long time.

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The Zarkos’ and another team family, the Bigelows, have been neighbors since their sons Niko and Chris attended kindergarten at Trailside. For Chris, the fun of playing Miner Football isn’t new as he’s been involved for years. For Niko, he’s just beginning to enjoy how much excitement and support there is within the team.

Even though Niko is on the freshman team, the JV and Varsity teams are huge role models for the younger players. This includes traditional Friday lunches eaten together at school, and Wednesday dinners before away-games or pre home-games. The togetherness of the Freshmen, Jr. Varsity, and Varsity families when off the field creates a sense of camaraderie.

The family-feel of the team was inspiring after Zarkos described a typical parent day where logistics caused a snafu in scheduling. She scrambled in the moment to procure a carpool ride home for Niko after practice, but then remembered the football group chat and send out a message to the crew. Just like that, a response came quickly back.

“There was a guy … he was a senior football athlete with a car who said he lived near the neighborhood and was going that way at that time and would be happy to help,” said Zarkos. “It was surprisingly simple and genuinely kind, like everyone in the sport has been.”

Aside from feeling welcomed in his new “home” as an athlete, Niko has all the feels just playing in general for his team, especially after big game results like this week’s.

This video shows merely one of the multiple Miner touchdowns.

To see the Miner’s freshman team in action, their next game is on Wednesday, September 7 against South Summit High School at home. To see the full schedule, visit the Miner’s website.