High school football: Park City benefitting this season from championship pedigree from a couple of lacrosse players

Park City running back Dylan Bauer (22) outruns Pine View linebacker Uelese Matavao, top, and cornerback Tj Francis for the first Park City touchdown on their second offensive play of the game during the first half of a 4A semifinals high school football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

PARK CITY — With 25 region championships in 112 seasons, Park City has a decent history of success on the gridiron. A state championship, however, has remained elusive since Park City’s first football season way back before World War I.

A trifecta of college-bound lacrosse players who’ve won state titles the past two springs in their preferred sport are hoping to help Park City forever alter its “0fer” gridiron history in this Friday’s 4A state championship.

Dylan Bauer, Andrew Pederson and Brady Baumann were key cogs in Park City’s lacrosse state titles in the spring of 2018 and 2019, and that winning mentality has transferred to the football team, which is 13-0 heading into the title game against Sky View.

“Multi-sport is truly something we preach. We really want our guys, if they can, to play three sports, compete in something, ‘cause if you’re competing in something you’re getting better. We want competitors on our field,” said Park City coach Jjosh Montzingo. “I think their championship success has come back and rubbed off on us.”

For Bauer and Pederson, lacrosse was their first love; they didn’t start playing football until junior high to diversify their athletic proficiency — and hang out with their friends. For Baumann, football was his go-to sport as he started playing flag football in kindergarten. His friends convinced him to pick up a stick and give lacrosse a try in sixth grade, and he hasn’t put it down since.

The trio are among the best lacrosse players in the state, too.

Last Friday, the day after Park City’s semifinal win over Pine View, the school held a signing day event for the seniors signing their National Letters of Intent. Bauer, Pederson and Baumann were among the signees.

Bauer signed with Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Baumann with Marist in New York and Pederson with Princeton, even though his was an unofficial signing, as Ivy League schools don’t award athletic scholarships.

“It was pretty surreal. All our dreams were coming true at once,” said Bauer.

It’s been a pretty surreal season on the football field as well for the Miners. Bauer is one of the top rushers in the state as he’s carried the ball 237 times for 1,881 yards and 20 touchdowns, including two touchdowns in the semifinals.

Even though Park City played in the semifinals at Rice-Eccles Stadium last year, Bauer was suspended for that game after being ejected in the quarterfinals the week before against Sky View. He didn’t look nervous at all in his debut at the U. in spearheading last week’s win.

Pederson also missed last year’s semifinal after injuring his shoulder the week before.

Pederson said there’s obviously a bit of bad blood between Park City and Sky View after last year’s quarterfinal game. “If you can’t get amped up for this game, I don’t know what will amp you up,” he said.

Friday will be the trio’s last game playing football, and Pederson said he’s so grateful that he choose to be more than a lacrosse player several years ago.

“There’s nothing like it. There’s nothing like getting ready for a football game. The feeling inside you get running out on a Friday night, the bands playing, the atmosphere — there’s nothing like it, not even lacrosse. It’s surreal. It’s amazing,” said Pederson.

Another surreal moment will occur during his freshman lacrosse season in 2021 when his Princeton lacrosse team plays Bauer’s Johns Hopkins team.

“That’s going to be weird because Dylan’s been my best friend ever since I’ve been 2 years old,” said Pederson.

Baumann was the late bloomer on the lacrosse field, but in whatever sport he played growing up, he said this 2020 class of Park City students has always be incredibly talented.

“We’ve had a winning culture from when we were younger,” he said.

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