Blowouts have become an unfortunate reality in high school football, as reported in an October 19 statement. This trend was underscored by the firing of the Marist Catholic High School head coach in Eugene, Ore., following a 63-0 victory over Cottage Grove last week.
The dismissal of coach Zach Loboy occurred after he called for an onside kick while leading 57-0, which resulted in a touchdown before halftime and led the opposing team to refuse to play the second half. School officials stated his actions did not reflect the mission and values of the school. In Utah, West has demonstrated significant scoring gaps, including a 75-0 win over Cyprus last Wednesday night and a 71-7 victory over Taylorsville. Other notable West wins include a 63-0 win over West Jordan, a 52-0 win over Granger, a 55-6 win over Hillcrest, a 54-6 win over Hunter, and a 60-0 victory over rival East.
The prevalence of blowouts is linked to a wealth gap between programs. Football historian George Felt reported that 17.5 percent of games entering Week 10 ended early due to a 44-point rule that terminates contests after three quarters if the margin is large enough. Cottonwood, which has been outscored 539-9 this season, has only seen a final stanza once this year. Additionally, Cottonwood lost its 28th straight game.
Historical rivalries have also faced tension due to large margins. In 2007, Timpview defeated Provo 63-0 and attempted an onside kick while leading 42-0 in the second quarter, resulting in coaches nearly coming to blows. The Provo-Timpview rivalry has faced further complications; following social media threats directed at the daughter of former Provo head coach Kirk Chambers, the 2024 game was canceled and the schools have not played since.
Utah high school football moves into the playoffs following the UHSAA announcement of seeds on Saturday. While most Utah County playoff games are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, Utah Military Academy-Camp Williams will host Monument Valley in an 8-man game this Friday at Cedar Valley at 6 p.m.
