Bulldogs edge out Miners boys football in a close 17-14 game

Dozier Field PCHS boys football Miners in Sept. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City High School’s Miners football team faced a tough regional matchup against the Provo Bulldogs on Friday at Dozier Field. Despite an early lead, the Miners ultimately fell to Provo in a close 17-14 battle.

This result places the Miners at a 4-4 overall record for the season. 

The Miners started strong in the first quarter, quickly putting points on the board with Owen Osorio’s 71-yard touchdown run and Josh Hofer’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Eli Warner. Kicker Tanner Pidwell added the extra points, giving Park City a promising 14-3 lead.

However, the Miners’ offense struggled to find the endzone again, with Pidwell narrowly missing two lengthy field goals in the first half.

Provo’s defense proved to be a formidable force, preventing the Miners from scoring any additional points after their initial burst. Bulldogs’ head coach Kirk Chambers highlighted the impact of key turnovers, including a strip-sack from Griffin DeMartini and an interception from Malik Filimoeatu, stating these plays made the difference in the game. Filimoeatu also contributed significantly on offense, scoring two touchdowns, including the game-winning 2-yard run in the fourth quarter with 9:55 remaining. 

The Miners’ loss in this pivotal regional clash makes it more of a challenge for them to claim the Region 8 title this season. The team will look to bounce back in their next game, facing Ridgeline on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Dozier Field. The Thursday night kickoff is due to the school’s fall break.