This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
First-year Dixie head coach Andy Stokes stood on the Rice-Eccles field Friday after his Flyers lost the 3AA championship against Logan, exuding frustration.
His team had been held to 15 points, its lowest total of the season. The Flyers gave up 258 yards rushing to Logan quarterback Hunter Horsely. And Dixie missed chances at turnovers when the game was in doubt.
"It hurts," said Stokes, who was the last player drafted in the 2005 NFL Draft out of William Penn. "It hurts bad to lose and to go out with the seniors we have who are such incredible kids. To send them out like this, it's tough."
The coach, who was the 42nd in Utah history to lead his team to the title in his first year as head man, didn't seem surprised by anything the Grizzlies ran on either side.
And he gave Logan plenty of credit.
"They have been running like that all year long," he said. "You have got to make the stops. Congratulations to them. They did a heck of a job."
Stokes credited the Flyers defense for keeping his team in the game during the first half when Logan drove deep into Dixie territory three times and came up with only two field goals.
"Our defense played a helluva game," he said. "We just didn't make enough plays."
The Dixie coach said Logan didn't do anything on defense he and staff didn't expect, as the Grizzlies held the Dixie offense to 68 yards net rushing and 148 yards passing. He said the Flyers just couldn't make the plays they needed.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Flyers grounded
• Dixie's 15 points was its lowest offensive output of the season.
• The Flyers stayed in the game early by holding Logan to two field goals in three Grizzly drives deep into Dixie territory.
• Dixie coach Andy Stokes was the 42nd Utah coach to lead a team to the state football title game as a first-year head man.