The fifth-seeded Montrose football team faced the 12th-seeded Golden Demons in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs on Friday.
At the end of an exciting, high-scoring affair, the Montrose Red Hawks were victorious, 47-44, and headed to the quarterfinals.
“Unbelievable football game,” Montrose head coach Brett Mertens said. “Very happy for our kids. They never quit and play as hard a possible on every play. What else can you possibly ask for as a coach. Hats off to Golden for a great game and we definitely know how they are feeling after what happen to us last year. We survived and look forward to another week with this team.”
It took the Red Hawks just two plays to score, as Blake Griffin scored from 60 yards out. Zach Motley’s kick was good and it was 7-0. The Demons went right down the field and Jazel Riley IV scored from five yards out with Luc Chevaliers kick made it 7-7.
After stopping the Red Hawks, the Demons kicked a 26-yard field goal by Chevalier to make it 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Red Hawks answered, as Griffin scored from six yards out and it was 13-10. The Demons had a drive going, Austin Zimmer intercepted a Riley pass and went 35 yards back the other way for the touchdown to make it 19-10.
“The lineman are the key to lots of success and glory of our team right now,” Torrie Eckerman said.
The Red Hawks got the ball back and Griffin scored from nine yards out with Torrie Eckerman adding the two-point conversion to make it 27-10. The Demons got a drive going and Chevalier scored from 15 yards out to make it 27-16.
The Demons put up another touchdown, as Riley passed to Johnny Meyers and the teams entered the locker room with the score at 27-23.
The Demons got the ball to start the third quarter and a pass from Riley to Trey Abrams put the Demons ahead 30-27 after three quarters. The Demons weren’t done. Riley to Kalen Hufford for 35 yards and Chevalier from 15 yards made it 43-27 and t looked like a Demons upset was brewing with seven minutes left in the game.
The Red Hawks had other ideas.
Eckerman scored from four yards to make it 43-33 and after the Red Hawks got the ball back, and a Gage Wareham pass to Zimmer was good for a 61-yard touchdown pass that brought the score to 43-39 with three minutes left.
The Red Hawks recovered an onside kick and started on the Demons’ 49-yard line. Griffin scored from four yards out and Wareham scored the two point-conversion to make it 47-43 with 13 seconds left to seal the win.
“I’m extremely proud of our team and the way they played against a much bigger team,” Golden coach Matt McDougal said. “We played physical and some breaks didn’t go our way towards the end of the game. We gave ourselves an opportunity to win the game and couldn’t seal it. Montrose is a big, physical team and we wish them good luck moving on.”
The Demons beat Rampart 28-0 in the first round to advance to Friday’s second round.
The Red Hawks now travel to face fourth-seeded Loveland.