Dakota Ridge senior Nick Scott was the Eagles’ starting goalie on the ice for three years and has been the Eagles’ leading goal scorer on the lacrosse field the past two seasons. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LAKEWOOD — Dakota Ridge senior Nick Scott went from stopping goals to scoring goals.

Scott was the starting goalie for the Eagles’ ice hockey team for three seasons. However he turns his attention to scoring goals for the Eagles’ boys lacrosse team during the spring.

Yes, Scott started his career in net when he started playing lacrosse. His position quickly changed his second year when he was a fifth-grader.

“I played goalie at first when I came to lacrosse. It was dumb,” Scott said with a laugh. “I want to get hit with a ball that hurts. I decided to change to scoring goals.”

Last season, Scott finished the season with a team-high 27 goals and 12 assists as a junior. This season, Scott has surpassed last year’s effort with one regular-season game left. He poured in three goals and four assists in the first half Friday night at Trailblazer Stadium in the Eagles’ dominating 16-1 victory over Bear Creek.

Dakota Ridge’s Nick Scott, left, take a check after getting off a shot Friday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Scott and one of Dakota Ridge’s top goal scorer — Hannah Krats — on the Eagles’ girls lacrosse team actually have a bet this season. Whoever finishes with fewer goals at the end of the season has to take the other out to dinner. It looks like Scott will be buying in the end.

“I have no idea where I’m at,” Scott said of his goal and assist totals this season. “I’m kind of clueless. I just come out and play. She (Krats) is way ahead of me, that’s all I know.”

Krats will play lacrosse at Fresno State University next school year. The senior has 61 goals and 27 assists with one regular-season game remaining. Dakota Ridge (13-1, 6-1 in Jeffco League) is currently No. 7 in the CHSAANow.com girls lacrosse rankings.

Scott will be taking his talent to the college level and play lacrosse at Illinois Wesleyan next season.

Dakota Ridge’s Ryan Kissinger, far right, tries to stay in bounds during the Eagles’ 16-1 win over Bear Creek. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“Nick has been awesome since I’ve got here,” Dakota Ridge’s first-year coach James Foote said. “He is the only senior attacker and to have his calm presence on the field is great for our young team. He leads by example. He has helped the whole transition of this program. I’m so happy to have him.”

There is a possibility that despite already attaining the best record in the program’s history, Dakota Ridge (12-2, 4-2 in Jeffco) might be left out of the postseason picture. Heading into Friday’s game against Bear Creek (0-12, 0-6) the Eagles were 17th in the RPI rankings. The top 16 teams make the postseason.

Dakota Ridge’s regular-season finale is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, May 1, at Trailblazer Stadium against rival Chatfield (4-9, 3-2). It’s almost a must-win situation for the Eagles.

“It’s going to come down to the wire,” Foote said. “Chatfield is going to be a massive game. It’s a rivalry game and they are in a similar situation with a new coach this year. It’s going to be a battle Monday.”

No matter what happens Monday, Scott is pleased how he has finished up his prep lacrosse career at Dakota Ridge.

“This year has been awesome, especially with our new coach,” Scott said. “He has really come in here and changed the program completely around. To have the best record in the program’s history is completely amazing. Even if we don’t make the playoffs, I feel like we (seniors) are going out on top.”

Bear Creek sophomore Axel Gonzalez, middle, attempts to keep possession of the ball Friday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

DENVER — No. 8 Colorado Academy boys lacrosse had little trouble in Friday’s 17-2 over Denver South. The Mustangs improved to 10-3 on the year.

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PARKER — Only leading by one at halftime, No. 8 Chaparral girls lacrosse fought through the snow and only allowed a single second-half goal in a 7-4 win over Aspen.

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A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights, interviews and schedules with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features baseball action between Columbine and Pomona, along with an extra inning battle on the diamond between Arvada West and Dakota Ridge. Also, Columbine girls soccer defeats Ralston Valley to take a step closer to a fourth straight 5A Jeffco League title, Pomona student-athletes sign their National Letter of Intent, lacrosse returns to the North Area Athletic Complex and footage from Jeffco’s Adapted Athletics Softball Day from the Gold Crown Field House.

(Michael Li/Flickr)

Valor Christian graduate Christian McCaffrey was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

The Stanford product was picked by the Carolina Panthers with the eighth overall selection.

“This is dream come true,” McCaffrey told the ESPN telecast. “It’s an unbelievable honor. … I’m out of words right now. I’m just so blessed to be a Carolina Panther.

“It’s been a dream of mine to play in this league since I can remember.”

He is the 13th former Colorado high school football player to ever be selected in the first round of the the NFL Draft, and the first since Buena Vista alum Nate Solder went 17th overall in 2011.

At No. 8 overall, he is the highest Colorado product to be drafted since Fairview alum Tony Boselli went No. 2 overall in 1995. McCaffrey is the sixth to be selected in the top-10.

McCaffrey entered the draft as a junior following a stellar career at Stanford. As a sophomore, he finished runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting. During the season, he set the NCAA’s single season record for all-purpose yardage.

He is the first former Valor Christian player to ever be taken in the NFL Draft, and the first Stanford running back to be drafted in the first round since 1992.

(Mark Adams)

At Valor Christian, he set the Colorado high school record for all-purpose yards in a career while leading the Eagles to four-straight titles. Upon graduating in 2014, he finished his career second in career points, total touchdowns and receiving touchdowns.

He twice was named the Gatorade player of the year for Colorado, and was the Class 5A player of the year as a senior.

But McCaffrey wasn’t a single-sport athlete. He also starred in basketball, and qualified for the state track meet.

The McCaffrey family is well-known in Colorado. His parents, Lisa and Ed, were star athletes at Stanford. Ed went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL, including nine with the Denver Broncos.

McCaffrey’s older brother, Max, is on the Packers’ roster. His two younger brothers, Dylan and Luke, helped Valor Christian win the Class 5A football title in the fall, and the 4A boys basketball championship in the winter.

Dylan is set to graduate this spring, and then play for Michigan. Luke will be a junior next fall.

Bear Creek’s Megan McGriff, right, tries to get past Columbine’s Alea Tooley (41) and Elizabeth Baker on Thursday at Trailblazer Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LAKEWOOD — Columbine’s girls lacrosse team is officially one win away from reclaiming the Jeffco League title.

A 17-4 victory over Bear Creek on Thursday night at Trailblazer Stadium put the Rebels (10-2, 6-0 in Jeffco League) in position to win the conference championship. A victory over rival Chatfield (7-6, 5-1) at 5:30 pm Thursday, May 4, at Trailblazer Stadium would atone for Columbine finishing second in league to Ralston Valley last season.

“This season we’ve been really focusing on each game. We aren’t focusing too forward ahead,” Columbine senior defender McKenzie Logan said. “Each game is a stepping stone. We focus on the next game ahead.”

Columbine is No. 3 in the latest CHSAANow.com girls lacrosse rankings. Look for the Rebels to be a top-5 seed for the 20-team state tournament that begins the second week in May. Columbine’s current 7-game winning streak began with a 13-11 victory over last year’s state runner-up Cherry Creek.

Despite resting a handful of starters, Columbine didn’t miss a beat against Bear Creek. Junior Maeve Hungerford got things going with a pair of early goals. The Rebels poured in 10 goals in the first 13 minutes.

Columbine’s Aliya Weant, left, tries to get a shot of in front of Bear Creek’s Alecia Garcia. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Hungerford, junior Jazlyn Flores and Alea Tooley led the way for the Rebels with three goals each. Senior Karlie Hadden, sophomore Emma Maxwell and freshman Aliyah Weant added two goals each. Junior Elizabeth Baker pitched in a goal and Logan scored a rare goal getting the chance to play attacker late in the first half.

“It was probably my first goal in three years,” Logan said of her goal that gave the Rebels a 14-1 lead at halftime. “It was a little weird being put on the other side of the field. It worked out, so that’s great.”

Junior Annie Van Norstrand and senior Cami Huff shared duties in goal for Columbine as the Rebels got a lot of their roster involved.

“I think we had four or five swingers from JV come up and they all got to play,” Logan said. “That’s really good experience for them because they are going to be varsity someday.”

Columbine has a busy final week of the regular season. The Rebels hit the road for a non-league game against Rock Canyon at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at EchoPark Stadium in Parker before the showdown against Chatfield. Columbine wraps up its regular season against Wheat Ridge on Saturday, May 6, at Trailblazer Stadium.

Columbine’s Alea Tooley (41) dominated face-offs and scored three goals against Bear Creek. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Bear Creek (2-8, 1-5) concludes its league play against Chatfield on May 2 at Trailblazer Stadium. The Bears — in their first season of varsity play — plays a trio of non-league games against Denver South, Rocky Mountain and Liberty to wrap up their season.

The Bears are under the guidance of coach Theresa Sandoval-Lazzeri.

“My goal for these girls is they play as a team, learn something from every single game and take something away for the next game,” Sandoval-Lazzeri said. “They should be proud of the hard work they have put in. They will just keep growing.”

Sandoval-Lazzeri was proud of how her team responded after falling behind early against one of the top teams in the state.

“They got frustrated with themselves in the beginning and it was a struggle. There is definitely a difference in level of play,” Sandoval-Lazzeri said. “I brought them together and told them to play their game. To play like they know how.”

Sophomore Brooke Selby had a pair of goals for the Bears. Bear Creek’s leading goal scorer, sophomore Gillian Riley, put in her 30th goal of the season. Sophomore Rachel Carlson put in the final goal against Columbine.

“We are going in the right direction,” Sandoval-Lazzeri said.

Columbine’s Maeve Hungerford, middle, gets off a pass during the Rebels’ 7th straight win Thursday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

COLORADO SPRINGS — Lewis-Palmer needed something, anything, to get going on Thursday night. They needed a new way to win a game.

They got it with a little Devine intervention. From Kate Devine, that is.

The senior midfielder took a pass form Bri Alger and beat freshmen Cheyenne mountain keeper Bella Zanotelli. The defending Class 4A champions had the lead and would grind to a 1-0 win over the Indians.

It was a tough battle for a Cheyenne Mountain team that has been decimated by injuries this season, but the champs are the champs for a reason. They know how to close out tight games, even if they haven’t been in that position all year.

“The way the girls played tonight, it was really unconventional for us,” Rangers coach Ryan Parsons said. “We’re used to knocking that ball around. They found out they can play a different way and that’s what I’ll take the most out of this.

The Pikes Peak Athletic Conference rivals are no strangers to each other. But throughout the game, it was tough for either side to generate offensive chances. The best look for the Rangers (11-1 overall, 5-0 PPAC) came right in front of the Cheyenne Mountain net.

The ball bounced off players like an old-school pinball game, but the Indians (5-6, 2-2) cleared it.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

It was just over a minute that Alger had the ball about 30 yards outside of the goal and smoothly kicked it up to Devine. She drew Zanotelli toward the middle of the net before connecting on a shot to the left side.

“I was planning to slot it in the right corner,” Devine said. “I knew I had a defender on me as well, so I had to time it perfectly and it just kind of worked out.”

The defensive chess match continued in the second half with each team trying to limit any mistakes. The Rangers nearly slipped up. Keeper Kait Hovasse came out of the net to play the ball, but it ended on the foot of Scooter Ross. The junior tried to chip the shot over Hovasse’s head, but it sailed just over the cross bar.

“Not going to lie, I thought I heard my name to just go clear it out,” Hovasse said. “I noticed right when me (and a defender) both went for it, (Ross) went for it as well. It was just some miscommunication.”

But in the end it worked it for the Rangers. They now have a one-game lead over Air Academy in the PPAC standings. Lewis-Palmer beat the Kadets 3-0 earlier this year.

The Indians are without forward Lauren Jones and midfielder Carly Fetters who will miss the remainder of the season due to knee injuries.

But a loss like the one suffered on Thursday doesn’t spell doom. A 1-0 loss to the No. 3 team in the 4A CHSAANow.com rankings could be beneficial in the coming weeks.

“That’s a good way to go into another big game on Saturday with TCA,” Indians coach Tomas Martinez said. “We can hang with these guys, we just need to get our head right.”

(Photo courtesy of Casey Bradley Gent/Pikes Peak Bulletin)

MANITOU SPRINGS — Justin Armour is heading back to the high school coaching ranks. The former three-sport standout at Manitou Springs and wide receiver for the Denver Broncos has accepted the position of head girls basketball coach for the Mustangs.

He takes over for Ed Longfield, the District 14 superintendent, who quietly stepped down at the conclusion of the season.

Armour will be the third coach in as many years for Manitou, but with his children on the verge of entering high school, he could very well be a long-term solution.

“I’m pretty tough-skinned with whatever happens,” Armour said. “But I’m certainly looking forward to the opportunity to coach my daughter and her friends. And they’re only sixth graders. So I’ll certainly be here through her high school years.”

This will not be the first foray into high school coaching for Armour. When he moved his family back to Manitou Springs in 2010, he took the head football job. His predecessor was John McGee, Manitou’s athletic director.

He coached the football team for two years before resigning to focus on opening a restaurant in Manitou Springs. He has continued to serve as a youth basketball coach for his children.

“I love basketball,” he said. “I’ve been coaching my own kids for the last couple of years in basketball and I’ve been having a blast doing it.”

Armour helped lead the Mustangs to a Class 3A state football championship in 1990. That same year, he helped the basketball team reach 3A Final 4. That was the last time the Mustangs basketball team advanced to the state semifinals.

He would go on to play football at Stanford before being drafted into the NFL by the Buffalo Bills. He signed with the Broncos in 1998, and was on the roster for the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship team. He played his final year in the NFL in 1999 for the Baltimore Ravens.

He was inducted into the CHSAA hall of fame in 2011.

BROOMFIELD — Mikayla Eccher scored the game’s lone goal in the first half has No. 10 Rocky Mountain came away with a 1-0 upset win over No. 2 Broomfield.

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GREENWOOD VILLAGE — No. 1 Cherry Creek baseball used a nine-run first inning to run rule Smoky Hill 14-2.

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