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- JHS football reigns as region champions
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3A SOUTH REGION CHAMPS • The JHS football team was crowned 3A South Region Champions on October 14. They will continue their quest for the state title as they take on Emery this Friday in the quarterfinals. Game time is 5:00 p.m. and will be played at JHS.
By Rebecca Dopp
Times-News Correspondent
It's been two years since the Juab High School football team has reigned as outright region champions, but they worked hard all season and are back in the driver's seat, ready to take on their opponents and get that elusive state title.
The Wasps have never won a state title, but they've come close several times, mostly at the 2A level. Their last appearance in the finals was in 2014 when they lost to Judge Memorial, 63-14.
The road the Wasps took to get to this point started off a little rocky. The season began with a huge win over Millard, 42-7. They then took on a first time, out-of-state match-up with Star Valley High School in Wyoming. The Braves shot down the Wasps 41-21, their first loss of the season.
The next two weeks proved to be learning experiences for the Wasps as they lost to 4A Salem Hills, 20-13, and to 3AA Cedar, 33-6. Injuries also plagued the team, but at the start of region play, some of those key players would be back in action.
The team got back on track with a win over Richfield 54-26, and a win against Delta 29-7. They took down Canyon View for Homecoming 41-20.
On October 7, the Wasps played at North Sanpete and they needed to get that win to solidify the top spot in 3A South. They did just that with a 26-6 win over the Hawks.
It wouldn't matter the outcome of the next game against Manti—even with a loss they would get the head-to-head over #2 Delta and take the top seed. Fortunately, they kept their region record unblemished with a 35-3 win over the Templars.
The final game of the regular season was a non-region game with Union High School. Final score was 42-23.
Juab, Delta, Canyon View and Manti will all be heading into the state tournament this week. North Sanpete and Richfield will sit this year out. In 3A North, Morgan leads the pack, with Juan Diego, Grantsville and Emery right behind. Union and Carbon did not make the playoffs.
The quarterfinals start this Friday at home against Emery. Game time starts at 5:00 p.m. and the community is encouraged to come out and support the team.
This year the Wasps were picked early on to be a contender for the title; after all, they have reached at least the semifinals in the past three years. Week after week they have made improvements, overcome adversity, and are poised to take it all come November 12 at Southern Utah University. If the team can keep it together, this could be the year when they hoist that trophy in the air and celebrate.
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