The top-ranked Miners intercepted four passes and returned two for touchdowns in a methodical 28-10 victory over visiting No. 2 Lone Peak.
Tanner Merrill picked off two Brock Jones passes, including one that he returned 46 yards for a touchdown on the game’s third play.
“They came out with the motto, ‘Repeat 2015’ for when they beat us in the semifinals, and that really angered us,” the senior cornerback said. “We wanted to set the tone early, and that definitely did it.”
Junior Tafuna had a 40-yard return for a score in the fourth quarter, and the Miners defense had a first-half goal-line stand to turn back the Knights (5-2, 1-1 Region 4) in a rematch of last year’s Class 5A state title game.