Font ResizeThe last time Delta and Park City met in football, the Miners had no trouble, as they cruised to a 41-7 win earlier this season. But Park City doesn't expect its next meeting with the Rabbits -- this Friday in the Class 3A quarterfinals -- to be an easy task.
"We've got to win a close game; that's what we'll be presented with this Friday," Park City coach Brandon Matich said. "We've got to wear them down. We have to grind out the clock and the game."
The Miners are not taking Delta lightly, but they have the edge coming into the game. Park City is on a nine-game winning streak, and its only loss this season is to 3A defending champion Juan Diego. The Miners' running game has been their key to success. Park City has two of the top running backs in Class 3A with Dylan Chynoweth and Erik Walker. Chynoweth might reach the 2,000-yard mark before the season is over and Walker has rushed for more than 1,300 yards.
It's a strong offensive line that paves the way for Chynoweth and Walker.
"Their offensive line is incredible," Delta coach Russ Henrie said. "They don't have one weak link on the offensive line."
Park City also has an intangible X-factor. The Miners advanced to the semifinals last season with a young team. Matich said last year's playoff run was a surprise, but this year, his team is ready for it.
"You can't substitute experience," Matich said. "Last year's group allowed us to get that experience at the University
But Delta will be a tough opponent. The Rabbits have a strong running back of their own. Derek Peterson doesn't have as much size, but he's hard to stop. He has rushed for about 1,600 yards this year.
Delta quarterback Joey Dutson does a good job of running the Rabbits' offense and can also run the ball.
"He doesn't say a whole lot, but he gets the job done," Henrie said. "To go into [Park City's] hometown and push them around won't be an easy thing to do, but we're a better team than when we played them the first time."
