Harrison survived a severe scare Friday night against Holy Family. That scare could be blessing for a team that will face a massive challenge in the playoffs next week.
Month: November 2018
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Pueblo East football outlasts Lewis-Palmer in 3A playoffs
Things got uncomfortable for East High School’s football team in the fourth quarter Friday night. In the postseason, however, it’s about surviving and advancing.
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Photos: Eaglecrest beats Lakewood to roll into 5A football quarterfinals
AURORA — Eaglecrest looked solid in its 2018 playoff opener. The No. 4 Raptors beat Lakewood 48-15 to advance to the Class 5A football quarterfinals.
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Photos: Cherry Creek tops Castle View in 5A football playoffs
GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Cherry Creek rolled into the quarterfinals of the Class 5A football tournament with a 41-14 over Castle View.
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Montrose beats Dakota Ridge in 4A football playoffs
No. 6 Montrose beat No. 11 Dakota Ridge in the first round of the Class 4A football playoffs on Friday.
Montrose won, 26-14.
“Winning in the playoffs is never easy and I’m very proud of our kids for their effort tonight,” Montrose coach Brett Mertens said. “It’s a team game and we definitely played as a team tonight. It’s a great night to be a Montrose Indian and we are excited to have another week to play football.”
A big first half, during which Montrose built a 20-7 lead, was key. Keenan Goodwin, Chris Eckerman and Emmert Kastendieck all scored touchdowns.
In the third quarter, Riley Barnhill added to the Montrose lead with a five-yard run.
Dakota Ridge’s Kyle Cannon hauled in a nine-yard touchdown from Ben Biffinger to cut into the lead, but Montrose was able to put the game away in the fourth quarter.
“It was a great team win,” said Montrose’s Cole Simmons. “Everyone on the O-line did awesome and our running backs are super tough. Defensively our DBs played the best game of the year and our front seven played lights out. Hats off to Dakota Ridge and looking forward to what happens next.”
Said Dakota Ridge coach Ron Woitalwicz: “There offensive line controlled the game in the first half. We made too many mistakes to beat a good football team.”
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Early goal lifts Air Academy over Denver North for second straight 4A boys soccer title
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) COMMERCE CITY — A year ago it took more than 80 minutes for Air Academy to score its championship goal.
This time, the Kadets couldn’t wait to take the lead. Luke Louthan found the net in the fifth minute to put Air Academy ahead. The Kadets hung on for a 2-0 win over Denver North to defend its Class 4A boys soccer state championship.
“Everybody was gunning for us for being the defending state champions,” Kadets coach Espen Hosoien said. “To be able to do that again with a lot of younger players and some that were here last year is unbelievably special.”
This marks the fifth state title for the Kadets (18-1-1 overall) who are now tied for third-most all-time in state history. It’s also the third state championship win for Air Academy since 2014 which, a feat already accomplished by Broomfield and Kent Denver.
Louthan’s goal didn’t change the way the Kadets approached the game. Hosoien continued to urge his players to attack the Vikings’ back line and in doing so, Thad Dewing had a few chances to to add to the lead.
Denver North keeper Byran Torres played each of Dewing’s shots perfectly, sending the ball away from the net and keeping the Vikings (16-2-2) within striking distance at halftime.
“I’ll give him a lot of credit,” Dewing said. “He played great and he came up with a lot of big saves.”
With the way Dewing was attacking in the first half, however, it was only a matter of time before he got one by Torres. A corner kick from Kameron Hooker was the opportunity Dewing needed.
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) He buried in the header to increase the lead and make clinching the title a family affair. Louthan and Dewing each had older siblings on the 2014 championship team.
“It felt great,” Dewing said. “It was a great goal by Luke and the second obviously gave us a little bit of confidence.”
No one had more confidence than keeper Thomas Beatty. The keeper for last year’s championship team, Beatty has now accumulated more than 160 minutes of playing time in a state championship atmosphere without giving up a single goal.
“I can’t say that I haven’t made great saves, but a lot of those saves came because my defenders were cutting down angles just enough,” Beatty said. “You can’t put the shutout on just me.”
The back line had suffered a setback in the middle of the year when defender Brayden Jonswold went down with a knee injury. He missed the remainder of the season, but the supporting cast for the Kadets was able to step up and not let the setback curb a championship run.
“We build a program down there and everybody buys into it,” Hosoien said. “It’s next man up when something like that happens and for me that’s so special.”
After Louthan scored the first goal, Hosoien said he thought the Kadets could have and maybe should have scored one or two more.
But the importance of that first one can’t be understated in that it helped Air Academy settle into a groove and bond together to hold on to that edge.
“It’s just came early,” Louthan said. “Then we had to play as a team to keep that lead.”
Their reward for playing as a team was back-to-back championships for the first time in school history.
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Kent Denver edges Liberty Common to win 3A boys soccer title
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) COMMERCE CITY — As the three-time defending Class 3A state champion, there was a definite letdown when Kent Denver’s boys soccer team saw its 2017 season end one game shy of another trip to the state title game.
The Sun Devils weren’t about to experience that feeling again. An unbeaten season was capped off in a more familiar fashion Saturday afternoon as the second-seeded Sun Devils held off defending champion Liberty Common 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to claim the program’s fourth 3A crown in five seasons.
“It certainly was a motivation. There’s a proud tradition at Kent Denver, and I know that these guys felt pressure to try to live up to the expectations,” Kent Denver coach Arty Smith said. “They handled it great all season, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) Pace Billings scored both goals for the Sun Devils (19-0-1 overall). The first came a little more than seven minutes into the second half, and the second shot found a home on a diving header with less than 15 minutes remaining.
“Pace is a handful for defenses,” Smith said. “He’s so big and strong and athletic. I think he just kind of wears you down.”
Joey Waldbaum made five saves in goal for Kent Denver, which hadn’t allowed a goal in the playoffs until Liberty Common senior Michael Yeh played a ball in front of the net and beat Waldbaum with 12 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Eagles (16-4) put the pressure on after Yeh’s score, but couldn’t find another open look on the net. Two late corner kicks were quickly cleared out by Kent Denver.
“Liberty Common got that goal and obviously put us back on our heels,” Smith said. “But we stayed composed, we stayed organized and were able to kind of them bottle them up for the last run there, which is easier said than done, I think.
“It took a lot of leadership from the boys and mental strength, as well as physical strength.”
Billings scored five goals in the playoffs, including the game-winner to defeat Strive Prep in the second round. He also had a goal in the semifinal victory over Colorado Academy, but it was his efforts Saturday that put the Sun Devils back on top.
Billings found himself in the right spot on the first goal, with a 2-on-1 advantage that allowed him to send the ball past Liberty Common goalkeeper Michael Bradley.
“We definitely practice getting in there and just doing the best we can with those 50/50 balls in the middle,” Billings said. “My teammate played a great ball into the middle to give me a chance.”
Some 18 minutes later he got another chance. Matias Alberola sent a ball into the box, and Billings headed the ball into the left corner of the net.
“It made the lead a little bit more comfortable,” he said. “It was a beautiful ball.”
Liberty Common has 13 seniors on a team that has established itself as a force in 3A, winning the championship last November and coming up just short again Saturday. Billings said the Sun Devils knew they would have to make the most of the few opportunities they would be given against a talented Eagles defense, but added that what drove Kent Denver even more was the want to bring the trophy back to Kent Denver.
The Sun Devils will graduate 10 seniors of their own, but the team’s three leading scorers – Max Hewitt, Rawson Welch and Spencer Thomas – are juniors, along with Waldbaum.
Smith could only smile when trying to reflect on what the past few years have meant to the program.“I’m truly blessed. I’ve got a magnificent group of boys, a wonderful coaching staff and a very supportive school,” Smith said. “What else could a coach ask for?”
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Pomona football pieces together playoff win over Arvada West
ARVADA — Pomona was able to fit the puzzle pieces together Saturday afternoon to advance to the quarterfinals of the Class 5A football state playoffs.
The No. 2-seeded Panthers took a 34-7 victory over No. 10 Arvada West at the North Area Athletic Complex. Pomona faces No. 2 Columbine next Friday or Saturday at Jeffco Stadium with a ticket to the semifinals on the line.
Pomona (7-4 record) has suffered injury-after-injury to key players all season. The latest blow came this week in practice when junior linebacker Kyle Moretti suffered a broken ankle. He underwent season-ending surgery Thursday.
Arvada West senior Tony Cass (2) is stacked up by Pomona sophomore JuJu Howard during the first half Saturday at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “It was just another hit,” Pomona senior captain Jack Thiele said. “Obviously, Kyle is one of our better players. It hurt, but we knew we just had to rally around him.”
Pomona coach Jay Madden moved around several pieces, including putting Thiele at linebacker from his normal safety spot. Madden counted on the likes of defensive backs Thor Bourgeois and Isaiah Tshimanga to step into bigger roles facing A-West’s all-time leading passer and four-year starting quarterback Johnny Krutsch.
“You got four all-state guys on the bench, but we’ve got a good program with a lot of good kids,” Madden said. “They stepped up big. It feels good.”
Krutsch still put up some big numbers going 29-for-47 for 283 yards through the air, but the Panthers also intercepted the A-West quarterback four times. Tshimanga, Thiele, David Ross and Dominic Bettini all picked off Krutsch.
The only score for A-West was a 68-yard touchdown pass from Krutsch to senior Cory Carignan in the third quarter. Carignan finished with 10 catches for 144 yards and the one score.
The biggest interception came when Tshimanga picked off Krutsch with the Wildcats (7-5) driving into Pomona territory early in the second quarter with the game scoreless. Pomona took over and four plays later quarterback Riley Welsch hit a wide-open Ross for a 56-yard touchdown.
Pomona senior David Ross (23) celebrates his touchdown catch with sophomore Jack Pospisil on Saturday afternoon at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “That was huge,” Thiele said of Welsch’s touchdown pass to Ross. “It not only gave the offense, but the defense momentum. I think that was one of the biggest plays of the game.”
Pomona eventually scored touchdowns on five of six possessions after turning the ball over on its first two offensive possessions.
Defensively, a main focus for Madden was to limit A-West leading receiver Chris McEahern. Madden handed that task over to Bettini.
“I told him (Bettini) I wanted to play him on offense, but we have to shut down (Chris McEahern),” Madden said. “I needed an unselfish player and he said, ‘I got it.’ Inside the 20 we were going to give him the ball on offense.”
Bettini held McEahern to three catches for five yards.
“He (McEahern) has shown he is one of the top receivers in the state,” Bettini said. “I had to step up and my teammates around me did a really good job helping me. It was a good game-plan.”
The senior move-in transfer from Highlands Ranch also got his touches on the offensive side. Bettini had 17 carries for 117 yards and four touchdowns.
Pomona senior Dominic Bettini (5) scored four touchdown on the ground Saturday for the Panthers. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) In the first meeting this season between the Arvada-area rivals, Pomona leaned heavily on Bettini. He had 44 carries for 270 yards and five touchdowns in the Panthers’ 41-27 victory.
Sophomore Ben Cruz had a huge game on the ground. With starting running back Therious Robison out due to injury, Cruz had 29 carries for 221 yards.
Next up for Pomona is a familiar foe. The Rebels dominated No. 15 Highlands Ranch to the tune of 49-7 on Friday night at Jeffco Stadium.
“(Columbine) kind of put it on us the last time we played,” Thiele said. “I think that will motivate us a lot.”
Columbine handed Pomona a 35-13 loss in a 5A Metro West League meeting earlier this season.
“When we play Columbine it normally doesn’t come down to tricks. It comes down to dudes. It’s been a lot of fun over the years,” Madden said of the rivalry. “I think they are as good as anybody in the state of Colorado. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but we are looking forward to it.”
A-West closed out its fourth season under coach Brad Pyatt. The A-West graduate who was on the Wildcats’ 1997 Class 5A state championship team praised his seniors that got helped A-West become relevant again on the state stage.
“The great thing about where we are as a program is we believe we can not only compete, but beat a team like this,” Pyatt said. “For me, I’m just excited about the future of A-West. I’m really proud of this group of seniors that really resurged this program. We had a great four years with them.”
Despite playing Pomona tough through the first couple of quarters twice this season, A-West wasn’t able to end the drought against Pomona. The last time A-West defeated Pomona on the football field was in 2009.
Arvada West senior Isaiah Ocana (20) tries to pull away from Pomona defenders during the Class 5A state football second-round playoff game Saturday at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) -
Ralston Valley football shuts out Cherokee Trail to advance to 5A quarterfinals
ARVADA — Ralston Valley got an early jump on the rest of the Class 5A football playoff field Thursday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.
The No. 6-seeded Mustangs was the first team to punch its ticket to the state quarterfinals. Ralston Valley dominated No. 11 Cherokee Trail 52-0 in the first and only second-round matchup on the docket Thursday night.
“It’s huge for us,” Ralston Valley junior Ben Takata said about being the first 5A team to advance to the state quarterfinals. “We get that extra day of rest and extra day to prepare for the next team. We are going to need that.”
Ralston Valley junior quarterback Walker Brickle tries to avoid Cherokee Trail’s Joe Steen (50) and Kyle Johnson, left, Thursday night at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) Ralston Valley (9-2 record) has the chance now to head to Stutler Bowl on Friday night to scout No. 14 Castle View against No. 3 Cherry Creek. The winner of that game faces the Mustangs next week in the 5A quarterfinals.
It very well could be a revenge game next week for Ralston Valley. The Bruins have eliminated the Mustangs from the playoffs the previous two seasons.
The Mustangs had the luxury of getting a bye week after closing out the regular season Oct. 26 with a big victory over defending 5A state champion and No. 7 seed Pomona.
“Everyone was kind of banged up after Pomona. The rest helped a lot,” said Ralston Valley senior Brad Roberts, who ran for three touchdown against Cherokee Trail. “Everyone knows it’s playoffs, one-and-done. We came out ready to play.”
Ralston Valley’s defense and offense were clicking on all cylinders against the Cougars. Takata and senior Thomas Harries both had first-half interceptions for the Mustangs. Senior defensive end Isaac Townsend and the rest of the Mustangs’ front-seven harassed Cherokee Trail quarterback Jayden LaVigne on a number of occasions.
“You have to give the defensive line a lot of credit for that,” Takata said of the interceptions. “They make us (defensive backs) look good.”
The offense was effective on the ground and took advantage of good field position provided by the Mustangs’ defense. Roberts had a pair of short touchdown runs to cap off drives in the first half. Senior Mason Miller kicked a 41-yard field goal to help out the cause.
Takata finished off the dominating half by the Mustangs with a 2-yard touchdown run in the final minute to give Ralston Valley a 24-0 halftime lead.
Ralston Valley junior Caleb Rillos (88) isn’t able to haul in a pass during the first half Thursday at NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “The offense was good, but I’m telling you, it’s a lot easier to play offense when the defense gives you the ball in the other team’s territory,” Ralston Valley coach Matt Loyd said. “I hope we can continue that.”
Ralston Valley opened the second half taking advantage of Cherokee Trail trying an onside kick. The Mustangs recovered the kick and took advantage of the short field. Ralston Valley drove 56 yards in six plays. Junior Chase Wilson got into the scoring action with a 12-yard touchdown run.
The Mustangs all but put the game out of reach with Roberts — Air Force Academy commit — scoring his third touchdown with 5:38 left in the third quarter to put Ralston Valley up 38-0.
“It feels awesome. Everyone is rested and we’re ready to go,” Roberts said. “We couldn’t have asked for anything better than 52-0.”
The game went into running clock in the third quarter when Ralston Valley quarterback Walker Brickle connected with senior AJ Jergensen on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Senior Nick Pastore finished of the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run in the final minutes.
“I like the bye week,” Loyd said of the new 24-team format where the top-8 seeds get byes in the opening round. “It was nice to have a few days off to have guys heal.”
Cherokee Trail (8-4) got off to a soaring 6-0 start this season, but the Cougars had a tough final stretch of the regular season losing 3 of 4 before entering the playoffs. Cherokee Trail suffered double-digit losses against a trio of Top-5 seeded playoff teams — No. 5 Grandview, No. 3 Cherry Creek and No. 4 Eaglecrest — before edging Poudre in double-overtime last week in the opening round of the playoffs.
Ralston Valley senior Brad Roberts, left, bulls over Cherokee Trail’s Sean Roberts (15) during the first half. Roberts had a pair of first-half touchdowns on the way to the Mustangs’ 2nd round playoff victory Thursday night at the NAAC. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)