PCHS Miners win Homecoming football game against Uintah 42-21

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City High School varsity football team won their Homecoming game at Dozier Field against Uintah High on Friday with a final score of  42-21.

Watch the third quarter touchdown throw by Park City.

“I loved how our kids fought, and I loved the grit they showed,” Head Coach Dennis Cunningham told TownLift after the game. “Things went against us a couple of times, and we had to fight back, but it was a good learning experience. We’re a young team with things to work on, but each week we’re just trying to get better, and we got better tonight.”

The Uintah Utes travel from Vernal for this 4A conference game in which the score was pretty much tied up around half time. 

While Park City showed some signs of chaos in their plays during the first half, the team absolutely shifted into a higher gear and their talents took off in the second half. 

“They‘re playing together as a team and figuring out what it means to be teammates, and what it means to have each other’s back and fighting for somebody else as opposed to just fighting for yourself,” Cunningham said. “They walked into the locker room at halftime and said, ‘We’re better than this. We can play better. We’ve got to be better.’ And that was the message back to these great athletes from my dedicated coaching staff that, ‘You guys are better, you’ve got this, just be calm and do your thing out there.'”

This win brings the Miners up to a 3 and 4 season so far.

Cunningham credited the defensive line for keeping the pressure on the Utes.

“You’ve got the splashy plays, the the punt returns, the long touchdowns, passes, obviously, Brogan [Price] had a bunch of big plays, we had some big interceptions, we had some fumble recoveries,” he said. “But when we needed to, the defensive line occupied their guys, they made big tackles, the offensive line made big blocks and made things happen.” 

This video shows another Park City TD, this one by a run, in the fourth period.

This was Cunningham’s first Homecoming game as head coach. 

“The crowd was unbelievable,” he said. “The student section was so much fun. So happy that we could put on a good show. This stadium’s amazing. Thanks to everyone in the Park City community for all the support.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Three senior Miners gathered together on the field afterwards celebrating the exciting win with their families who were there to spectate.

Camilo Huerta, Aaron Luis, and Xavi Gonzales were all born and raised in Park City. Before they were asked about the game result, the talk turned to elementary school; one attended Jeremy Ranch and two Trailside, at which point a shout-out was made for Ms. Rockwood as “the best 2nd grade teacher eveeeeeeeeer!”

“Tonight’s win was a relief, we’ve been working hard all summer and it’s a really good feeling to come out victorious in this way,” said Luis.

“It’s unreal being out here as seniors when just a few a few years ago we were here looking up to the to the older kids,” said Huerta. 

“Playing in this new stadium is special and we’re making it worth the wait we had for the opportunity. I will say, this is the best student section energy we’ve had since I can remember,” said Gonzales. 

Fireworks lit up the sky after the game ended.

Next up, the Miners will head to Heber to take on the Wasatch Wasps on Friday.