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The defending 3AA champions have earned a shot at defending their crown.

And in quite the resounding fashion.

The Dixie Flyers thumped the Tooele Buffaloes 45-6 in the second Class 3AA semifinal this week at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Dixie moves on to face Logan next Friday morning, aiming to win its third state championship in the last four seasons.

"There's no better feeling in the world than having an opportunity to play at Rice-Eccles," Dixie coach Andy Stokes said. "To have the kids come out and perform the way they performed, as a coach, I can't be any prouder of those kids."

Behind quarterback Zak Harrah, tailback Tre Miller and wide receivers Jaden Harrison and Bret Barben, the Flyers utilized their big-play offense against the Buffaloes. Harrah finished 18-of-23 for 366 yards passing and three touchdowns. Miller rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Those four combined for all six of Dixie's touchdowns and accounted for 486 yards of the team's 551 yards of total offense in the win.

The shifty Harrison turned quick screens into 210 receiving yards and Barben's big frame adding another 151 yards receiving as Dixie overmatched Tooele. Miller's 2-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter put Dixie up 7-0, but Tooele answered after picking off Harrah. Ryan Brady scored on a 12-yard touchdown run, but the two-point conversion attempt failed.

Then Harrison introduced himself to Tooele.

The senior playmaker took a delayed screen 46 yards to the end zone, putting Dixie up 14-6. Harrah tacked on another midway through the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run. Four minutes later, Harrah hurled a pass to the corner of the end zone, finding Barben to put the Flyers up 28-6.

"They make me look good," Harrah said of his receivers.

As dominant as the Flyer offense was Friday night, the defense shut down Tooele's high-powered ground game, holding the Buffaloes to 110 yards of total offense and nine punts.

"Tonight, I think it's a wake-up call," Harrah said. "Start looking at both sides of the ball."

Dixie's title-game appearance next week will extend the streak of Southern Utah schools to eight straight years. The last time a 3A final didn't feature a Southern Utah school? 2007, when Logan was hoisted a 3A trophy.

ckamrani@sltrib.com

Twitter: @CKTribune —

Storylines

R Defending 3AA champ Dixie will face Logan in the 3AA title game next Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

• Dixie quarterback Zak Harrah threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

• The Flyers held Tooele to 110 yards of total offense, forcing nine punts.