The fifth ranked Montrose Red Hawks football team (8-2) faced Pueblo West (6-4) Friday night, Oct. 28. In a bitter night with a good crowd, the Red Hawks came away with a 35-28 victory.
Starting off the game, the Red Hawks stopped the Cyclones and took over on the Cyclones 49. They moved right down the field, as Torrie Eckerman scored from one yard out. The Red Hawks led 6-0 after the first quarter.
Pueblo West answered, as Gavin Lockett to Brock Keck made it 6-6. The Goodrich kick was good and the Cyclones led 7-6. The Red Hawks bounced back, and went down field as Blake Griffin scored from 15 yard out. The two point conversion was no good and it was 12-7. Later in the quarter, a Lockett pass to Titus White made it 14-12 at halftime.
The Red Hawks got the ball to start the third. A fumble gave the ball back to the Cyclones at the Red Hawks 47. The Cyclones were stopped on fourth and seven, keeping them off the board. Down field went the Red Hawks, as Austin Zimmer scored from 22 yards out. Eckernman scored the two point conversion and it was 20-14. The Red Hawks tried an on side kick, but the Cyclones recovered on the Red Hawks 49. They moved down field, as a Lockett passed to White was good for a seven yard touchdown. That made it 21-20.
With the Red Hawks with the ball on the Cyclones 44, it was Zimmer from 44 yards out. Griffin scored the two point conversion and it was 28-21. Alex Michaels intercepted the ball and went out of bounds at the Red Hawks three yard line. Down the field against a very good defense went the Red Hawks. Zimmer scored from 32 yards out. Zach Motley’s kick made it 35-21. The Cyclones scored a late touchdown on a nine yard pass from Lockett to Donovan Robinson and it was 35-28. The Red Hawks forced the Cyclones to use their timeouts and held on, 35-28.
The Red Hawks captured the league championship. They now wait to see where they are seeded. The seeding will take place Sunday.
“I’m so proud and happy for the boys tonight,” Montrose Coach Brett Mertens said. “Winning a league championship on senior night is an awesome thing. We should have a first round bye and then we will be ready to give everyone our best shot in the playoffs.”
“The team played great,” added Gage Wareham said. “We got a great win.”
“Our kids played with grit and heart against a very good Montrose team,”Pueblo West coach Clint Buderus said. “Couldn’t be prouder of our efforts. We struggled to stop the Montrose run game and get off the field consistently defensively.”