By Josh McFadden | [email protected]

It’s been a long time since the Olympus football team suffered a loss in league play.

Region foes will have to wait another year for their shot at the Titans during the regular season. Olympus completed another unblemished region record, going 6-0 in Region 6 a year after posting a 5-0 mark in the same league. The Titans’ last region loss was on Oct. 13, 2017 at the hands of rival Skyline.

The Titans didn’t let history repeat itself this year when they took down the Eagles 41-17 on Oct. 16 to close out the regular season. The victory clinched Olympus’ second consecutive region championship, putting the team in position for a first-round state tournament bye. 

“It is always an honor to win region,” head coach Aaron Whitehead said. “Each year, we have winning region set as one of our goals. We have accomplished it seven of the past nine years. Our kids don't take it for granted.”

New Utah High School Activities Association postseason format follows a ratings percentage index, or RPI, which factors a team’s record along with its opponents’ records and those opponents’ records. Every team in Class 5A will now participate in the playoffs, which get underway Oct. 25, 25 at higher-seeded teams’ home sites. The top six teams get to move right into the second round on Nov. 1, 2. 

Once again, the Titans were dominant in their march to a league crown. 

In the season finale against Skyline, the Titans turned a close game early into a comfortable victory by outscoring the Eagles 27-7 in the final 25 minutes of the contest. The Eagles were down just 14-10 late in the second quarter when Mason Lund picked off an Olympus pass and returned it eight yards for a touchdown. A late field goal increased Olympus advantage to 17-10 at the break. From there, it was all Olympus. The Titans pushed the lead to 41-10 with five minutes left in the game. Chase Hopkins had three touchdown runs and a touchdown reception, while Caden Kuhn returned a Skyline pass 40 yards for a TD. 

The Titans scored at least 41 points in three of their six league games and never surrendered more than 20. 

Whitehead noticed some similarities between this team and last year’s squad, which reached the Class 5A semifinals. He also was pleased with the way his team responded to getting every team’s best shot each week.

“This year is similar to last, as we have a strong group of seniors with great leadership,” he said. “Last year was truly special; I believe that we surprised people. This year is special as well. That target is square on our chest and this group has risen to the occasion.”

Assuming the Titans get a first-round playoff bye, the team will have a few weeks to prepare for the state tournament. Whitehead believes if his group stays healthy and executes, it has a chance to make a run in the postseason. He knows the players are dedicated and will give it their all no matter which team Olympus faces. 

“We have a real good team,” he said. “This is a group that prepares well each week. We hope to keep that going deep into November.”

Whitehead will rely on quarterback Frankie Goodson to continue directing the offense. The senior wasn’t asked to throw the ball a lot, but he threw 13 touchdown passes on the year. The running game has been strong. Hopkins had 982 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns during the regular season. Christian Peterson and Scotty Edwards added 387 and 374 yards, respectively. Defensively, Nate Condon intercepted four passes. Emerson Conlon had 53 tackles and 3.5 sacks.