"She showed up in an old beat-up pickup truck and asked what she could do," recalled Steve Marlowe. The mother of four was going to nursing school, while caring for her wheelchair-bound husband. "She went down to the Pizza Hut and got them to donate 50 pizzas, and showed up with them in the back of that truck . . . . She's been with us ever since."

Now, 18 years later, she heads up the team's medical staff. After their loss to Logan last week, she entered a coaches' meeting choking back tears.

"I don't know if it would help or hinder, but I would be willing to show up in pads and a uniform," she said, wiping away the tears she couldn't contain. "Just know I'm here if you need anything."

It's hard being Goliath, especially when you don't feel like an unbeatable giant. Each year, they say they feel like underdogs — no matter what the team's record is — and part of what bonds them is the rest of the state's desire to see them lose.

"Everyone hates us in the valley," Marshall said. "I've had referees say, 'You win too much.' "

When winning becomes a way of life, the pressure to continue winning, no matter what the specific circumstances are, can be overwhelming at times. In fact, winning becomes more of a relief than a joy.

"It has felt like that over the years," Dupaix said. "Like just making it to the state tournament is not enough."

His players agree there is pressure.

"There is more pressure here because of our tradition," said James Johansen, one of this year's team captains. "We've won so many years. You don't want to be the downfall."

This year the team has struggled like never before. But talk of the dynasty dying is met with disbelief. One season didn't make them a powerhouse, and one season will not end it, they insist.

"Ask anyone associated with Skyline, and they'll say, 'Don't worry; Skyline will be back next year,' " Marshall said. "They're going to have faith until it's beaten out of them."

That faith hasn't completely vanished for the current season, and in fact it has grown stronger with the team's first-round playoff win over Region 4 champion Lone Peak 14-10 on Friday. The coaching staff constantly reminds each other that in 1998 the team went into the state tournament a No. 4 seed and ended up with a state title. With Friday's win, Skyline's first-round playoff win streak extends to 13, and Dupaix's playoff record is 53-26. He has won more playoff games than anyone else has even coached.

Following their loss to Alta three weeks ago, the coaching staff stood in a circle near the end zone discussing what went wrong.