Through six games in the 2022 football season, the Park City Miners are 5-1, coming off of a tight 21-16 victory over the Highland Rams on Friday, September 16th. This Friday, September 23rd, the Miners will host the Olympus Titans on Dozier Field at 7pm.

Last week’s matchup was much closer than expected — the 1-4 Rams were coming off of back-to-back region losses in which they conceded over 40 points. The Miners, on the other hand, were fresh off of a 53-0 obliteration of the Murray Spartans in Park City’s homecoming game.

Park City came out hot, leading 21-3 at halftime. But the Rams came to play. They managed to hold the Miners scoreless in the second half, but couldn’t quite mount the comeback to upset Park City. Highland fell just one touchdown short, losing by a final score of 21-16.

With this region win, Park City moved to 5-1, with a region record of 2-1. That singular loss came at the hands of East High, on September 2nd. Park City fell to East by a score of 21-14, as a comeback of their own fell just short. However, the Miners seemed to have bounced back just fine, as they were able to win their next two against region opponents (Murray and Highland). 

What comes next, however, is the Miners’ toughest stretch of the season. In three consecutive games, Park City is matched up against Olympus, Brighton, and Skyline — three of the top five teams in 5A Region 6. 

Senior left tackle and team captain Sean Burnette spoke on what’s necessary to continue this hot start.

“The key is honestly just going to be focus. That sounds cliché, but really, when everyone focuses on what we’ve learned so far, and when everyone focuses on doing their job — that’s what tends to provide us the most success.”

“Nobody gets away from their job, and nobody gets away from their assignments, and that’s what usually brings us to victory,” added Burnette. 

Finishing first in the region is a goal not too far out of reach. Wins over Olympus (3-3 record), Brighton (5-1), and Skyline (3-3) will be imperative to earning a top-five seed in the 5A playoff come late October.

This year, the Miners are led for the third consecutive season by senior QB Chase Beyer. In a non-region win against Green Canyon, Beyer was injured trying to make a tackle on a defender who had just intercepted him. Beyer left on a stretcher, and a head/neck injury kept him out of the next two matchups. In his absence, senior Max Grizzell led Park City to a 1-1 record. Beyer will return to being the starter moving forward in 2022. 

Senior Brayden Beyer, Chase’s twin, has been Park City’s all-around MVP thus far, dominating on both offense and defense. Beyer, who plays middle linebacker on defense, ranks 2nd in total tackles of all Miners. Brayden’s dominance does not stop on that side of the ball — he leads all Miners with 7 touchdowns and ranks 2nd in team rushing yards. He received All-5A Defensive 2nd Team honors from Slingin’ the Pill Media this past week.

Unfortunately, the Beyer brothers’ injury woes did not end with Chase’s head injury. On Friday in the matchup against Highland, Brayden sustained a knee injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the 2022 campaign. The Miners will lean on defensive studs Chandler Kelsch, Blake Tabaracci, Jack Stouffer, Carson Baynes, and Miles Preston to keep their defense dominant without Beyer.

Last year, in 2021, Park City was seeded 20th in 5A after a 5-6 regular season. They were able to upset region rival and 13-seeded Skyline but lost in the next round to Bountiful.

In 2020, back when Park City competed in the 4A conference, they earned a 5-seed and won two playoff games before falling to Ridgeline in the Quarterfinals.

2019 was the most successful season in recent Miners history — the team went an undefeated 10-0 in the regular season, and was ranked as the 1-seed in 4A. They cruised all the way to the State Championship Game, held at Rice-Eccles Stadium, but their championship dreams were shattered by Skyridge, who dominated en route to a 35-0 victory and a state championship title.

The 2022 Miners, with state championship hopes, will look to channel some of that magical 2019 playoff run come late October. 

Park City’s Upcoming Matchups:

09/23 – vs. Olympus – 7pm – Dozier Field. Theme for students: WESTERN

09/30 – @ Brighton – 7pm 

10/07 – vs. Skyline – 7pm – Dozier Field – SENIOR NIGHT

Playoff schedule TBD