CHSAANow

Month: November 2013

  • National anthem competition whittled to five finalists

    The five finalists have been named in CHSAA’s national anthem singing competition. Now, it’s up to you to decide who will sing prior to the Class 4A and 5A football championship games at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

    The finalists were selected by CHSAA staff after reviewing each submission entered into the contest. It wasn’t easy to narrow down to five — we continue to be astounded by the talent in our schools — but we did.

    As stated in the official contest rules, the next step in the process is an online vote, which will begin on Tuesday morning. Voting will end on Nov. 26, and the winner will be announced on Nov. 27. (Update: Vote here.)

    Our finalists, listed in alphabetical order:

    Qirsten Carter, a Sand Creek junior. “I thoroughly enjoy singing and it would be an honor to be able to share my talent and honor my country in the midst of a larger audience,” Carter says. “It is my dream to become a professional recording artist and I feel that this would be a great platform for me to showcase my talent and represent my school in a positive manner.”

    Here is Qirsten’s submission:

    http://youtu.be/hnZT_BExrgU

    [divider]

    Claire Erickson from Buena Vista. “The National Anthem honors our country in the most beautiful form of art: song,” she says. “I not only have a passion for music, but I love my country. It would be an honor to express my devotion to the USA in front of many others who share the same love for our country that I do.”

    Here is Claire’s submission:

    http://youtu.be/8fKvbpIwfy4

    [divider]

    Kylie Griggs, Sarah Hoogerwerf, Brenna Sauer and Alex Van Velkinburgh from St. Mary’s Academy. Says the group: “St. Mary’s Academy has a long held tradition of excellent choral music.”

    Their submission:

    [divider]

    Monica Valdez, a senior at Pueblo County. “I have been singing since I was 5 years old,” she says. “I would be ecstatic if I were given the opportunity to represent Southern Colorado, and my small hometown of Pueblo, in the Mile High City.”

    Here is Monica’s submission:

    [divider]

    Kate Yeash from Monarch. “Performing is a part of my life, as is singing,” she says. “I’ve performed the National Anthem at many different events and I’ve had so much fun every time.”

    Here is Kate’s submission:

    http://youtu.be/ClST25ynybo

  • Backup QB Brenning leads ThunderRidge to 5A football semis

    Legacy Stadium. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
    Legacy Stadium. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    AURORA — This is why backup plans exist. It’s why second-team guys get good reps in practice, why they prepare just as hard before a game.

    Because you never know when your all-state quarterback will go down with a game-ending injury on the third play of the quarterfinals.

    Branden Brenning, a junior, jumped into the fray when ThunderRidge’s Brody Westmoreland left with a back injury following a blind-side sack in the first quarter. Brenning scored his team’s only touchdown, which helped secure a 13-9 win over No. 20 Grandview on Saturday afternoon. And a spot in the Class 5A football semifinals.

    “I saw Brody go down and I immediately went and started to throw,” Brenning said. “I’ve always been ready to step in for Brody. He’s a great quarterback, but I’ve got to be prepared mentally and physically every day, every practice, because you never know what can go wrong.”

    No. 5 ThunderRidge looked a bit stunned after Westmoreland left the game. Grandview took a 6-0 lead on Frank Solomon’s 28-yard reception less than a minute after the injury, and Brenning’s first pass attempt was intercepted on the next drive. But the ThunderRidge defense dug in, and Mark Hopper hit a 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter to make it 6-3 at the half.

    In addition to missing Westmoreland, ThunderRidge’s starting running back Steve Ray was slowed by an injury from last week’s win. So 6-3 at the half was manageable.

    Still, the Grizzlies needed a spark — one they got when the team recovered an onside kick to start the second half.

    “We were kicking into the wind. We didn’t think we’d get it deep,” ThunderRidge coach Joe Johnson said. “We didn’t kick it quite as hard as we wanted to, but it ended up working out for us.”

    ThunderRidge marched right down the field after the recovery — thanks in part to a nice 16-yard completion from Brenning to Hopper on third-and-10. The Grizzlies also used a steady dose of Matt Stanley up the middle in moving the ball inside the red zone.

    Then, facing second-and-goal from the 8, Brenning made as though he would give it to Stanley up the middle again. Instead, he kept it and swept out left to the end zone. ThunderRidge led 10-6.

    Grandview cut it to 10-9 with Aiden Pirrin’s 40-yard field goal on the ensuing drive, then held ThunderRidge to a three-and-out. But the Wolves fumbled the punt, and the Grizzlies recovered with 1:15 to go in the third quarter. They chewed up more than seven minutes of game time en route to another field goal from Hopper, this one from 22 yards out. By then, 5:52 remained in the game.

    “That was huge,” Johnson said of the long drive. “We, obviously, needed to shorten the game.”

    ThunderRidge’s defense then held firm on a fourth-down attempt near midfield with 4:33 to go. A Grizzlies’ fumble gave Grandview one last chance. The Wolves drove all the way down to the ThunderRidge 11 with 59 seconds remaining, but a fourth-down pass was inches from the outstretched fingertips of a wide-open Brandon Brooks and the Grizzlies held on.

    “This win was huge,” Brenning said.

    Especially missing Westmoreland and having a limited Ray.

    Brenning said his typical day of practice consists of nine reps before he runs the scout team.

    “I’m always ready,” Brenning said. “I always try to be prepared mentally and physically in case this ever happens.”

    After the game, Westmoreland said he did not have a concussion. He was having X-rays taken on Sunday evening, but his status for next week’s semifinal game with Fairview won’t be known until next week.

    In Ray’s stead, Kevin Knox handled an increased load and finished with 91 yards on 18 carries, while Stanley had 77 on 24.

    “Coach told me during the practice week to be prepared, be ready at a moment’s notice,” Knox said. The win, he added, “shows we’re one hell of a team and we’re willing to do anything to win. I mean look what we did today, that just showed what we can do.”

    ThunderRidge’s defense gave up just 240 yards of total offense. The bulk of that belonged to Grandview running back Chukwuma Obinnah, who had 125 yards. Wolves quarterback Tyler Smith also had 95 yards passing and the scoring toss to Solomon.

  • Liberty/Stratton wins 6-man football championship over Hi-Plains

    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)

    VONA — After being ousted from last year’s playoffs in the quarterfinals on a last second play, the Liberty/Stratton Knighted Eagles got revenge and won the 6-man football state championship on a beautiful November Saturday afternoon.

    Liberty/Stratton held off a last-minute score to hold on for a 44-40 title win, their first in 6-man, but seventh in football.

    The Patriots wanted to close out Jim Smith Memorial Field with a state championship win as they are building a new school and a new football field next year in Seibert and this was the last game to be played at the Vona field.

    It wasn’t meant to be.

    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)

    Liberty/Stratton senior quarterback Trevor Thompson hit senior Clay Corliss on a 36-yard pass for the first score. The Patriots blocked the extra point attempt.

    The Patriots answered quickly with senior Alex Nelson’s 14-yard run, and, with senior Avery Marzolf’s kick, the Patriots took a 8-6 lead.

    The next play from scrimmage, Thompson found MC Griffin for a 60-yard touchdown to regain the lead, 12-8, after another missed PAT.

    Alex Nelson gave the Patriots a lead with a three-yard scamper. Marzolf extra point kick gave the Patriots a 16-12 lead.

    Justin Miltenberger’s interception as time ran out in the half stopped the Knighted Eagles threat of scoring.

    In the third, Liberty/Stratton’s Griffin scored from nine yards out to switch the lead to 20-16.

    Liberty/Stratton junior Kyle English dashed 50 yards and Flint Corliss’ kick gave the Knighted Eagles a 28-16 lead.

    The Patriots answered right back with Nelson taking the kickoff return 64 yards to narrow the gap 22-28.

    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)

    The Patriots got the turnover they needed when Miltenberger intercepted a Thompson pass and took it 20 yards to tied it up at 28 with 43 seconds left in the third.

    With 7:12 left in the game, Liberty/Stratton’s Thompson again connected with Clay Corliss to go up 36-28 after the extra point kick.

    The Patriots answered with senior Logan Henry hitting Miltenberger for a 19 yard TD strike. Liberty/Stratton’s Thompson blocked the extra point to keep the lead at 36-34 with just under 5:00 left in the game.

    The Eagles wanted to put it away and answered with a Thompson to Clay Corliss 26-yard pass and, with the extra point kick, went up 44-34 with only 3:38 left in the game.

    The Patriots came back with what could have been a touchdown pass but a fumble in the end zone and a Liberty/Stratton recovery gave the Knighted Eagles the ball back and took away a Patriots score.

    The Patriots held the Eagles and took over on downs with 1:53 left in the game and quickly made it a one possession game with Nelson hitting senior Clay Cordell for a 28-yard touchdown, but still trailed 44-40.

    The Knighted Eagles were able to run out the clock to claim their first ever 6-man title.

    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)
    (Tom Bredehoft)

  • Playoff football roundup: Pueblo South tops Dakota Ridge to move to semis

    A roundup of Saturday’s playoff football games. Find Friday’s roundup here.

    Class 5A

    ThunderRidge claimed the final semifinal spot with a 13-9 win over Grandview. Backup quarterback Branden Brenning led the Grizzlies to the win. Read the full story here.

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Pueblo South is headed to the semifinals for the first time since 2004 with a 27-21 win over Dakota Ridge.

    “We got them to fumble in their first possession, and we marched it right down and got a big score, got some momentum going in our favor,” Pueblo South coach Ryan Goddard told Colorado Preps’ Scoreboard Show. “Then we had a big interception and a long return, and were able to make some plays off of that and turn that into points, as well. We’ve been pretty successful this year in winning the turnover battle. If you win turnovers and third downs, you’re going to be OK most of the time.”

    Pueblo South will face Montrose in the semifinals.

    “Our kids were excited after the game, and I was excited for them,” Goddard said. “I told them they did a good job, and that they’re a special team and they have an opportunity to do something special here, and they’re making their impact on the program. But it’s time to go to work on Monday and we’ve got to start thinking about Montrose.”

    Montrose beat Denver South 47-27 on Saturday. The Indians led 33-6 at halftime.

    “Our guys did a great job of just executing. We were able to get on them on some special teams stuff and get a couple of short fields,” Montrose coach Todd Casebier told the Scoreboard Show. “We had some good special teams in the first half.

    “South kept playing until the very end, but we were just too much for them today.”

    [divider]

    Class 3A

    Defending champion Silver Creek rolled into the semifinals. The Raptors handled Pueblo East, 34-14.

    “It was a really big win. That Pueblo East team was as good a team as we’ve played,” Silver Creek coach Mike Apodaca told the Scoreboard Show. “We’re real fortunate to get a win.”

    Silver Creek will play Delta in the semifinals. Delta beat Glenwood Springs 13-9 on Saturday.

    “We’re excited about the trip,” Apodaca said. “Western Slope football is good football. … It’s exciting. It’s good 3A football, and a good community, so it’s an exciting trip for our kids.”

    Coronado beat Roosevelt 29-27 to claim a spot in the other semifinal. It will meet The Classical Academy, which upset Palisade on Friday.

    “There’s special things happening with these young men,” Coronado coach Bobby Lizzarraga told the Scoreboard Show. “It’s showing up on the field.”

    [divider]

    Class 2A

    The 2A title matchup is set: Faith Christian will play Platte Valley. Both teams upset higher-seeded opponents on Saturday.

    Faith Christian, seeded fourth, beat No. 1 Brush 24-14 on Saturday.

    “In the first half, it was one of those games where it looked like neither team was going to punt, because we couldn’t stop each other,” Faith Christian coach Blair Hubbard told the Scoreboard Show. “Then, the adjustments and the turnovers in the second half were just a big part of it.”

    No. 3 Platte Valley beat No. 2 Manitou Springs, 13-7. The Broncos are making a second-consecutive trip to the title game.

    “We made some mistakes that have been uncharacteristic of what we’ve been doing the last few weeks,” Platte Valley Troy Hoffman told the Scoreboard Show, “but we fought back, we regrouped very well in the fourth quarter and the kids fought through this barrier, this obstacle and they came through with a victory today. I’m very proud of them.”

    [divider]

    Class 1A

    Paonia will face Centauri in the 1A championship next week.

    Centauri topped Limon 21-8 to reach the title game for the first time in school history.

    “We’re ready to play this,” Centauri coach Kyle Forster told the Scoreboard Show. “This was a goal we had 14 weeks ago, and it’s come true. Now we’re just going to have to go in and play our best because Paonia is playing their best football of the year right now, too. So it’s going to be a real big dog-fight.”

    Paonia beat Buena Vista 28-14 on Saturday.

    “We came out and we were ready to go,” Paonia coach Brent McRae told the Scoreboard Show, “but getting (an early) score and then the first three-and-out we got and scoring again — just the confidence. Our kids knew they would be able to run the ball and that just carried us the whole game.”

    Of the title game, McRae said, “It’s going to be a fun day.”

    [divider]

    8-man

    Caliche and Dayspring Christian will play for the 8-man title.

    Caliche topped top-seeded Hoehne 44-40, while Dayspring Christian edged Norwood 44-43 with a 22-yard field goal in the final moments.

    “We made big plays. That’s probably what the difference was,” Dayspring Christian coach Mick Holmes told the Scoreboard Show. “It came down to a field goal with seven seconds left. It’s kind of funny — we talked about it all week: ‘It may come down to a field goal.’ And we put it through the uprights.”

    [divider]

    6-man

    Liberty/Stratton captured the 6-man title with a 44-40 win over Hi-Plains. Read the full story here.

  • Cherokee Trail avenges earlier loss vs. Cherry Creek to move to semis

    Cherry Creek Cherokee Trail football
    More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    AURORA — Cherry Creek was marching down the field, poised to break Cherokee Trail’s heart again.

    The Bruins, seeded third in these Class 5A football playoffs, had taken Cherokee Trail down in the regular season when the Cougars missed a late extra point. Friday night, in the quarterfinals, Cherokee Trail again missed an extra point in the fourth quarter. And so it was that the Bruins were down six with the ball near midfield, and with 1:58 to play — ready to play heart-breaker again.

    But, this time, it was Izaiah Lottie breaking hearts. The Cherokee Trail junior stepped in front of a pass from Cherry Creek quarterback Cameron Brucker, tipped it, and hauled it in for a game-sealing interception, which he returned 48 yards for a score. Suddenly, that missed extra point was a footnote. Cherokee Trail was back in the semifinals with a 27-14 win over Cherry Creek, and its defense was the reason why.

    “When he threw it, I knew it was the one,” Lottie said after the game. “I had to finish it off.”

    It was Lottie’s second interception of the game. His first ended a Creek drive in the red zone just before halftime. By night’s end, the Cougars had intercepted Brucker five times, and also recovered a fumble.

    And though Cherokee Trail surrendered 393 yards of total offense, Cherry Creek had just three plays gain more than 20 yards all night. One of those was a blazing 68-yard touchdown from All-American running back Nate Starks in which the senior broke away from everyone. The other two big plays came on drives that eventually ended in turnovers.

    “I thought they played very well,” a subtle Cherokee Trail coach Monte Thelen said of his defense.

    Cameron Smith rushed 24 times for 172 yards and a touchdown to lead Cherokee Trail offensively. His score, a 64-yard dash, ignited the Cougars late in the first quarter. Quarterback Aric Johnson had two scores on the ground.

    Cherry Creek Cherokee Trail football
    More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Milo Hall led Cherry Creek with 135 yards and a touchdown. Starks finished with 80 and the score.

    Friday’s performance was what most of the state expected from the Cougars heading into the season. Cherokee Trail was coming off an impressive appearance in the state championship game and returned a number of starters, including safety Evan White, a CU recruit. The Cougars opened the season at No. 2 in CHSAANow.com’s preseason ranking.

    But Cherokee Trail dropped its opening game to Chatfield, and then lost to Cherry Creek a month later for a 4-2 start. They entered the playoffs as a No. 6 seed.

    “We fell off the radar,” Lottie said. “Everybody thought we were going to be the big show, going to state last year, but we had to keep our heads, keep our composure, and come back strong.”

    Said Thelen: “That was our fault. Once you get two losses, you deserve to be off the radar. But this is our fourth semifinal in the last seven years. I think we’re back on it.”

    Cherokee Trail has now won six games in a row. Up next? A rematch with Valor Christian, which won last year’s 5A title over the Cougars with a 9-0 decision. The Cougars will host.

    “We can’t wait,” Lottie said of facing the Eagles. “We’ve been waiting all year. Almost 365 days, we’ve been waiting.”

    Cherry Creek Cherokee Trail football
    More photos. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

  • Playoff football roundup: Top-seeded Fairview comes back to beat Pomona

    Fairview Pomona football
    Fairview sings the school fight song after defeating Pomona in Boulder. More photos. (Kai Casey)

    Fairview had to climb out of a 21-7 hole. But the top-seeded Knights did, and are headed to the Class 5A semifinals because of it.

    Like they did in the two teams’ regular season matchup, Fairview scored quickly to open the game against No. 8 Pomona. This time, Pomona responded and was up 21-7 late in the first quarter after Chris Marquez scored his third rushing touchdown. But Fairview quarterback Anders Hill hit Cameron Frazier for a 20-yard touchdown to cut things to 21-14 before the half.

    Coming out of the break, Fairview tied it up just two minutes into the third quarter on Sam Martin’s 6-yard rush. The Knights took the lead for good in the fourth on a 10-yard rush from Hill. Hill added another rushing score to seal the game late in the quarter. He finished with four total touchdowns.

    Fairview, now 11-0, will play the winner of Saturday’s game between ThunderRidge and Grandview in the next round. The Knights will be on the road regardless of who wins as both Grandview and ThunderRidge have played fewer home games during the playoffs.

    No. 2 Valor Christian is headed back to the semifinals. The Eagles, a four-time defending champion across three classifications, handled No. 7 Columbine 49-13.

    The Eagles will get No. 6 Cherokee Trail in the semifinals, which beat No. 3 Cherry Creek on Friday.

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    One 4A semifinal is set. No. 2 Monarch will host No. 3 Pine Creek.

    Pine Creek beat No. 6 Windsor 25-0 on Friday night. The Eagles got touchdowns from Avery Anderson, Matt List and Scotty Savage (two).

    Monarch easily beat No. 7 Loveland, 42-8, in the quarterfinals.

    [divider]

    Class 3A

    The Classical Academy is headed to the semifinals for the first time in school history. A week after winning in the postseason for the first time, the Titans toppled No. 2 Palisade, 24-21.

    TCA led 17-7 at the half, but Palisade rallied to take a 21-17 lead with two minutes to play. Then, Peter Troupe scored the winning touchdown for the Titans with 33 seconds left.

    The Classical Academy will play the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal game between No. 3 Roosevelt and No. 6 Coronado.

    The top two seeds, as well as Nos. 4, 5 and 8, have all lost in this year’s 3A playoffs.

  • Valor Christian football soars past Columbine, to semifinals

    Valor Christian running back Christian McCaffrey, far right, makes a move to elude Columbine defenders Tanner Degutis (14), Jacen White (99) and Larry Munson (4) on Friday night at Valor Stadium in Highlands Ranch. McCaffrey put up 316 yards from scrimmage and scored four touchdowns in the Eagles' 49-13 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Valor Christian running back Christian McCaffrey, far right, makes a move to elude Columbine defenders Tanner Degutis (14), Jacen White (99) and Larry Munson (4) on Friday night at Valor Stadium in Highlands Ranch. McCaffrey put up 316 yards from scrimmage and scored four touchdowns in the Eagles’ 49-13 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)

    HIGHLANDS RANCH — Valor Christian senior Christian McCaffrey already had first-hand experience of the type of football program Columbine has even before taking the field Friday night.

    “My sophomore year, when we were 4A, we shared a locker room with Columbine. We knew they really get after it,” McCaffrey said talking about 2011 when both Valor and Columbine won state titles at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. “We knew that they know what it takes to win. They have a great coaching staff and fantastic players.”

    The talented Valor squad looking for its fifth straight state title pounced on the Rebels early, rolling to an eventual 49-13 victory in the Class 5A state quarterfinal at Valor Stadium.

    The victory moves Valor (11-1 record) into the 5A semifinals where the Eagles will have a rematch of last year’s state championship game against Cherokee Trail (10-2). The Cougars upended Cherry Creek 27-14 Friday night to set up the rematch.

    Valor Christian senior Christian McCaffrey (5) attempts to shed the tackle of Columbine senior Bernard McDondle on Friday night. The Eagles beat Columbine in the 5A quarterfinal game 49-13 to set up a rematch of last year's 5A state title game against Cherokee Trail in the semifinals next week. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Valor Christian senior Christian McCaffrey (5) attempts to shed the tackle of Columbine senior Bernard McDondle on Friday night. The Eagles beat Columbine in the 5A quarterfinal game 49-13 to set up a rematch of last year’s 5A state title game against Cherokee Trail in the semifinals next week. (Dennis Pleuss)

    On the Eagles’ home field in Highlands Ranch, McCaffrey had a monster game against Columbine with 15 carries for 272 yards and three touchdowns. The Stanford-bound product also caught two passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. This despite only having one carry for a 37-yard touchdown in the second half, which put the Eagles up 49-6 with 7:20 left in the third quarter and induced a running clock for the remainder of the game.

    Valor scored touchdowns on each of its first seven offensive possessions. Not what Columbine coach Andy Lowry had in mind. The Rebels had hoped that their grinding running attack could keep McCaffrey and company off the field, but Columbine could manage just two first downs on its first five offensive drives.

    “Everyone looks at Valor’s offense, that is incredible, but their defense is overshadowed a lot of the time,” Lowry said. “We were going to try to run the clock, but we couldn’t get the first downs to do that.”

    Columbine did have a first-quarter bright spot when senior running back Bernard McDondle scored on a 69-yard touchdown run to cut Valor’s lead to 14-6 with 3:55 left. However, the Eagles responded with four more touchdowns before halftime to extend their lead to 42-6.

    “(Columbine) is a very physical team,” Valor coach Rob Sherman said. “I think what I’m most proud of tonight is our defensive line and linebackers. We gave up one huge play and then we responded well.”

    It wasn’t all McCaffrey offensively for Valor. Senior quarterback A.J. Cecil was 9-for-11 passing for 149 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball seven times for 47 yards and a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs.

    Junior Nathan Whatmore got into the scoring act with a 3-yard touchdown run in the first half, too.

    Sherman said he has tried to keep McCaffrey as fresh as possible heading into this late-season stretch. The senior has just 117 carries on the season, but averages 12.8 yards per carry. McCaffrey hit the 1,500-yard mark with his effort Friday night.

    Columbine running back Bernard McDondle (2) scrambles after a loose ball as Valor Christian junior Brandon Biggs (81) closes Friday in the Class 5A state quarterfinal game. McDondle had 14 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown in his final game as a Rebel. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Columbine running back Bernard McDondle (2) scrambles after a loose ball as Valor Christian junior Brandon Biggs (81) closes Friday in the Class 5A state quarterfinal game. McDondle had 14 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown in his final game as a Rebel. (Dennis Pleuss)

    “(McCaffrey) is incredible and our little No. 2 (McDondle) is pretty darn incredible too,” Lowry said. “Coach Sherman and I have been blessed with two great running backs, great kids and just warriors.”

    McDondle, who was key in the Rebels’ run to the 5A state title in 2011, finished his final game with 14 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. The senior finished with more than 1,700 yards on the ground and 25 touchdowns this season.

    Columbine did add a late touchdown with a 70-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Michael Tait to junior Austin Norton in the fourth quarter for the final score of the game.

    Friday night was actually the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between Columbine and Valor. Both programs have made a significant imprint on the prep football landscape in Colorado over recent years.

    Columbine has been a state title contender since the late 1990s, winning 5A football championships in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2011. Lowry has guided the Rebels to a perfect 5-0 in title games. The Rebels’ latest state championship came two years ago with Columbine defeating Jeffco rival Lakewood 41-31 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

    The Rebels have racked up a 70-15 record since the start of the 2007 football season.

    “When I moved here in 2007, Columbine was the program everyone looked at and I believe they still are,” Sherman said. “Andy Lowry is arguably the best coach in the state. He gets his guys to play so hard. It’s an honor for us to share the field with them and we are very thankful for the result tonight.”

    Valor has had an impressive football program since the private school opened 2007. After a 4-6 record in Valor’s first year playing varsity football in 2008, the Eagles have staked claim to four straight football titles in three different classifications. Valor’s run on championships began in 2009 with a 3A title, followed up by back-to-back 4A crowns in 2010 and 2011. The Eagles made a successful jump to the largest classification (5A) last season shutting out Cherokee Trail 9-0 in the title game.

    The Eagles have a 62-6 record since the start of the 2009 season. The last in-state team to beat Valor was Mullen back on Aug. 24, 2012 in the Eagles’ season opener last season. Bingham from Utah has gotten the better of Valor twice in games over the past two seasons.

    Valor Christian wide receiver Marcus Wilson, far right, uses the block of senior Trey Hanley (2) on Columbine junior Emery Taylor (22) to pick up some extra yards during the first half Friday night. (Dennis Pleuss)
    Valor Christian wide receiver Marcus Wilson, far right, uses the block of senior Trey Hanley (2) on Columbine junior Emery Taylor (22) to pick up some extra yards during the first half Friday night. (Dennis Pleuss)

  • Marks, MacIntyre lead the way as Monarch football handles Loveland

    LAFAYETTE — Monarch hasn’t scored less than 39 points in a football game. They’ve averaged 48 points per match up in 2013. However, defense played the biggest factor in their quarterfinal win against Loveland.

    “Defense was the key today,” coach Phil Bravo said. “This is a high-scoring team, we put up a lot of points, but our defense and special teams played a larger role tonight.”

    The No. 2 Monarch football team punched its ticket to the state semifinals with a 42-8 win over No. 7 Loveland on Friday at Centaurus High School.

    Running back Ethan Marks opened-up the scoring for Monarch on a 34-yard rushing touchdown up the middle with around eight minutes left in the first quarter. Loveland had an impressive opening drive down the field, converting two third and longs thanks to the legs of quarterback Mike Zweigel. Zweigel’s 18 and 20 yds runs got Loveland down to the five. After four tries, Loveland turned the ball over on downs at the one-yard-line with four minutes left in the first quarter.

    “(The stop) was the tone-setter for our game,” Bravo said. “They got two huge third down conversions on the drive — one was third and fourteen. They came down to the 5-yard-line and we stopped them from about an inch from the goal-line.”

    After getting the ball back, the Monarch used a mix of runs from quarterback Jay MacIntyre and Marks to get the ball to the 36. The second play of the second quarter saw Marks getting a pitch to the right from MacIntyre, and he virtually went untouched for a touchdown. Monarch scored another touchdown with 5:04 left in the half off a quarterback-keeper from MacIntyre to the left side from six. At half, Monarch was up 21-0.

    MacIntyre added another rushing touchdown in the third quarter from 11 yards out with 9:05 remaining. The quarterback also played on defense in place of injured defensive back Kidd Soole on Friday. On Loveland’s ensuing drive, MacIntyre got an interception at the 42.

    With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Monarch drew up another touchdown play for Marks. Marks got a direct-snap at the 32 and took it to the house for his third touchdown of the game. Loveland fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Monarch got the ball back on Loveland’s 9. After getting to the goal line, Marks pushed in a one yard touchdown.

    “Ethan comes out every week and gets four or five touchdown,” MacIntyre said. “I don’t know how he does it — he gets hit so hard with all his speed right into the linebackers.”

    Loveland finally got a score on a 45-yard bomb from Zweigle to John Freismuth. The Indians then got their two-point conversion on a run from Mitchell Wheelock.

    Monarch will host Pine Creek in their semifinal matchup on Nov. 22 for the rights to the state championship game.

    “I’m glad we have three home games. During the regular season we only had four, and I only have four Monarch home games in my career,” MacIntyre said.

  • Photo gallery: Fairview beats Pomona in football quarterfinals

    BOULDER — Fairview improved to 11-0 with a 35-24 win over Pomona in the Class 5A football quarterfinals on Friday.

  • Chat replay: Football’s playoffs continue in all classes

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    The live event will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
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    Live games
    Class Game Time Notes
    5A Valor Christian vs. Columbine 7 p.m. Quarters
    4A Monarch vs. Loveland 7 p.m. Quarters