Football team wins first 3A State Championship

Intermountain Catholic

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Juan Diego Catholic High School Football Team wins the 2008 3A State Championship Title for the first time in the school's history since it opened in 1999. They won 2A titles in 2002 and 2004. Photo courtesy of Juan Diego Catholic High School

DRAPER — The Juan Diego Catholic High School Football team won their first 3A State Championship Title Nov. 14.

"The championship game was very close," said John Colosimo, vice principal and head football coach. "We were ahead most of the game until the last minute when they scored to tie the game 18-18, with just under a minute left to play. Once we got the ball back after that, we were able to drive down in field goal range and make a field goal with nine seconds left to win the game. It was quite a dramatic ending which allowed us to win the state title.

"We were undefeated this season," said Colosimo. "I think the boys really felt confident about being able to finish out the game and we were able to do that."

Colosimo said the big part of the story was the field goal kicker, junior Jeron Bentrude, missed the extra point after all three of the touch downs. So they were 6-0, and then 12, and then 18.

"He missed those three extra points, and it came down to Bentrude having to kick a field goal to win the game," said Colosimo. "It was pretty dramatic that he was able to execute that at the end and we were able to win the game. He made up for missing those extra points by being able to come back and win the game for us on his field goal.

"We had a great year. We were 14-0," said Colosimo. "We won our region title for the sixth straight year. We won two 2A titles in 2002 and 2004, so this is our third overall state football title. In the last eight years, we have played in four state championship games and won three of the four. We lost in 2003.

"We have had a pretty good program and this year that was capped off with an incredible group of senior boys, who really worked hard to win the title," said Colosimo. "Our senior captains were James Markosian, Jacob Doughty, Taylor Berg, and Zach Kinniniger. We were led by those four senior captains who were instrumental in our success."

Colosimo said one of the key components to the victories was the outstanding play by the defense. The defense did not allow five teams to score any points, and then held on average teams to less than seven points a game.

"Seniors Tyler Bauman, Brian May, and Dennis Larsen were also instrumental in us being a very good defensive team," said Colosimo.

"On our offensive side of the ball we were also pretty good. We averaged over 36 points per game led by seniors quarterback Brian May and running back Tyler Morales," said Colosimo. "Our offensive line of Markosian, Berg, Spencer Durfey, Noa Tavake, and Denny Midgley were instrumental in our scoring.

"Our senior wide receivers were Mike Ramirez and Zach Conley," said Colosimo. "Our senior kicker, who did not kick in the championship game was Roberto Taddeo, who made many extra points and field goals this year.

"We will miss the senior leadership and the desire that these young boys brought to the team," said Colosimo. "We wish them well in their future endeavors."

Markosian was named as the Most Valuable Player by the Deseret News. He is being recruited by Utah State, the University of Utah, and Weber State. Doughty is being recruited by some military schools such as Air Force and West Point.