COLORADO SPRINGS — Discovery Canyon pulled off a huge upset on Saturday, taking down No. 7 Rampart 43-36.
It was the first win of the season for the Thunder (1-4), who play in Class 3A, while Rampart (4-1), a 4A team, lost for the first time.
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Kristina Cavey, a 6-foot combo guard for Berthoud, has committed to Fresno State, according to Spartans coach Randy Earl.
Cavey averaged 17.3 points and 3.3 assists in 15 games last season. She missed most the first month of her junior year with a knee injury, but returned on Jan. 6.
Her return was a major boost to Berthoud, which went 4-4 without her, but 10-5 with Cavey in the lineup.
Cavey had four games where she scored more than 20 points, including a season high of 27 in a win over Roosevelt. She scored in double figures in all but one game.
Cavey is the 16th known in-state girls basketball player to make her college choice in the Class of 2016.
COLORADO SPRINGS — Pine Creek wasn’t able to escape the foggy conditions at District 20 Stadium, but the Eagles did escape with their winning streak intact.
And after battling through the elements, the Eagles emerged with the 28-18 win over Vista Ridge (4-1 overall), cementing their status atop the CHSAANow.com 4A football rankings for next week.
“We made some mistakes and we had to settle down and play some football,” Eagles coach Todd Miller said afterward. “We had to execute. We felt our defense could win it for us and they did.”
Pine Creek (5-0) got things rollings with a one-yard touchdown run by JoJo Domann on its second drive of the game. JoJo had a 40-yard run and his brother Brock had a 20-yard run on the drive that helped the Eagles get into the red zone.
After forcing a punt that went for zero yards, the Eagles went right back to work and it was Brock who found the end zone with his feet, giving each Domann brother a rushing touchdown.
With momentum clearly on their side, the Eagles continued to press on the offensive side of the ball and Brock Domann found Joseph Celestino in the end zone for a third Pine Creek touchdown. With the ball in the air Celestino reached over the head of a the Vista Ridge defensive back and hauled in the catch, taking away what looked like a surefire interception.
It didn’t help that in the first half, the Wolves had driven into Eagles territory three times and came away with nothing.
“I think if we play four quarters of football, this is a different game,” Wolves coach Jerimi Calip said. “Against the No. 1 team in the state, you can’t drop two touchdown passes.”
Near the end of the first half, JoJo Domann got tangled up and came off the field limping. Miller said later that it was a high ankle sprain and the loss of JoJo left the Eagles scrambling.
The second half of the game told a much different story than the first. As the fog thickened and settled more over the field, the Wolves found a spark that ignited the entire team.
Elway Tubbs found Louis Quinones who took the short pass for 53 yards and a touchdown to give the Wolves their first points of the game.
The Wolves defense came up with a big turnover that resulted in a quick touchdown to cut the Pine Creek lead to 28-12.
After lurking on the sidelines for the start of the second half, JoJo finally returned to the field, and on his first play back, Brock helped the Wolves by tossing an interception to Breon Michel. Vista Ridge found the end zone on the very next play making the score 21-18 and showing a now crazed Vista Ridge crowd that the Eagles are beatable.
“I think we just need to get things going and take care of business in the first half,” Calip said. “You can’t wait until the second half to get things going against the defending state champs.”
Vista Ridge was able to force another Eagle punt and got the ball back down only three points. But a snap over the head of Elway brought up a long 2nd down situation. The Wolves couldn’t gain the yards they needed and on 4th and long they faked a punt to try and catch Pine Creek off guard.
It didn’t work and after another short JoJo Domann touchdown run, the Eagles walked away as winners of 30 consecutive games.
“That is one heck of a team,” JoJo said. “They gave us everything we could handle today and I’m so happy that our guys stepped up.”
JoJo said that he hopes to get his injured ankle right for next week’s league opener against Air Academy. Miller said that his status is uncertain and they’ll re-evaluate during the week.
The Wolves look to rebound next week when they travel to Montrose for their first league game of the season as well.
But Calip and his team made one thing clear: They’re anxious to get one more shot at taking the Eagles, something no one has done in over two calendar years.
Ashton Riley had a 1-yard score in overtime to give No. 1 Cherry Creek a 16-13 win over No. 10 Cherokee Trail on Friday night.
The win kept the Bruins’ winning streak intact, and extended it to 12-straight games. That figure is the second-longest current streak in the state.
Cherokee Trail played the defending champions as tough as anyone has this season. The Cougars actually had a chance to win the game as time expired in the fourth quarter, but a 41-yard field goal missed.
In overtime, Cherry Creek forced Cherokee Trail to settle for a field goal on the first possession. Then, after an incomplete pass, Riley ran nine yards to the 1-yard-line. The next play, he scored.
Riley had 16 carries for 65 yards and the score. Marquise Davis added 106 yards on eight carries, and a touchdown, for Cherry Creek.
Cherokee Trail was led by its defense. Michael Ward had two interceptions, and Anthony Holmes and Dan Turner also had picks. In fact, one of Wards’ interceptions went for the Cougars’ lone score.
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In the 115th edition of this rivalry, known as the Bell Game, Pueblo Central got four total touchdowns from Mike Ranson to reclaim the Bell.
It was Pueblo Central’s first win in the past six meetings between the two teams, who have been playing since 1892. The game is Colorado’s oldest rivalry.
Ranson had two passing touchdowns, and two rushing.
AJ Sena had three rushing scores for Pueblo Centennial, including one to make it 27-24 with 1:48 to go.
Pueblo Centennial did get one last shot, taking over at its own 44-yard-line, but it wasn’t enough.
The game was a sellout, meaning 15,000 people attended.
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Nick Jernigan hit a 20-yard field goal with six seconds to play to lift Durango over Montrose for the first time since 2010, according to the Durango Herald.
Durango is now 5-0.
“Late in the game, I looked in their eyes, and there wasn’t any doubt,” Durango coach David Vogt told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show. “It was great.”
Montrose was up 21-19 at the half, and the two teams traded the lead in the second half. It was 26-21 Durango in the third, then 28-26 Montrose early in the fourth. Montrose pushed that lead to 35-26 a few minutes later.
But Durango’s Lawrence Mayberry scored with 2:55 remaining, and the Demons recovered the onside kick. The ensuing drive included a fourth-down conversion with 21 seconds to play, and, of course, the winning field goal.
“We haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here, and it was kind of a statement for this program to get over that hump with Montrose,” Vogt said. “They’ve been the dominant football program in this region. So it was a great victory for our boys, and for the program.”
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Delta stormed out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks in large part to two Jonny Ponce touchdowns, and then went on to beat Rifle.
It was the first time Delta had beat Rifle in six years, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
Delta’s Beau Byers finished the game with six catches for 57 yards and a score.
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In a game delayed weather, including lightning, Roosevelt took a 23-6 lead at halftime, and then pushed it to 43-6 after the third quarter before cruising to the win.
“It was a big win,” Roosevelt coach Noland Eastin told the Scoreboard Show. “It was a crazy night with the rain. … The weather came in and kind of played havoc at the beginning from kickoff time. But, man, it was a big win and it was a great night on homecoming.”
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Holly pulled off one of the bigger upsets of the night, even though it trailed 14-11 at halftime.
The Wildcats responded following a big 64-7 loss to Sedgwick County last week.
“We had a couple kids out after our game with Sedgwick County, and I really kind of questioned them about how much heart we had, to come back and play a high-stakes game like this,” coach Dayne Eaton told the Scoreboard Show.
“We just want to get ourselves into the playoffs, and the best way to do that is win these pivotal games like we had tonight,” Eaton said. “It went down to the very end, and it went our way.”
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DENVER — Matt Starkey, on the second play of Columbine’s first possession on Friday night, ran 58 yards for a touchdown. Later he ripped off a sizzling 96 yard touchdown run.
In between the highlight reel runs, the Rebels outmuscled and, in typical Columbine football fashion, wore down their opponent during an easy 35-13 road win at Class 5A No. 5 Mullen.
The No. 2 team in this week’s CHSAANow poll, Columbine struck first with Starkey. But Marcus McElroy, a speedy tailback for the Mustangs, answered the call with a four-yard touchdown run on the next possession to pull Mullen even at 7 apiece.
Then, early in the second quarter, Columbine quarterback Jake Lowry, the nephew of head coach Andy Lowry, had a 48-yard run to the Mullen 15. Mikey Griebel punched it in from three yards out to give the Rebels a 14-6 cushion with 9:52 remaining before the half.
And yet, McElroy kept his team in the game with one of those special SportsCenter-worthy runs on a 48-yard touchdown scamper — showing off his ability to make people miss and then the burners. Mullen missed the extra point, but only trailed 14-13 with 6:56 left in the second.
Columbine had early miscues with two lost fumbles before halftime. Easton Hartman also missed a 47-yard field goal in the final seconds of the second quarter, but the Rebels held firm with a 14-13 lead at the break.
The second half began with a classic Columbine drive — 16 plays, 80 yards, and 8 minutes, 41 seconds drained from the clock and capped by a Lowry five yard touchdown run — giving the Rebels a 21-13 advantage.
“I love that old-school Columbine,” coach Lowry said. “That’s kind of what we do. The more successful we are at that, the better off we’re going to be this whole year.”
“That just defined Columbine right there,” Griebel added. “That drive really took it out of them.”
Old school Columbine means pounding the football, something the Rebels did by chipping away for first down after first down on some drives and then opening up huge holes for long bursts on other drives.
In all, Columbine had a monstrous 495 rushing yards, including 271 in the second half. Tim Mullin’s 43-yard score broke the game open 28-13 with 29 seconds left in the third and Starkey’s near end zone to end zone scamper sealed the win. Starkey led the Rebels with 172 rushing yards, while Mullin, Griebel and Lowry all finished with at least 70 yards.
The end result is that Columbine, a season after struggling to a surprising 5-6 record, has already matched their 2014 total by starting 5-0. They are in sole possession of first place in the rugged 5A Jeffco at 3-0.
The reason for such success? Not only can the Rebels provide offensive firepower, but their defense came into Friday with only two touchdowns given up in four games. They gave up two more against Mullen, but have outscored their opponents 154-27 so far.
“We came out beginning of the season knowing we had a special group,” Griebel, who shined at both ends as he tacked on an interception on defense, said. “We had one goal each week, get a W. We’ve been carrying that on throughout the season.”
The junior knew a road test at a top-5 opponent in Mullen wouldn’t be easy though.
“That’s one heck of an offense,” he said. “McElroy is a heck of a running back and they have skill guys everywhere. Our defense manned up and shut them down. Our offense stepped up. The balance of the two really helped out tonight.”
Mullen dropped to 3-2 and 2-1 and is now tied for second in the Jeffco with Pomona, Ralston Valley, and Bear Creek. McElroy finished with 208 rushing yards, but had a kickoff return for a touchdown called back on an illegal block and was caught on the four yard line by Griebel after an 84 yard gain. The Mustangs, who struggled closing drives all night, turned it over on downs.
LITTLETON – If it’s possible for a game to be a must-win for both teams this early in the season, it was certainly the case for Arapahoe and Heritage on Friday.
The state’s No. 8-ranked Warriors beat Heritage 31-24, a win led by senior quarterback Pete Mitchell and senior running back Nick Thompson. Mitchell threw for two touchdown passes and Thompson added two rushing touchdowns with an impressive ground game that helped his team get a win over their rival.
“I think we played phenomenal. It was a total team effort,” said Thompson. “Everyone knew their role and did their part and that’s how you win ball games like that.
“They have some linemen that were going both ways so we knew we could wear them down. We just wanted to pound the ball the whole game, so in the second half when they’re really tired we could put the dagger in them.”
The Eagles’ first drive started off with a 40-yard catch to receiver Tim Pless but ended badly with an interception by Mitchell Pennetta. Heritage was quickly able to bounce back from the turnover by getting the ball back after a fumble recovery.
Eagles quarterback Chase Hansen took advantage and threw a nice 23-yard touchdown pass to Daejour Haynes giving Heritage an early 7-0 lead.
“I think with a rivalry game of this nature, unfortunately you do some things you wish you didn’t do,” said Arapahoe coach Mike Campbell. “(We) made a couple mistakes with the ball, maybe dropped coverage once or twice. There is a lot of emotion out there and you got to hold it all together. Overall I’m very proud of how we played.”
After Heritage’s first touchdown they struggled to get much going for the rest of the half with numerous three and outs and a turnover on downs. Arapahoe punched the ball in with Thompson to tie the game.
Then the Eagles made a crucial mistake by tipping the ball on a kick-off and not being able to recover, lost the ball in their own territory. Mitchell took advantage of turnover and threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Fischer Conley to give the Warriors a 14-7 lead.
Arapahoe controlled ball for much of the third quarter. The Eagles were within reach but made yet another crucial mistake by roughing the kicker giving the Warriors automatic first down on the five-yard line. Thompson was able to rush the ball in for another touchdown increasing the lead to 24-7.
Heritage was still in the game in the fourth quarter after a 67-yard kick return, setting them up for a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Haynes. Arapahoe milked the clock and settled for field goal to bring the score to 34-15 with 4:38 left in the game.
Heritage got the ball with a deep pass from Hanson to Haynes. Another pass from Hanson to Clayton Cain went for a 19-yard touchdown catch, scoring in 32 seconds. But with only 4:06 left in the game and the score 34-21 in Arapahoe’s favor, it proved to be too little too late.
“It’s a huge crosstown game,” said coach Campbell. “I do think they are an excellent football team that we beat tonight. I’m just glad to get a good win against a good opponent.”
LITTLETON — No. 7 Ralston Valley football beat Chatfield 37-18 on Friday night.
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COLORADO SPRINGS — No. 1 Pine Creek beat No. 2 Vista Ridge 28-18 in a major Class 4A game on Friday night.
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AURORA — Fourth-ranked Regis Jesuit football rolled to a 58-14 win over Rock Canyon on Friday.
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HIGHLANDS RANCH — Seventh-ranked ThunderRidge softball beat rival Mountain Vista 7-6 on Friday.
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