LAKEWOOD — Columbine and Ralston Valley face off in the Class 5A football semifinals on Friday night, the lone game around the state.

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(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

PUEBLO — Ahead of Saturday’s showdown for the Class 2A football state championship game, Delta and Sterling arrived in Pueblo on Friday to tour the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl and participate in their last practice of the year.

It’s the culmination of a season’s worth of work and Friday marked the final day that the teams could soak up the perks of playing at CSU-Pueblo before turning their focus entirely to Saturday’s game.

“It’s been a good experience for our guys,” Sterling coach Rob Busmente said. “We’re trying to continue on with the themes we’ve been trying to hit on all season as far as the main focuses and goals of the week.”

Both Busmente and Delta coach Ben Johnson know, however, that this is not like any other week. While both teams are accustomed to travel for games, the stakes are much higher this time around. This week brought a mixture of snowy weather and needed adjustments for the Thanksgiving holiday, but all things considered it sounds like each squad is ready for the tall task awaiting them.

“This is the first time we’ve had the whole week off for Thanksgiving,” Johnson said. “That was relaxing. We stayed true to our normal practices, we just bumped them up a big earlier in the day, 1:00 like a normal game day. I think the kids are excited.”

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

It has been some time since either team played in a state championship game. Sterling last played in one back in 2004 and lost to Rifle 7-6. It has been nearly 40 years since the Panthers made their way to a championship game, but suffered a loss to Lamar.

That came just a year after Delta won the only state football game in program history. They’re hoping they can climb to the top of the mountain again, but this week is about more than just vying for a specific trophy.

“It’s another opportunity to hang out with the family we’ve created over the last four years,” Delta senior Gauge Lockhart said. “Actually, it’s been my entire life that I’ve played football with these boys.”

On paper these two teams appear very similar. Where last year’s title game between La Junta and Platte Valley was dominated with two talented rushing attacks, Delta and Sterling have no problem taking to the air.

Each side knows it’s important to stay within themselves and lean on what has made each team successful in 2019.

“We have to keep ourselves and our teammates in check,” Sterling quarterback Brock Shalla said. “We have to treat everything normal and just be ready to play tomorrow.”

Both teams got a practice under their belt at the Thunderbowl and remain in Pueblo overnight. Come Saturday morning, they’ll gear up and under the hospitality of the Friends of Football group in Pueblo, take to the field in an attempt to bring home a state title.

Kickoff for Saturday’s 2A state championship game is set for 1 p.m. and will be available on the NFHS Network.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

LAKEWOOD — Columbine senior quarterback Jadon Holliday’s 1-yard plunge into a snow covered end zone Friday night at Jeffco Stadium punched the Rebels’ ticket to the Class 5A state championship game.

“We knew we needed to score,” Holliday said. “We knew we still had to finish it. It wasn’t over yet.”

Columbine senior Tanner Hollens scored two touchdowns in snowy conditions in the Class 5A football state semifinal game against Jeffco rival Ralston Valley. No. 6-seeded Columbine moved into next week’s 5A title game with a 29-15 victory over No. 2 and previously undefeated Ralston Valley.

“All day we were hoping it would snow, rain or be windy,” Hollens said after the Rebels got revenge after a regular-season loss to Ralston Valley. “They threw the ball on us last time. For the most part we stopped them.”

The second touchdown run by Hollens pushed the Rebels’ lead to 22-6 midway through the third quarter. Columbine was able to capitalize, taking over on the Mustangs’ 20-yard line after a Ralston Valley turnover.

Columbine (11-2 record) faces the winner of No. 5 Pomona and No. 1 Cherry Creek. The Panthers and Bruins play in the other 5A state semifinal at 6 p.m. Saturday at Stutler Bowl on the Cherry Creek High School campus.

Columbine senior Tanner Hollens (6) runs in a 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter Friday night against Ralston Valley at Jeffco Stadium. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Hollens started the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown run on the Rebels’ first drive of the game. Columbine was able to convert a 2-point conversion with a run by Holliday to put the Rebels up 8-0 with 7:17 left in the first quarter.

Ralston Valley (12-1) was able to get its offense going late in the first quarter with a pair of long passes from senior quarterback Walker Brickle to Chase Wilson and JJ Galbreath. Brickle finished off the drive with a 25-yard screen pass to Wilson for a touchdown, but a missed extra-point kept Columbine with a 8-6 lead.

Columbine responded with a quick 78-yard drive to close out the first half and extend the lead to 14-6 at halftime. Senior Adam Harrington barreled into the end zone with 10 seconds left before half as the snow intensified.

Ralston Valley brought it back within 22-12 on the first play of the fourth quarter. A 23-yard touchdown pass from Brickle to senior Caleb Rillos pulled the Mustangs within 10 points, but a failed 2-point conversion kept it a 2-score lead for the Rebels.

The Mustangs got the ball right back with junior Will Lester recovering a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. However, Columbine defense held Ralston Valley to a field goal. The 19-yard kick by sophomore Steele Fredricks closed the Rebels’ lead to 22-15 with 8:12 left in the fourth quarter.

Ralston Valley junior Devin McNearney (6) tries to turn the corner before Columbine senior Andrew Lauritzen (58) can make a tackle Friday night at Jeffco Stadium. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Columbine got the ball back and chewed a ton of time off the clock, driving all the way down to Ralston Valley’s 1-yard-line.

“We talked about before the drive that we needed an 8-minute drive to give (Ralston Valley) no hope,” Hollens said. “We went down and scored. It turned out good.”

On fourth-and-goal, the Rebels’ Holliday punched it in on a QB sneak to put his team up two scores.

“We have been hungry since last year,” Holliday said referring to a semifinal loss to Cherry Creek last year at Jeffco Stadium. “We have been grinding, grinding and grinding. Finally tonight it paid off. Everyone has bought in. We are all brothers.”

Columbine senior La’akea Like finished the game in style for the Rebels. He intercepted Brickle on the final play of the game.

“I was pressing (Rillos) because he is an absolute freak,” Like said describing the final play. “He got past me but I saw the ball come at me. It was amazing. I can’t even describe it. I’m so happy for everybody.”

The Rebels were able to end a streak of semifinal disappointment. Columbine had lost in the semifinals — 2018, 2017 and 2015 — in three of the past four seasons.

“Thank God we got through a semifinal,” Columbine coach Andy Lowry said. “We’ve been beat in double-overtime and in the end of the game against Pomona by a point. Heartaches all the way through. I remember those a lot more than our wins, but next week will help soften those blows a bit.”

The Rebels are perfect 5-0 in 5A state championship games under Lowry. Columbine’s last title came in 2011.

The first go-around between Ralston Valley and Columbine at Jeffco Stadium was an instant classic. The Mustangs rallied in the final minutes to take a 24-23 victory over the Rebels.

Brickle connected with Galbreath for a 60-yard touchdown pass with 1:20 left in the fourth quarter. A successful two-point conversion run by Wilson gave the Mustangs the 1-point victory.

Columbine senior Adam Harrington (29) breaks off a long run during the first quarter Friday at Jeffco Stadium. More photos. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Columbine football beat Ralston Valley 29-15 in the 5A football semifinals.

Live coverage of each state football championship and semifinal game from around the state on Saturday.

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LAKEWOOD — Down a point, Broomfield needed a game-winning drive to reach the state title game.

And the Eagles got exactly that, thanks to an 80-yard march down the field which included three fourth-down conversions that ultimately led to a game-winning 25-yard field goal from junior Matthew Eich. It secured a 17-15 win for Broomfield over Dakota Ridge in the Class 4A football semifinals.

“It’s just amazing,” Eich said. “For the seniors, it’s been a hell of a ride, and I’m glad we get one more (game).”

The kick was into a 10 mph wind towards the north end zone.

“You’ve got to block that out,” Eich said. “It wasn’t too far of a kick. I had a lot of confidence in myself, because all season I’ve been pretty good inside of 30 yards.”

And he was again on Saturday afternoon, splitting the uprights dead center as the clock hit zeroes.

“We knew he had it in him,” said Broomfield coach Blair Hubbard. “We just had to get the ball in good position, and hope for a good snap, good hold, and put it up through.”

It will be Broomfield’s second championship game appearance under Hubbard. The Eagles (13-0) also went in his first year, 2016. Next week’s game at Mile High will be the program’s seventh time in a title game.

Broomfield senior Caden Peters (6) celebrates his 80-yard touchdown run with teammates Trent Finnegan (21) and Joseph DeCamillis (53) in the second quarter at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletic)

“I’m just happy for these guys,” Hubbard said. “We get another week together. That’s the thing with the playoffs: We always just push because we want another week together. Don’t let these memories end, and keep fighting for another week. And these guys get to have another week together with each other.”

Broomfield led 14-7 at halftime, and both defenses were outstanding in the second half.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Dakota Ridge was able to break through when quarterback Ben Gultig scored from 35 yards out, and then found Jamal Yatribi for a two-point conversion to put his team up 15-14 with 6:34 to play.

Dakota Ridge ended Broomfield’s next possession with an interception, but Broomfield then forced Dakota Ridge to punt. That set the stage for the final drive: Broomfield got the ball at its own 20, with 3:36 to play.

Broomfield slowly drove down the field, but soon faced a 4th-and-1 from near midfield with two minutes remaining. Quarterback Zachary Kapushion picked up the first down with a run up the middle.

But, after three quick incompletions, there was another fourth down in their way, this one 4th-and-10, from the 50. There was 1:11 left. And Kapushion again rose to the occasion, finding Grant Swenson for 13 yards.

Three plays later, it was again 4th-and-10. And once more, Kapushion and Broomfield converted. He hit River Juarez for 12 yards.

(Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

On the next series, when Kapushion scrambled to his right and ran out of bounds for a short gain, a Dakota Ridge defender hit him late out of bounds, which set Broomfield up at the 8-yard-line. Two plays later, Eich nailed the game-winner.

Broomfield’s Caden Peters had a big game with 193 yards and two touchdowns. Peters, a senior, entered the day with 2,374 rushing yards, which led all classifications in the state.

“He’s done a great job,” Hubbard said. “A very humble young man, and he thanks his line after every single game, and thanks the defense. He knows his accolades, his yards, it’s a team effort, and he’s always very humble about it.”

Dakota Ridge (10-3) scored first with a statement drive late in the first quarter, capped by a 9-yard passing touchdown from Gultig to Yatribi.

But Broomfield responded with a long drive of its own, and it was Peters who scored from 5 yards out to tie the game at 7.

After forcing a punt, it took one play for Broomfield to take the lead: Peters went 80 yards, up the middle, to put the Eagles up 14-7.

Dakota Ridge again had a long drive, and got all the way to the 1-yard-line after converting a fourth-down attempt, but they fumbled, and Broomfield’s Simon Worthley recovered. It was the second time they’d done that in the first half: Dakota Ridge drove down to the 3 on their opening drive, but a miscommunication on a snap led to a fumble, which Worthley also recovered.

It was typical of how the Broomfield defense has been playing of late: In their past seven games, they have given up an average of seven points per game.

Now that defense, and the rest of the Eagles squad, will head to Mile High next week.

Broomfield junior quarterback Zachary Kapushion gets some time to pass during the Class 4A state semifinal game Saturday at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

More photos. (Paul Shepardson)

PUEBLO — Howling winds, opportune moments and a couple of defensive touchdowns turn out to be a good formula for winning a state championship.

That was the case Saturday at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl. Sterling had trouble moving the ball at times, but big defensive plays and a little trickery powered the Tigers to a 27-19 win over Delta to claim the Class 2A football crown, the first football title in program history.

“We preach takeaways and big plays throughout the week,” Sterling coach Rob Busmente said. “It’s always a point of emphasis, but you can always watch a lot of football games every weekend and not see any takeaways.”

Busmente saw one on the second play of the game, just not in the way he would’ve liked. On quarterback Brock Shalla’s first pass of the game, he was picked off by Hunter Hughes.

The Panthers (11-2 overall) couldn’t move the ball offensively but Ku Moo connected on a 37-yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead early.

Those struggles for Sterling continued for much of the first quarter as they faced three 4th down situations and couldn’t convert on any of them. They gave every appearance that they’d take the chances with their offense than try to take on the wind.

“A punt wasn’t going anywhere in that wind,” Busmente said. “You weren’t going to flip the field.”

Delta seemed less intimidated on its first play of the second quarter as Noah Bynum found Nathan Workman for a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it a 10-0 game.

With the wind now at their backs, however, the Tigers (12-1) found their groove, albeit in a tricky way. A flea-flicker resulted in a 58-yard touchdown pass from Shalla to Peyton Rose to get the Tigers on the board.

“We had that set in a long time ago,” Shalla said. “It’s one of those plays that we have in our back pocket and if we ever need the momentum on our side, just go to it.”

More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

The game completely turned on its on the next drive as Drew Book batted a Bynum pass and hauled it in for an interception. No Panther could run him down as he found the end zone and gave Sterling a 14-10 lead.

“Either way we would’ve done something there and go us back in the game,” Book said. “We knew it was going to be a tough, grind out game like that.”

That score held to the end of the third quarter and it was Delta’s decision to punt the ball that played back into its favor. A bad snap on 4th down resulted in a safety and after returning the kick to midfield, the Panthers finally got some offensive flow in the second half.

Bynum found Hughes for a 31-yard gain, before a 13-yard Moo run set the Panthers up at 1st and goal at the two. Gauge Lockhart converted the touchdown run, once again putting the Panthers ahead 19-14.

But as Book said, the Tigers were resilient.

They mounted their best drive of the game to answer the Delta touchdown. It was capped with a touchdown run by Shalla to put the Tigers up 20-19.

Bynum went back to work on offense, but great defensive push led to a a fumble on an option play and it was Rose taking the ball all the way to the end zone to push the score to 26-19 and sealing the game for the Tigers.

“I knew our defense needed to get another stop,” Shalla said. “But I had a pretty good feeling. I have a lot of trust in them.”

That trust gave the 2019 Sterling football team something the school hadn’t had until time officially ran out. A state football championship trophy will enter the hallways for the very first time.

More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

More photos. (Matt Steele/Big Steele Creative Design)

COLORADO SPRINGS — Saturday afternoon at District 20 Stadium, the Colorado winter weather showed its ugly head with brisk temperatures and a lot of wind. However top-seeded Pine Creek was up for the challenge, rushing its way to a dominant 35-0 win over No. 5 Pueblo West in the Class 4A semifinals.

“With it being so windy, it’s just difficult — especially when you were going into the wind,” Pine Creek coach Todd Miller said postgame. “You always want to establish yourself in a physical manner, and I thought our kids did a real good job upfront of doing that. They were loading the box, they knew what was coming, but in the end, our physicality kind of wore them down later on in the game.”

Leading the physical attack in the backfield, senior David Moore III had his way all afternoon against the Cyclone defense. He carried the ball 31 times throughout the afternoon, and scampered to a 269-yard total behind his large, athletic offensive line.

“My offensive line is filled with some dogs,” Moore said after the game with a smile. “They work their butts off for me. They do it in practice, and it shows in the game.”

The Eagles’ defense played well, as well, allowing just 203 yards on 47 plays (4.3 yards per play) and pitching their third shutout of the season. Senior shutdown corners Max Lofy and Eddie Kyle set the tone for the other eight defenders that controlled the middle of the field — where Pueblo West struggled.

“They are out there by themselves on islands. That allows our front eight to run around and make plays,” Miller said. “It’s huge when you can do that, and those guys really allow us to use the abilities of our guys in the front eight with their ability to lock kids down on the outside.”

Pine Creek will play Broomfield in the 4A championship game on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. The game will be a rematch of the 2016 final.

Pine Creek looks for its fourth state title under Miller. The high-powered matchup will be played at Empower Field at Mile High.

“It’s hard to get to this point,” Miller said. “They (Broomfield) have a great program and we are just going to try and get up to the challenge.

“I’m so excited. I’m glad I get to do this with my class because it has been an awesome experience,” Moore said. “I’ve been playing with them since the eighth grade and this is fun.”

Dakota Ridge football coach Ron Woitalewicz works with players during practice this week. Woitalewicz has spent more than two decades at Dakota Ridge and 19 seasons as the Eagles’ head coach. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LITTLETON — Through a handful of season-ending injuries, along with a shutout loss in Dakota Ridge’s regular-season finale, the Eagles have endured.

“This team has been so resilient,” Dakota Ridge football coach Ron Woitalewicz said this week during a practice before the Eagles’ Class 4A state semifinal game scheduled for noon Saturday, Nov. 30, at Jeffco Stadium against Broomfield. “It has been next man up.”

Dakota Ridge junior quarterback Ben Gultig had helped the Eagles put up 73 points in their two playoff games. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

The two biggest losses for Dakota Ridge came early in the season. Returning all-conference offensive lineman Matthew Heitmann, who has verbally committed to Air Force, was lost after knee injury before the Eagles’ season opener.

Then starting junior running back Sean McNamara went down with another season-ending knee injury before conference play began. The latest loss was junior offensive lineman Jason Soderlin.

“They have refused to let the injuries be a reason to not be good and compete,” Woitalewicz said. “I think a lot of that has to do with our senior leadership.”

No. 6-seeded Dakota Ridge (10-2 record) entered the postseason on a sour note. The Eagles’ 14-0 shutout loss to Golden on Nov. 8 kept Dakota Ridge from winning the 4A Jeffco League title, but served as a benefit in the long run.

“That was kind of devastating,” Woitalewicz said of the loss. “But these guys’ goal was to win a state championship. It would have been nice to win a league championship, but I think it was a good wake-up call for our kids. We aren’t good enough to just show up and play.”

Who has really shown up this postseason for Dakota Ridge is junior Charlie Offerdahl. Pressed into playing more running back, Offerdahl has 40 carries for 300 yards and six touchdowns on the ground in playoff wins over Fruita Monument and Heritage.

Dakota Ridge’s leading tackler — junior Steve Reyes — will have his sights set on Broomfield running back Caden Peters on Saturday afternoon at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

“We are kind of at the point of the season now where you don’t think about plays. You think about players,” Woitalewicz said. “That kid (Offerdahl) has been a warrior. He is the best player on the field on offense and defense. He does it all.”

Offerdahl rarely comes off the field playing defensive back and also special teams as a returner. However, the junior is quick to deflect his success.

“I like to give all the credit to my offensive line,” Offerdahl said. “They put in the work all week and it paid off in the games.”

The hard work ahead for Dakota Ridge is facing the last remaining undefeated team in 4A — No. 2 Broomfield (12-0). Broomfield cruised to a 27-3 victory over Chatfield in its state quarterfinal game last week.

Senior running back Caden Peters as been the workhorse for Broomfield and coach Blair Hubbard’s squad all season. Peters had 34 carries for 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week against Chatfield.

“That has to be the No. 1 key. That kid (Peters) rushed for 2,300 yards and they are big up front,” Woitalewicz said. “I think to stop Caden Peters has to be the No. 1 focus.”

Peters has 274 carries for 2,374 yards and 20 touchdowns so far this season.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Dakota Ridge junior linebacker Steve Reyes said of facing Peters. “I trust our defensive line on getting some penetration to allow the linebackers to run free.”

This is Dakota Ridge’s fourth trip to the state semifinals. The Eagles lost to Jeffco rival Wheat Ridge in 2008 and 2010 in the semifinals. The lone trip to the 4A state championship game for Dakota Ridge came in 2004. The Eagles lost to ThunderRidge 45-29.

“It’s good to be back,” said Woitalewicz, who is in his 24th season at Dakota Ridge and 19th as head coach. “Anytime you can practice on Thanksgiving it’s the greatest thing ever.”

Dakota Ridge senior lineman James Hess, far right, has been apart of the senior class that has brought solid leadership to the Eagles this season. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

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The Class 5A football game between Pomona and Cherry Creek has been moved to Stutler Bowl due to unplayable field conditions at the North Area Athletic Complex.

The game time has also been changed, and it will now be played at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Pomona had been scheduled to host the semifinal at the NAAC in Arvada, but lingering snow from a snowstorm on Tuesday has turned to ice on the field, and the natural grass surface will not be ready for a game on Saturday. The artificial turf field at Stutler Bowl, which is Cherry Creek’s home field, is already cleared of all snow.

The top-seeded Bruins were scheduled to be on the road at No. 5 Pomona because of a rule which determines who hosts playoff games according to who has hosted the fewest number of games to that point. Cherry Creek has played at home twice in the playoffs; Pomona has been home once.

Pomona will still be the designated “home” team in the game.

Each of the championship games scheduled for Saturday — 8-man in Fowler, 1A in Strasburg, and 2A at CSU-Pueblo — are on as scheduled. Likewise, the 4A semifinal between Pine Creek and Pueblo West, and the 3A semifinal between Pueblo South and Frederick, are on as scheduled.

The other 5A semifinal between Columbine and Ralston Valley is on as scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Jeffco Stadium.

The other games scheduled for Jeffco Stadium — a 4A semifinal between Dakota Ridge and Broomfield, and a 3A semifinal between Green Mountain and Palmer Ridge — are also on as originally scheduled: noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, respectively.