CHSAANow

Month: November 2017

  • Longmont rallies to upset No. 1 Mead in 3A football quarterfinals

    MEAD – With Longmont’s football team potentially poised to put the game out of reach early Saturday afternoon, Drake Engelking had an “oh, no” moment.

    With the Trojans inside Mead’s 20-yard line in the second quarter, the senior running back was stripped of the ball. The Mavericks recovered and promptly went on a nine-play drive that got the team on the scoreboard and swung the momentum the other way.

    So when Engelking got his chance in the same spot on the field late in the Class 3A quarterfinal, he wasn’t about to let his team down. After the defense made a huge fourth-down stop, Engelking capped a 16-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds remaining to help send eighth-seeded Longmont to a 30-26 victory over top-seeded and previously undefeated Mead at Mead High School.

    “The whole offense knew that this was going to be the last drive we could have,” said Engelking, who rushed for 71 yards and scored three touchdowns. “It was going to be the drive of our life, and we were always going to remember it.”

    Danny Nichols came up with an interception at the goal line to preserve the victory. The Trojans (9-3) advanced to next weekend’s semifinals where they will face No. 5 Erie.

    “I’m just proud of our effort. I’m proud that our guys stepped up and played with tremendous courage,” Longmont coach Doug Johnson said. “Mead played an excellent ballgame. They do so many things well. It was probably the most momentum swings I’ve ever seen in a game – I knew playoff games were like that, but it went back-and-forth.”

    Mead (11-1) had dominated opponents all season, including a 38-14 victory over Longmont back on Sept. 22. But the Trojans didn’t waver, and scored a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to take the early 15-0 lead.

    Quarterback Oakley Dehning went deep early, with completions of 45, 26 and 44 yards on the first two drives. Dehning hooked up with Jaydon Elkins on a 12-yard touchdown and Engelking scored from one yard out.

    “We came in here and Mead’s undefeated, so we knew they were going to give us their best game,” Nichols said. “We knew that coming in, we just had to match the intensity. I think we did a really good job, and I wouldn’t rather have anyone else by my side doing it.”

    Longmont was on a nine-play drive midway through the second quarter when Engelking fumbled the ball at the Mead 8-yardline. A 57-yard run from Mavericks quarterback Tyler Keys – who carried the ball 32 times for 165 yards – helped set up a 2-yard Nathan Mackey touchdown run.

    Engelking took the blame for the turnover, but Johnson said his senior wasn’t focused on needing redemption.

    “I’m happy for him,” Johnson said. “I think he’d take a win however we get it. I know he felt terrible about that.”

    Mead’s Easton Willyard blocked a punt late in the first half and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown to make it 15-13. The Mavericks then took the lead on the first drive of the second half on a 1-yard Mackey score.

    A long kickoff return from Nichols helped set up a 1-yard Engelking touchdown run, but Mead answered with a 16-play drive that culminated in a 2-yard Keys score.

    “I told the guys I was going to keep three timeouts and we were going to see how that panned out. We were going to try and use them to stop them,” Johnson said. “They made some plays and got the job done.”

    After Dehning was intercepted, Mead had the ball deep in Longmont territory with a little more than six minutes remaining. The Mavericks, who had been 5-for-5 on fourth-down attempts, were stopped short. Longmont took over with six minutes, 20 seconds remaining at its own 24 and overcame an offensive pass interference call and needing a fourth-and-long conversion to keep its hopes alive and set Engelking up for the game-winning score.

    “That touchdown, I’m still (pumped) about it,” Engelking said. “Thanks to the linemen for getting me that.”

    Keys returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards, and a facemask penalty gave the Mavericks the ball at the Longmont 20 with 6.7 seconds remaining. Keys’ first pass was knocked down, and Nichols secured the interception on the final play.

     “It was pretty awesome,” Nichols said. “It was just a great feeling.”

    The victory marked the third time this season that Longmont knocked off the No. 1-ranked squad. The Trojans defeated three-time defending state champion Pueblo East in their opener, and also handed Holy Family its first loss.

    “We feel like we can play to their level,” Engelking said. “I think it’s like kind of a redemption thing, but it’s also just the game of football.”

  • Photos: Eaglecrest beats Cherry Creek to move to 5A football semifinals

    GREENWOOD VILLAGE — No. 2 Eaglecrest beat No. 7 Cherry Creek 26-7 in the Class 5A football quarterfinals on Saturday.

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  • Pueblo West’s 17-unanswered points vs Chatfield earns trip to 4A football semis

    PUEBLO — Pueblo West senior Pierre Taylor limped off the field after taking a low hit on an attempted swing pass late in the first half Saturday at Cyclone Stadium.

    It didn’t look good as Taylor and the No. 4-seeded Cyclones trailed No. 5 Chatfield 14-7 at halftime in the Class 4A football state quarterfinal game.

    “I was really worried,” Taylor admitted about getting injured. “My teammates are always behind me and were asking me how I was doing. I’ve got the drive in my heart to play for them. They are all my brothers. I had to keep playing. I got my ankle taped and was just fine.”

    Pueblo West (11-1 record) was more than fine in the second half. The Cyclones reeled off 17-unanswered points to take a 24-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. Taylor had touchdown runs of 36 and 2 yards in a five-minute span.

    Pueblo West QB Jacob Wilkinson (11) looks to make a move on Chatfield’s Matt Moon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “We were a little bit shocked,” Chatfield junior linebacker/tight end Graham Metzler said of the Cyclones’ two touchdowns take a 10-point lead with 10:37 left in the game. “We knew what we could do. It just didn’t work. I think we played amazing. (Pueblo West) is just a great team and program.”

    Pueblo West hung on for a 24-21 victory to advance to next week’s semifinals where the Cyclones face defending state champion and No. 1 Pine Creek.

    “We are looking forward to this. We’ve been waiting for this all playoffs,” Taylor said of getting a rematch against Pine Creek, who defeated the Cyclones 21-14 in the regular season. “When we saw the bracket we knew we’d be heading toward them. We’re ready for them.”

    Pueblo West was able to swing the momentum on two key plays in the third quarter against the Chargers. Chatfield had lost its starting punter and big playmaker — senior Keland Rumsey — in the first half due to injury. A 2-yard punt late in the third quarter gave the ball to the Cyclones at the Chargers’ 36-yard line.

    “In any big game those (special team) plays get magnified,” Pueblo West coach Monte Pinkerton said. “Our offense kept pounding it at them and when you get a couple of breaks like that it’s the difference in the game.”

    Taylor scored on the next play from scrimmage to give Pueblo West its first lead of the game, 17-14, with 3:13 left in the third quarter.

    Chatfield RB Ben Frenette (23) breaks the tackle attempt of Pueblo West’s Billy Bloesser. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Chatfield gambled going for it on fourth-down from its own 38-yard line on the ensuing drive. A pass from quarterback Zack Yanda fell incomplete and the Cyclones took over on downs. Eight plays later, Taylor scored the third of his three touchdown runs of the game to break open a 24-14 lead.

    “I don’t think we came out with the same intensity in the second half that we did in the first half,” Metzler said. “We just didn’t get it done in the second half.”

    Chatfield did respond with a quick 4-play, 48-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 31-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Matt Moon. The Chargers got the ball back trailing 24-21 with 3:14 left in the fourth quarter.

    Chatfield drove down to Pueblo West’s 19-yard line, but an untimely 5-yard plenty stalled the drive.

    “We were hoping to be in 4th-down-and-2. We would have gone for it,” Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin said of the Chargers’ final drive that ended in a missed 39-yard field goal in the final minute that would have tied the game. “It’s tough. These guys really thought they had the opportunity to go all the way.”

    Chatfield was attempting to get back to the 4A state semifinals for the second straight year. The Chargers lost in the semifinals against Pine Creek last season. It’s Pueblo West who will get another shot at the Eagles next week.

    “Chatfield is an unbelievable team. They have unbelievable talent and a great coaching staff,” Pinkerton said. “We’re fortunate to come away with the win.”

  • Photos: Pueblo South tops Vista Ridge to advance to 4A football semifinals

    COLORADO SPRINGS — Zach Cozzolino threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns as Pueblo South beat Vista Ridge 35-14 in the Class 4A state football playoffs.

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  • Photos: Strasburg beats rival Bennett en route to 1A football title game

    BENNETT — Strasburg football beat Bennett 41-34 on Saturday in the Class 1A semifinals.

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  • Photos: Peetz claims 6-man football championship by beating Stratton/Liberty

    JOES — Peetz rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Stratton/Liberty and claim the 6-man football championship.

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  • Photos: Broomfield edges Loveland in OT to advance to 4A football semifinals

    BROOMFIELD — Broomfield beat Loveland in overtime during the Class 4A football quarterfinals, 28-27.

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  • Sand Creek football coach David Ramirez resigns to pursue administration role

    (Photo courtesy of Dave Ramirez)

    Rebuilding the Sand Creek football program was always going to be a challenge. But David Ramirez was more than happy to step up and take that challenge on.

    After two years of establishing a culture for the students of Sand Creek, Ramirez is ready to pursue his own goals. His desire to work in educational administration does not coincide with the commitment needed to coach a football team.

    In an email to CHSAANow.com on Sunday, Ramirez confirmed that he has stepped down as the head coach at Sand Creek as he eyes a future admin role.

    He submitted his letter of resignation to Sand Creek athletic director Brian Petzold on Friday.

    “Over the last two years I have had the opportunity to work with some great young men,” Ramirez said in the email. “It was a tough situation to walk into after an 0-10 season before I arrived. However the kids bought into what our program was now going to be about.

    The fundamental improvements and attitude shift that took place in our players are not reflected in the wins an losses, but we continued to compete and most importantly have fun.”

    Ramirez was the man who helped Pueblo East win the first its three consecutive Class 3A state football titles from 2014-16.

    He relocated to Colorado Springs after the 2014 season to work as a teacher in District 20. He joined the football staff at Liberty High School for a season before taking the head coaching job at Sand Creek.

    “By resigning at this time I want to give the school every chance to seek and hire the best possible candidate moving forward,” Ramirez said. “I want to thank the coaches and community because we have built a strong foundation that will help Scorpion football teams to come. I also want to thank my family for their support during my coaching career.”

  • Grandview stuns Valor Christian with upset in 5A football quarterfinals

    Grandview Valor Christian football
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    HIGHLANDS RANCH — The roar from the visiting stands grew louder, and louder. And louder.

    The clock hit zeroes. Grandview had done it. The Wolves pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent memory in Class 5A football, taking down top-seeded and two-time defending champion Valor Christian in the quarterfinals, 28-16.

    “Somebody had to do it,” Grandview coach John Schultz said afterward.

    Grandview’s win snapped Valor Christian’s 21-game winning streak, which had been tied for the longest active streak in the state.

    “This is an unreal feeling,” said Grandview senior Gunner Gentry. “It’s surreal. It doesn’t feel real.”

    In miserable wet conditions that started as rain and turned to snow, the Wolves scored 28 unanswered points after Valor Christian grabbed a 10-0 lead in the first half.

    “It was probably the rainiest, most miserable cold, wet first quarter,” Schultz said. “We didn’t (handle it) at the beginning. But they got used to it, and the ball boys figured out how to take care of the footballs, and the managers did a great job.”

    The game, predictably, was affected by those miserable conditions. In a span of 21 seconds early in the first quarter, the teams fumbled the ball back-and-forth three times.

    Grandview Valor Christian football
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    “We had to stay mentally tough,” Gentry said. “We knew it was going to rain, we knew it was going to be snowing, so we really had to stay in tune to what we were doing.”

    Valor settled down, and Joshia Davis gave his team a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. Brian Brogan added a 22-yard field goal to make it 10-0 in the second quarter.

    That was when Grandview junior Jordan Billingsley started to make his huge imprint on the game. The running back broke a 71-yard run, setting up a 19-touchdown from senior Gunner Gentry on a reverse.

    “Getting that touchdown after Jordan’s long run, it just settled everyone down,” Schultz said. “And then they just started to compete again. They weren’t worried about what was going to go wrong next. They just started to play football.”

    Billingsley was again the spark on the next drive, when his 43-yard run set up a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Prentice Wilson.

    Suddenly, Grandview led 14-10. They took that lead into halftime — giving the underdog a big boost.

    “We had a lot more energy coming into halftime than if we would’ve been down,” Gentry said. “We came in excited, ready to finish out the game, ready to win.”

    It showed.

    Grandview Valor Christian football
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

    Grandview’s defense forced two Valor punts to start the second half, and Wolves quarterback Kyle Smith hit Dayne Prim on a play-action pass from the 1-yard-line to make it 21-10 with 3:18 left in the third quarter.

    Billingsley, who finished with 229 yards, added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter, a 25-yarder, and the Wolves could taste the upset.

    Valor Christian didn’t quit. The Eagles scored with 4:41 left to make it 28-16, but the two-point attempt failed, and Grandview recovered the onside kick attempt.

    Grandview’s defense, led by Gentry — who played both ways — as well as Cade Bruckman and Darius Tucker, had an outstanding night.

    “Great job by our defense,” Schultz said. “They flew around all night.”

    The win secured a spot in next week’s semifinals for the Wolves, and ended Valor Christian’s streak of reaching eight-straight championship games. The last time the Eagles didn’t make a title game was 2008, their first year as a varsity program.

    “They’re such a great team, and they have been for such a long time,” Gentry said. “It just feels great to come out with the victory.”

    Grandview Valor Christian football
    (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

  • Xavier Hill shifts momentum for Pine Creek football in 4A playoff win over Rampart

    Rampart Pine Creek football
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    COLORADO SPRINGS — Walking into District 20 Stadium on Friday night, there was no mistaken that Pine Creek and Rampart wanted nothing more than to beat each other.

    That’s what rivals are.

    The two teams hadn’t met on the football field since 2015. So a playoff atmosphere was the ultimate venue for a renewal of this rivalry.

    Pine Creek got the best of Rampart 29-7 in a game that started with clear skies and win, but ended is white-out snowy conditions.

    And as a result, the Eagles (11-1 overall) are going to their fifth-straight appearance in the Class 4A state semifinals.

    “It’s one year and one game at a time,” Pine Creek coach Todd Miller said. “I think our players take a lot of pride in making plays and just being good teammates.”

    They give each other a lift.

    And they needed a lift after the first quarter of action. Pine Creek stalled on its first drive on offense and the Rams (9-3) answered with a sustained ground attack.

    Rampart Pine Creek football
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Jared Behm broke off a 40-yard run to get Rampart deep into Pine Creek territory. The Rams finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run from Jackson Beale to take an early 7-0 lead.

    Pine Creek’s second offensive drive was only able to generate a field goal. Early on, things were not looking good for the defending state champions.

    “The first drive, we just didn’t execute the way we had hoped,” quarterback J.C. Coulter said. “We had to stay steady and stay with our game plan. We had to stick to our assignments and play assignment football.”

    The Eagles gained their first lead of the game on a 61-yard touchdown pass from Coulter to Wyatt Wieland.

    But the Eagles still had to bear down defensively as the Rams were able to chew off yards between Beale and Keion Cross.

    The defense got its wish in the form of Xavier Hill. A Cross fumble was scooped up by Hill and he returned it for a touchdown giving the Eagles a sudden 17-7 lead and every ounce of momentum that could be packed into District 20 Stadium.

    “I gotta get the ball, that’s all I was thinking,” Hill said. “At first I thought I was going to have to fall on it. I don’t know why I thought I could pick it up, but I picked it up.”

    Things got worse for Rampart on the first drive of the second half as another fumble killed a promising drive that could’ve cut the Pine Creek lead to one score.

    Pine Creek has won three of the last four 4A state championships and turning the ball over to team with that kind of a record can be a season killer.

    “Yep,” Rampart coach Rob Royer said. “Turnovers were extremely costly. We were doing what we wanted to. We came out, we ran the ball effectively. Give those kids credit, we came out, we had the emotion and they came back. They’re a good football team.”

    Hill added rushing touchdown to go with his scoop and score and David Moore III added the exclamation point on the final Pine Creek drive of the game.

    By the time the final horn sounded, the turf at District 20 was snow-covered and the temperature had become less than comfortable thanks in part to the wind.

    “You couldn’t do much in this,” Miller said. “We were down hill which was good and now we have one more game.”

    Rampart Pine Creek football
    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)