SALT LAKE CITY - Attempting to find a thread that Hurricane and Morgan have in common is a challenge. They only common opponent they have played had vastly different outcomes. Both the Tigers and Trojans have played Park City this season. Hurricane shut out the Miners 31-0 while Morgan last loss came to PC in a 45-7 blowout.  Does that favor Hurricane? Not likely as the Morgan-PC contest was the last game PC played before a rash of injuries and sickness left them without nearly a dozen key players.

PC was decimated when it drove to Hurricane and the Tigers pounced on the opportunity. Park City is healthy again and they are also in the 3A semi-finals, facing Juan Diego.

Both the Trojans and Tigers like to run the ball. With a 6:30 start time, this one may be over by 8:00 as the majority of the contest will be played between the hash marks. Hurricane boasts the leading rusher in the state in Gordie Dotson. The senior has produced over 1,600 yards this year and is also their leading receiver. Dotson has scored 26 times this season, tops in 3A. 

He is not alone in the putting up yards as Zach Sorenson and Jacob Pugh have shared the spotlight from their wing position and QB Jase Langston, while nursing a sore shoulder, has some of the longest runs of the season for the TIgers.  Langston has also produced nine passing TD’s this year and just surpassed 1,000 yards in the air for the Tigers. That itself is a major accomplishment for Hurricane, who loves to grind it out and in recent years, would pass as often as a presidential election take place.

Morgan also enjoys keeping the ball on the ground. Leading rusher, Jacob Kinsey has similar numbers as Dotson with 1,250 yards rushing and a very impressive 22 TD’s. Dayton Smith and fullback Ben Van Campen also will get plenty of touches and keep defenses honest. 

A few keys that will help make the difference Thursday:

1. Possession is Priceless. WIth the majority of plays staying on the ground, the clock will keep moving and it will limit the number of times each has a crack at scoring. Look for time of possession to be a factor in winning this game. The Tiger defense has yet to make big plays this season when needed and against Judge, forced seven turnovers, including three in the Tiger 10-yard line.

2. Win the Turnover Stat, Win the Game. With the type of running offenses, execution will be key. Both teams have solid corners with Gary Bracken and Tyler Ewell combining for 17 interceptions for Hurricane, but may not play a major factor Thursday. Tyler Winchester has 7 picks for the Trojans and he will get more opportunities than the Tiger duo. Dotson has rarely coughed up the ball this season and considering the numbers of carries and punishment he takes, that is perhaps the most impressive stat in his impressive resume.

3. Morgan May Need Extra Chin Straps.  People often talk about the Dotson when they talk about the Tigers, but not often is Hurricane’s defense mentioned. It should be and likely that is what Trpjan Coach Kovi Christiansen has been noticing in sleepless nights this week. Hurricane gives up just 10 points per game (a statistic flawed by garbage time TD’s). A more realistic stat is that 42 points have been scored in the fourth quarter against the Tigers when they had their starters out. They averaged  just five points per game taking out that late game statistic.

It is likely that Morgan has not played a defense this good and that will likely have four first team all-state selections (Bracken, Ewell, Ryan Butler and Fernando Sefita). Buckle up Trojans.

5. Pick Your Poison.  When teams have put 7-8 men in the box to stop Dotson, Sorenson and Pugh have had big games. Langston is an accurate passer and can run enough to keep you guessing. Choose not to key on Dotson and he will bury you and wear you down with quickness and strength.

With what seems like a one-sided article favoring the Tigers, Morgan has great tradition, great support and a great team. They will pack Rice Eccles with their maroon and gold and they will be loud. For many years they were the class of 3A and have had a tremendous season with major wins over Logan, Delta and Roy.

But this year, it is Hurricane’s time. They haven’t won a state title for nearly half a century and this team has been primed and ready for it since they were freshman.  Tigers 24, Trojans 14

Deseret News article