This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For a high school football team, two months can make the difference between a nightmare and a dream come true.
Ask Dixie.
The Flyers put the finishing touches on a miraculous turnaround Friday with a 27-19 victory over Hurricane in the Class 3AA state championship game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Oddly, Dixie's 34-14 loss to Hurricane on Sept. 26 was the low point of its season.
In the rematch, however, the Flyers' T.J. Wilgar intercepted a pass deep in Dixie territory with 58 seconds remaining to clinch the eighth state title in school history.
With Hurricane driving at midfield, Wilgar made a diving catch along the sideline to preserve the Flyers' season-ending eighth straight victory.
"They ran that play about five times," Wilgar said. "When I saw the quarterback drop back and look that way, I started covering ground. I laid out for it, but was fortunate enough to keep my right foot inbounds."
Said coach Blaine Monkres: "Just tough defense down the stretch. Our offense put our defense in some bad positions. But the defense got it done when they had to. They came up big."
Dixie appeared to put the game away during a two-play sequence midway through the fourth quarter.
Leading 17-12, Namu Stevenson stopped a potential go-ahead Hurricane drive with an interception at the Flyer 43-yard line.
On the first play after the turnover, Trenton Miller burst up the middle and raced 57 yards for a touchdown, making it 24-12 with 8:52 remaining.
"The line just opened a big hole," said Miller, who rushed 14 times for 87 yards in the game. "I saw it and ran through it. It was a great job by the O-line."
The Flyers bumped their lead to 27-12 on McLane Keenan's 32-yard field goal with 5:21 remaining before Hurricane rallied.
Josh Parker's 10-yard touchdown pass to Noah Elison made it 27-19 with 3:16 left and, after its offense couldn't move, Dixie needed Wilgar's pick to preserve its state title.
"Defense wins championships," Wilgar said. "We knew it was going to come down to us, and it did. The last drive it came down to us and I was telling my brothers on the field, 'It's up to us. Defense wins championships.' And I was fortunate enough to make a play."
Neither Wilgar nor Miller knew what to say about the victory.
"I'm at a loss for words right now," Wilgar said. "This is amazing."
Said Miller: "This is the most amazing feeling ever. I can't describe how I feel right now."
Monkres credited his players' willingness to keep fighting for their ability to overcome the disappointing start to the season.
"… These guys just kept getting better and better and better every week," he said. "That's how you get here."
Miller praised Hurricane for its performance and unwillingness to quit, saying, "They are a great team. I knew it was going to be a hard-fought battle and it was."
Twitter: @sluhm —
Dixie 27, Hurricane 19
O Quarterback Ammon Takau throws two touchdown passes to help Dixie claim the 3AA state title with a win over Hurricane.
• R.J. Wilgar's interception with 58 seconds left stops the Tigers' final drive and clinches Dixie's eighth straight win.
• The Flyers' victory avenges a 34-14 loss to Hurricane on Sept. 26 and gives Dixie its eighth state championship.