The rain stopped just before kickoff at Dozier Field. For the Miners, however, the storm had just begun.

Sparked by a 95-yard touchdown run on the game’s opening kickoff, the visiting Juab Wasps rolled to a 21-12 win over Park City High School Friday.

In a game labeled by head football coach Kai Smalley as a potential turning point in the season, the Park City High School football team was left with more questions than answers by the end of the night, entering region play next week still seeking its first victory.

Virtually untouched, Juab ran the opening kickoff back to take an immediate 7-0 lead. The Miners answered as junior James Morris blocked a punt that led to his seven-yard touchdown run on the ensuing series.

After a failed onside kick attempt and a defensive stand, the Miner offense set up shop on their own two-yard line. Juab penalties aided the march downfield where a 19-yard pass from Vincent led to an eventual field goal, bringing Park City up 10-7 as the first quarter expired. For a team struggling this season with first-quarter play, it couldn’t have gone much better. In truth, however, the score marked Miners only lead of the night, and the last time they would put points on the board.

Two Juab touchdowns later, an explosive 36-yard punt return by senior Drue Olsen was negated due to a holding penalty. A Juab pass interference call brought the Miners into Wasp territory where running back Chad Smith fumbled an option pitch, leading to a three-and-out.

With 47.5 seconds left in the first half, it appeared Juab would score again until Olsen came up with a clutch interception. The turnover was squandered, however, as on the first offensive play a tipped Vincent pass fell back into the hands of Juab, who took a knee to end the half.

The third quarter featured sloppy play by both Miners and Wasps as the clock ground out with the score still 21-10. Punting with 8:05 left in the fourth, the Miner’ defense refused to lie down as seniors Conner Lagnese and Paul Flake each came up with a sack to give their offense the ball back with 6:31 in regulation.

On first and ten, a scrambling Heath Vincent threw his second interception of the night that was returned to the Park City 27. Miners Paul Flake and Peter Papineau defense came up big yet again with a sack after Juab elected to go for the first down rather than kick an easy field goal.

A valiant Miners’ defense that posted five sacks on the night and questionable Juab play-calling gave the Miners’ offense a shot at a comeback with three minutes left in the game. After struggling to connect with his receivers downfield, quarterback Heath Vincent hit junior wideout Tim Leary, who took the ball more than 40 yards into Juab territory.

Yet once in Juab territory, Vincent overthrew senior Paul Flake on what would have been a touchdown. Three plays later the Miners fumbled with 2:03 left. After another defensive stand by the Miners, Juab elected to run out of the back of the end zone for a safety rather than attempt a goal-line punt, giving the Miners their final two points. However, miscommunication led to the Wasps recovering the following squib kick, putting the last nail in the Park City coffin.

Quarterback Heath Vincent passed for 160 yards on the night, going 12 for 27 with two interceptions, and rushed for another 29 yards on nine attempts. Running backs Chad Smith and James Morris each ran for more than 30 yards; Smith also had a 17-yard reception. Receiver Paul Flake had three receptions for 38 yards and posted four tackles and 1.5 sacks on defense. Drue Olsen had 97 yards on 7 receptions on offense, plus five tackles and an interception on defense. Defensive lineman John Finch led the defense with six tackles and a sack.

The Miners begin region play next week, hosting Union on Friday at 7 p.m.