WASHINGTON FIELDS — The football team at Crimson Cliffs High School was built to play for a state championship from the moment it was created in 2019.

Even so, no one expected the Mustangs to get there this soon.

Crimson Cliffs (10-2) will play Region 10 and neighborhood rival Desert Hills (9-3) Friday night at 7 p.m. at Greater Zion Stadium with the 4A state championship on the line.

“You go from one win to four wins to eight wins to now 10 wins and in the state championship,” Mustangs head coach Wayne Alofipo told St. George News at a rainy practice Tuesday night.

“The progression has been there this whole time,” Alofipo added. “We couldn’t be more grateful for the young men that have come before and helped establish that culture, and these young men that are taking advantage of what the foundation has been.” 

Alofipo has historical ties to Friday night’s game as he worked for his opponent, Desert Hills coach Rick Berry, when both were defensive coaches at Dixie under veteran head coach Blaine Monkres.

When Crimson opened its doors, Alofipo went across town to lead the Mustangs’ defense under head coach Jaron Tate. Alofipo became head coach before this season started.

Meanwhile, Berry is in his second year at Desert Hills and the two defensive-minded former Flyers coaches will battle X’s and O’s Friday night.

“As much as this is one of those cliche sayings, defense wins championships,” Alofipo said. “And I’m pretty sure if they can’t score, they can’t win. So I’m sure both defenses are going to be riled up and ready to try to limit the other offense as best they can.”

Defensively, he added, the Mustangs’ goal is to give their offense as many opportunities as possible.

“So we’ve got to get three-and-outs, we’ve got to get turnovers,” Alofipo said. “Try and keep their offense off the field as much as we can.”

These two teams met in the first Region 10 game of the year, Sept. 2, at Desert Hills.

Quarterback Steele Barben threw two touchdown passes and Mason Topalian ran for a score to lead the Mustangs to a 21-14 win, the first time in school history that Crimson Cliffs beat Desert Hills. 

“It was a big step for the program,” Alofipo said.

But he was quick to point out that Desert Hills senior quarterback Noah Fuailetolo did not play in that game and has since returned from a knee injury. His presence makes the Thunder a different team, Alofipo said.

“It’s going to be a different game for us. Noah being back is a game changer for them,” he added. “He does a lot of good things for them and he runs that offense to perfection.” 

Alofipo said the fact that the Mustangs are in the title game after just three seasons reflects a yearly commitment by countless Crimson Cliffs players, coaches, parents and administrators.

“It’s a testament to these young men and who they are as players and individuals,” Alofipo said. “It’s a testament to their work ethic to get us here. These young men have really risen in their game and especially their IQ and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

And a tractor shall lead them

Traceson Jessop is impossible to miss. His Mustangs teammates call him “Tractor,” and he is, without a doubt, the biggest boulder on the mountain range that is the Crimson Cliffs offensive line.

Jessop spoke with St. George News after a blocking drill in practice. He estimated he’s probably around 340 or 350 pounds right now, one of several big boys on Crimson’s front line.

“Definitely the biggest,” Jessop said with a smile. “Me, Connelly Ulrich and Ashton Faulkner have been playing together since the seventh or eighth grade. So us three are really tight. Then Stone (Hansen) came along sophomore year and it’s been a real good brotherhood ever since.” 

“Us all being together like we have been has made us, honestly, in my opinion, the best O-line in the state,” he added.

All four of those players just mentioned are seniors. They’ve been at Crimson Cliffs through its humble beginning to the top of the mountain Friday night.

“It’s been a long journey, to say the least,” Jessop said. “Different coaches, everything from three years ago. This has been a long journey but we’ve put our heads down and just worked and it’s been really nice.”

Even with the familiarity these two teams have for one another and the common bonds of friends and family that many of them share, Jessop said that once the game kicks off it will just be a football game between the Mustangs and the Thunder.

“It’s just another game. We just got to put our head down and work. It’s just another team in the way,” Jessop said. “We’re excited to play them again.”

The big man they call Tractor added that there’s extra energy going into a state title game that features two teams from St. George playing at Greater Zion Stadium.

“A little bit, knowing that it’s going to be here at Utah Tech,” Jessop said. “Both stands are going to be filled, it’s going to be loud and it’s going to be really exciting.”

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