On Monday morning, Park City High School football head coach Kai Smalley sent a text message to an old apprentice: Wasatch starting quarterback Tyler Purdy.

“I just told him good luck this week, and he sent one back saying the same,” said Smalley, who spent last year as a co-offensive coordinator for the Wasps.

That was the extent of the communication between the two rivals playing for more than just bragging rights. With the Region 10 championship on the line at Dozier Field Thursday night at 7 p.m., the Miners and Wasps will collide in what is anticipated as one of the marquee matchups in Utah football this season.

“It’s just not another game to people,” Smalley said. “But we want to keep rolling in region, so we can get that No. 1 seed. That’s what it really comes down to.”

If you manage to make it to the game, you will see two eerily similar teams on the turf.

Park City (5-3) averages 30.6 points per game. Wasatch (6-2) averages 30.9.

Miners’ quarterback Paul Flake has thrown for 15 touchdown, six interceptions and 1,879 yards on the season. Purdy has 16 touchdowns, nine interceptions and 1,515 yards.

Each team has four different receivers with at least 140 receiving yards on the season.

Smalley was one of the architects in bringing the spread offense to Wasatch a few seasons ago, a team that previously had been a run-heavy offense.

This season, the first-year head coach brought his spread offense up the road to Park City, taking over a team that had won two region championships in a row with a potent triple-option attack.

“We can’t go in and drastically change our offense and defense solely based on us playing a team that might know us a little better,” Smalley said. “Yeah, I’m familiar with their plays.”

The Wasatch offensive attack will be spearheaded by Purdy and trio of impressive receivers: Keefer Babbitt leads the team in receiving yards (648) and touchdown receptions (five), while Taylor Richards (368) and Alex Probst (259) are Purdy’s other prime go-to guys.

Smalley mentioned that quelling the Wasatch run game might not be expected be a major focus, but the Miners’ coach is impressed with Wasps’ running back Cody Parker, who is a load to handle out of the backfield.

“I think (Wasatch head coach Steve) North knows what he’s good at and what he does,” Smalley said. “I can’t over-think this.”

The Wasps are coming off a bye week, giving Park City’s rival an extra week to prepare for Thursday night’s showdown. In last Thursday’s homecoming romp over American Leadership Academy, some of the Wasatch coaching staff and players were in attendance to get a look at a Park City team that has won four in a row and is averaging 45 points per game in Region 10 play, while giving up only six.

“We’re getting better with each game and knowing Smalley’s from Wasatch, he definitely has an advantage. He knows all the players,” senior wideout Robert Cashel said.

Smalley reiterated the importance of winning the region title. The winner of Thursday’s matchup will get two home playoff games before heading to Rice-Eccles Stadium for the 3A state semifinals assuming they get that far.

At Monday’s practice, Smalley had a few Miners alum speak to the team about the importance of rivalry week, and what it means to play Wasatch with so much on the line.

“The biggest thing that you do want to instill in them is that they still do have to put the work in. It’s not just going to happen because it’s Wasatch and it’s not just going to happen because it’s a rivalry game,” Smalley said. “Keeping them grounded is the most important part.”

The straightforward Smalley is continuing on the path that has led his team to four straight wins.

“Like I’ve told them every week this season, this is the biggest game of their lives,” he said.

With so much on the line, one would be hard-pressed to argue.