CHSAANow

Month: November 2019

  • Green Mountain football gets playoff revenge against Erie

    LAKEWOOD — Green Mountain was able to clear the memories of its season-ending loss a year ago to Erie on Saturday afternoon at Jeffco Stadium.

    The No. 8-seeded Rams scored 27 unanswered points after falling behind early against the No. 9 Tigers to take a 27-7 victory, advancing to next week’s Class 3A football quarterfinals.

    Green Mountain senior Will Banks (19) and junior Allen Ortiz (24) celebrates a sack of Erie quarterback Gavin Mendoza on Saturday afternoon at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “I’ve never been more proud of a team after a win than this,” an emotional Green Mountain coach Jesse German said. “We battled through some stuff this week. These guys gelled together and it was players making plays.”

    Green Mountain (9-2 record) got revenge after a shutout loss to Erie (7-4) last year in the state quarterfinals

    “(Erie) is a great program. They going 4A next year,” German said of the Tigers. “I know our kids had a bad taste in their mouth from last year.”

    Next up for Green Mountain will be a road trip to top-seeded and undefeated Mead (11-0) in the 3A state quarterfinals next week. The Mavericks cruised to a 41-7 victory over Harrison on Saturday afternoon in Longmont.

    “We are excited,” Green Mountain senior Trey Towndrow said of playing Mead. “I think our team matches up well against running teams.”

    The Rams’ own rushing attack was highly effective in the victory over Erie. All four of Green Mountain’s touchdown were via the ground. Senior Jacob Chavez had a 23-yard touchdown run with 9:25 left in the second quarter that capped off a 54-yard scoring drive to tie the game at 7-7.

    Green Mountain senior Danny Wisor (21) puts pressure on Erie quarterback Gavin Mendoz (5) as he gets a pass off in the first quarter. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Green Mountain’s defense intercepted Erie’s quarterbacks three times. Twice the interceptions led to touchdowns. The first interception by senior Danny Wisor set up the go-head score for the Rams minutes after Chavez’s touchdown run.

    “I read my keys really well, I saw the quarterback’s eyes and felt the receiver,” Wisor said of the big interception that set up the Rams’ go-ahead touchdown. “We knew were we going to have a chance to get picks. We had to take advantage.”

    Wisor returned the interception to Erie’s 3-yard line and senior Quinn Meinert scored on the next play to give the Rams a 14-7 lead with 7:49 left in the first half.

    Green Mountain opened up a 2-scored lead with an impressive drive to open the second half. Meinert rumbled for his second touchdown of the game from 7 yards out to put the Rams up 20-7.

    “We needed that,” Towndrow said of the Rams’ 7-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. “We work a lot on practice on our reads and have gotten better through the years.”

    Erie didn’t have much success slowing down the Rams’ read-option attack in the second half.

    Erie senior Josh Bradford (12) celebrates his 17-yard touchdown catch with teammate Jonah Vanlandingham (21) in the first quarter Saturday at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “Credit to our offensive line,” German said about the success with the Rams’ read-option rushing attack. “We had some guys that were starting their first game today. Credit to our players and coaches. The ground game kind of sets the tone of what the Rams are about.”

    Erie did make one final push changing to junior Mason Veve to quarterback. Veve guided the Tigers down the field in an attempt to cut the Rams’ lead to a 1-score game, but his jump pass into the end zone from Green Mountain’s 4-yard line was incepted by Towndrow.

    “He (Veve) threw it and I was like ‘Oh no one is back there’,” Towndrow said of his pick that ended a long fourth-quarter drive by the Tigers. “I jumped as high as I could and got it.”

    Towndrow broke off what appeared to be a game-ending 80-yard touchdown run in the final minutes, but an illegal block in the back negated the scored. It didn’t make a difference.

    Green Mountain eventually put in the final score on a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Towndrow with a minute to play to make the final score 27-7.

    “I’m feeling awesome,” Towndrow said of the victory. “It’s so nice to get the first (playoff win) out of the way. We want to go deep and know we are on to the next one.”

    Green Mountain quarterback Trey Towndrow (5) fakes a handoff to senior Jacob Chavez (2) during the Class 3A first-round playoff game Saturday at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • 2A boys soccer: Beserra’s late header lifts Ridgway to first state championship

    More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    COMMERCE CITY — Pick your Cinderella storyline, and Ridgway’s boys soccer team probably fit the criteria this postseason.

    A small school of 99 students, and one that had not won a state championship in any sport since 1995. A No. 10 seed that struggled late in the season and was overlooked coming into the state tournament.

    None of that mattered Saturday afternoon, as the Demons completed their historic run through the Class 2A state bracket with a 2-1 victory over Dawson School at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

    The victory gave Ridgway its first state title in the sport and first overall since winning a boys basketball crown 24 years ago.

    “We come from a school with 99 kids. The team we just played has an enrollment of like 250,” Demons coach Jon Kornbluh said. “That’s the story almost every time we step on the field. It’s really just a story about these boys, and me, starting years and years and years ago.
    “We’ve been punching above our weight all our lives.”

    Robert Beserra scored both of Ridgway’s goals, the game-winner coming with only 37 seconds remaining in regulation. Beserra, who finished his senior season with 41 goals, went up and headed the ball over a defender and a charging goalkeeper into the back of the net. It slowly rolled into the back of the net, setting off a wild celebration.

    “My keeper (Kaden Forrest) punted it like three-quarters of the way down the field,” Beserra said. “I was like ‘this is my chance.’ I went up for it and I capitalized. It was a proud moment.”

    More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    Kornbluh said it was nothing new from his senior midfielder, but added that it doesn’t happen without the work of the entire squad. In his words, the Demons are a “beautiful possessing team with a phenom up top.”

    “It was a courageous play. He’s looking to get hammered by that goalie,” Kornbluh added. “Robert is the total package. He’s got courage, intensity, skill and a huge heart. He’s our workhorse.”

    Ridgway (12-3-3) dropped three of its final five regular season games, but opened the 2A playoffs with a 5-1 victory over No. 7 Lotus School For Excellence. From there the team upset defending state champion Crested Butte 3-1, and then upended No. 3 Fountain Valley 5-1 in the semifinals.

    “It’s insane,” Beserra said. “I saw this is like the lowest seed that’s made it to the finals since like 2007 or something, so that’s really special.”

    Dawson School (12-4-2) defeated Telluride and Denver Christian to reach its first 2A championship game. The Mustangs fell behind in the 12th minute after Beserra scored his first goal, but Jesse Isenhart knotted it up at 1-1 not quite 11 minutes later, sending a direct kick from just outside the top of box past Forrest.

    The senior had two more chances on set pieces in the first half, but one went a little high and the second was deflected away by Forrest.

    He had another direct kick hit the crossbar in the second half, and Forrest finished with four saves on the afternoon.

    “Kaden came up really big,” Beserra said. “Our defense has been playing good all playoffs. They’re playing good when we needed it.”

    Ridgway managed only one other shot on goal, and Christian Lindler had a chance go just wide right in the closing minutes. With the game looking as though it would go to overtime, Beserra made the most of his biggest chance of the season.

    “Everyone talks about how big the moment is – at the end, I just kept talking about ‘no, this is about your first touch. This is about defensive intensity. This is about playing clinical soccer,’” Kornbluh said. “Take the moment out of it. It helped to watch the game before us and be in the space and place.

    “It wasn’t too big for us. They really seized the moment.”

    More photos. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

  • Photos from the first day of the state volleyball tournament

    DENVER — The state volleyball tournaments in all classifications kicked off on Thursday. Photos from select matches are below.

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    4A: D’Evelyn vs. Coronado

    By Paul DiSalvo

    D'Evelyn Coronado volleyball
    (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

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    5A: Broomfield vs. Highlands Ranch

    By Paul DiSalvo

    Highlands Ranch Broomfield volleyball
    (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

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    3A: DSST: Montview vs. Eagle Ridge Academy

    By Paul DiSalvo

    DSST: Montview Eagle Ridge volleyball
    (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

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    1A: Merino vs. Springfield

    By Paul DiSalvo

    Springfield Merino volleyball
    (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

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    2A: Denver Christian vs. Fowler

    By Paul Disalvo & Ray Chen

    Denver Christian Fowler volleyball
    (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

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    5A: Valor Christian vs. Highlands Ranch

    By Paul Disalvo

    Valor Christian Highlands Ranch Volleyball
    (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

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    3A: Alamosa vs. Eagle Ridge volleyball

    By Ray Chen

    Alamosa Eagle Ridge volleyball
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

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    3A: Faith Christian vs. Colorado Springs Christian volleyball

    By Ray Chen

    Faith Christian Colorado Springs Christian volleyball
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

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    1A: Fleming vs. La Veta

    By Ray Chen

    Fleming La Veta volleyball
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

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    5A: Fort Collins vs. Cherry Creek

    By Ray Chen

    Fort Collins Cherry Creek volleyball
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

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    3A: Eaton vs. Lamar

    By Ray Chen

    Lamar Eaton volleyball
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

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    2A: Yuma vs. Simla

    By Ray Chen

    Simla Yuma volleyball
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

  • No. 6 Columbine football goes to the air in playoff win over Smoky Hill

    LAKEWOOD — Columbine football’s Triple-H offensive threat was on full display Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium.

    Seniors Tanner Hollens, Adam Harrington and Braeden Hogan all scored touchdowns in the first half for the Rebels in the Class 5A second-round playoff game against Smoky Hill. The No. 6-seeded Rebels went on to cruise to a 43-14 victory to move into next week’s state quarterfinals.

    Columbine senior Adam Harrington, right, attempt to breakaway from Smoky Hill senior Tavaras Transou during the first half Thursday night. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    “Anytime we all score we all definitely feel happy for each other,” Harrington said of Columbine’s Triple-H factor getting it done Thursday night. “Having a lot of weapons helps against defenses because they don’t know who to key on.”

    The trio amassed 3,467 yards of total offense as juniors. Coming into Friday’s game Hollens, Harrington and Hogan had racked up 2,869 yards of total offense their senior season.

    “That was huge,” Columbine senior quarterback Jadon Holliday said getting Hollens, Harrington and Hogan all going offensively. “All of them are threats and great athletes. Our offensive line did a heck of a job tonight.”

    Columbine’s signal-caller threw three touchdown passes to help the Rebels’ cause. Holliday connected with Hogan for an 18-yard touchdown late in the first half to extend Columbine’s lead to 22-0 at halftime.

    “It felt good. It’s about time we got it up,” Holliday said of his trio of touchdown passes to three different receivers. “It worked out how we wanted it. We usually don’t do that, but it worked out well.”

    Osirus Smith (21), Tanner Hollens (6) and Andrew Lauritzen (58) celebrate the Rebels’ opening touchdown against Smoky Hill. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Holliday launched a 65-yard touchdown to senior Adam Tasei on the Rebels’ second drive of the third quarter to push Columbine’s lead to 36-0. It was only Tasei’s second catch of the season.

    Columbine senior Osirus Smith snagged Holliday’s final touchdown pass of the night with a 12-yard touchdown to push the lead to 43-6 late in the fourth quarter.

    No. 11 Smoky Hill did have success moving the ball offensively. The Buffaloes drove inside Columbine’s 35-yard line five times on the night, but could only come away with one touchdown. Smoky Hill junior quarterback Leslie Richardson III hit junior DeAngelo Horn for a 36-yard touchdown with 8:23 left in the fourth quarter to end Columbine’s shutout bid.

    The Buffaloes closed out the scoring on the night with a 95-yard kickoff return by senior Obasanjo Sanni.

    “It was a little bit frustrating because we’d get them to third down and then they would get a long run or pass,” Hogan said. “It was bend but don’t break.”

    Columbine (9-2 record) can take in the No. 19 Mountain Vista versus No. 3 Valor Christian game scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night at Valor Stadium. The No. 6 Rebels face the winner of that match-up in the state quarterfinal next week. The only thing for sure is that it will be a road game for the Rebels.

    “We are happy to be the underdog,” Hogan said. “I’m excited.”

    Columbine senior Tanner Hollens (6) eludes a Smoky Hill defender near the Rebels’ sideline Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    The Rebels entered the postseason last year undefeated. With back-to-back 1-point losses to Jeffco rivals No. 2 Ralston Valley and No. 5 Pomona, Columbine is more battled ready this season.

    “I think the losses made us stronger,” Harrington said of the Rebels’ losses to Ralston Valley and Pomona. “We bounced back and have grown from them. Last year we went into the playoffs 10-0 and really didn’t get challenged. It was nice to get those games that were battles and you had to fight.”

    It was the first trip back to Jeffco Stadium for legendary football coach Tom Thenell since taking over the reins at Smoky Hill two seasons ago. Thenell — who surpassed the 200-win mark this early this season — spent the majority of his coaching career at Bear Creek, leading the Bears to Class 5A state championship games in 1997 and 2000.

    Thenell groomed some of the top quarterbacks in the state while at Bear Creek from 1992 to 2011. A top prep quarterback himself in the late-1970 at Mullen, went back to his alma-mater to coach Mullen for six seasons before his latest stop at Smoky Hill.

    The Buffaloes have a 21-2 record since Thenell took over the program, including Smoky Hill’s first playoff victory since 1991 with a 48-6 win over Overland in the opening round of the 5A state tournament last week.

    Columbine senior Tanner Hollens (6) dances past Smoky Hill defenders on his 22-yard touchdown run in the first quarter Thursday at Jeffco Stadium. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Here’s what happened on the second day of the state volleyball tournament

    DENVER — The 2019 state volleyball tournaments continue on Friday at the Denver Coliseum.

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    Live scoreboard

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    Live coverage

     

  • Here’s what happened on the first day of the state volleyball tournament

    DENVER — The 2019 state volleyball tournaments began on Thursday at the Denver Coliseum.

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    Live scoreboard

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    Live coverage

     

  • 3A boys soccer: No. 5 Roaring Fork to meet No. 2 Kent Denver for state crown

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    DENVER — With less than four minutes left in the first overtime period, Roaring Fork coach Nicholas Forbes couldn’t watch. His Rams had just been awarded a penalty kick and as he had all season, Ross Barlow strode to the top of the goal box.

    If there were any nerves surrounding the situation, they were all rattling around in the head coach. The shooter was calm as could be. And it showed when he ripped his shot to the left side to give Roaring Fork a 2-1 win and a spot in the Class 3A boys soccer state championship game on Saturday. The Rams also beat the Spartans in last year’s state tournament.

    He may not have look scared of the moment, but when he looks at his celebrating teammates and reflecting on the situation, he admits that’s a tough spot to be in.

    “I’m pretty nervous,” Barlow said. “But I’ve learned to control myself and take a deep breath.”

    It wasn’t too long into the contest when before the Spartans (17-1-1 overall) made a play on the net. As the ball bounced around in front of the Roaring Fork net, Quinn Bosanko was in a perfect spot to put his head on it. The only problem is that Rams keeper Noah Wheeless was in a perfect spot to make the save.

    Just four minutes later the Rams (15-2-1) found an open look of their own as Dylan Webster navigated his way to the center of the field with no Salida defender between him and the net. His shot jumped off his foot and over the net, leaving the Roaring Fork fans – and Webster himself – in disbelief.

    After using the bulk of the first half to feel each other out, the two teams dialed up pressure on their respective offensive ends. Two corner kicks in a span of three minutes for Salida nearly led to the game’s first goal, but again it was Wheeless punching the ball again to preserve the tie.

    Another scrum in front of the Rams net again almost put the Spartans up before Wheeless was able to dive on it. With about 20 minutes remaining in regulation, it was beginning to look as though one goal on either side would get the job done.

    That goal finally came in the 74th minute as the ball was played in front of the Roaring Fork net where Wheeless moved up to make a play on it.

    But Brown was too quick. He corralled the ball and pushed it just off to the side to give himself a wide-open look at the net. After all the chances that hadn’t converted, there was no way Brown was missing that one.

    “We’ve been working on him owning the goal box, so kind of being more assertive in there,” Forbes said. “I think the ball just kind of bounced a little off for him.”

    A one-goal lead in this game felt like it was going to be enough, but Barlow had other ideas. He scored the equalizer with one minute, 20 seconds left on the clock. The game went into overtime and it was the Rams consistently on the attack. A foul called in the box gave Roaring Fork a penalty kick with 3:32 left in the first 15 minute session.

    Forbes may not have been able to look, but there was no mistaking the sound of a good goal when Barlow connected and kept the Rams’ state title hopes alive.

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    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    (2) Kent Denver 4, (3) Atlas Prep 2

    Pace Billings didn’t wait long to show Atlas Prep just why Kent Denver is the defending 3A boys soccer champion. The senior was in the right spot to bury the rebound from Max Hewitt’s shot to put the Sun Devils up early.

    Max Hewitt added a goal 13 minutes later to push the Sun Devils’ (19-0) lead to 2-0. Suddenly with their backs against the wall, the Gryphons (17-1-1) pressed offensively and Luis Vega connected on a rush to cut the Kent lead in half.

    But Billings added another and Spencer Thomas added another to quickly make it a 4-1 game just over a half hour into play.

    The Gryphons scored the first goal of the second half thanks to a penalty kick opportunity. Lamario Nisbeth put his kick in the right side of the net to make it a 4-2 game. 

    But it wouldn’t be enough. No one else scored for the remainder of the game and Kent Denver is set to defend its 3A state championship when it faces Roaring Fork on Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

  • 4A boys soccer semis: Air Academy and Skyview to play for championship

    (Paul Soriano/CHSAANow.com)

    AURORA — Experience played a big part in Air Academy’s 2-1 victory over Lewis-Palmer in the boys Class 4A soccer semifinals Wednesday night.

    A fortunate bounce with just over two minutes left in regulation didn’t hurt the Kadets, either.

    Mason Shandy’s pinball goal at 77:58 broke a 1-1 tie and sent Air Academy, winners of the last two state championships, to the finals for the third-straight season.

    A direct kick by Thaddeus Dewing of the Kadets was rejected by a Lewis-Palmer wall late in the contest.

    Dewing managed to regain possession and sent the ball back into the box. Adin Schwenke put a shot on goal that bounced in Shandy’s vicinity, and he banged home the game-winner.

    “I was just kind of right place, right time,” Shandy confessed. “I was really thankful that Thad put that second ball in after hitting the wall with his first (kick). Adin went up for a nice challenge and it just bounced right in my way. I felt like it was a team goal.”

    Shandy, a junior, is now three-for-three in semifinal wins with Air Academy.

    “It never gets old,” he revealed. “Just the entire playoff run is so much fun. I am just so thankful we can go all the way again and experience all five games every year. 

    “I’m really excited for Saturday,” Shandy added. “It should be a lot of fun.

    The Kadets tied the game 13:47 into the second half on powerful strike by Schwenke after a pretty pass from Dewing.

    “There was a nice lay-off by Thad to Adin … two of our seniors,” said Air Academy head coach Espen Hosoien. “It was a really nice goal.”

    Lewis-Palmer scored first at 5:59 of the first half when Tyler Prichard launched a long ball towards the net from more than 40 yards away. The ball eluded Kadet goalkeeper Travis Tygart, and the Rangers had an early 1-0 lead.

    But Air Academy continued to play tough and created several chances throughout the rest of the game.

    “Everybody just fought their hardest,” said Schwenke. “We were down 1-0 last year, too. We don’t panic. We keep playing the way coach has taught us to play every year. Just get the ball where we need it to go, get goals and go do what we need to do. Everybody just works their hardest; that’s the biggest thing for us.” 

    “There was no panic,” Hosoien added. “These guys have been through it before. We played three tough games to get here (to the semifinals). It’s not like we haven’t been tested.

    “We always talk about playing the full game, regardless,” he added. A goal scored in the 78th minute is just as good as a goal scored in the fifth minute. It’s even better if it’s the winning goal.”

    [divider]

    (3) Skyview 1, (2) Golden 0

    (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Skyview goalkeeper Brian Fierro was the big hero Wednesday night at Legacy Stadium.

    Fierro made a diving stop of a penalty kick by Golden’s Joaquin Garfias with one minute left in the game, and the Wolverines escaped with a 1-0 win in the 4A boys soccer semifinals. 

    Skyview will now play two-time defending champion Air Academy in the title game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

    After the game, Fierro gave an assist to someone special in his life.

    “I’ve got to give credit to my Dad,” said a smiling Fierro. “He has been teaching me how to guess (correctly) on the penalties. He always tells me to go to my left, so I did.”

    Luis Reyes put the Wolverines on the board first when he took a pass from teammate Roger Ibarra and sent the ball into the lower corner of the goal 5:37 into the second half.

    “I had the ball out wide, and played it into Roger, one of our better players on our team,” said Reyes of his game-winning tally. “I made a run (towards the front of the goal), and I just knew he was going to find me. We have such a good connection. Once I hit it I knew I was going to score because I have been practicing that shot for a long time. It’s the best feeling.”

    It’s a scene that’s all-too familiar to Skyview head coach Justin Thomas. 

    “Luis got the ball in the box and made a great turn,” he said. “I have so much confidence when he has the ball on his feet in the box. That goal was just pure Luis: turn, shoot … and he always finds the back of the net. He’s a very skilled player, he’s very smart and I’m just really proud that he was able to score for us. We needed it.”

    Golden had several chances to equalize as the half went on, but their shots were either just wide, off the post or crossbar or saved by Fierro.

    “After we scored the goal we had so much momentum but I give a lot of props to their team because they didn’t stop fighting,” Reyes added. “But we have a team that never stops fighting as well. And we also have a great goalkeeper. I have so much confidence in Brian. Before the penalty, I knew he was going to block it.”

    Thomas wasn’t surprised, either.

    “Brian has just gotten better and better for us each year,” he added. “Last year we got knocked out in the quarterfinals in the ninth round of PKs. I knew going into this year that practicing penalties would be a big thing for us to do. So we have been taking penalties at the end of every practice since we got our seed in the playoffs. Brian has seen hundreds of shots in the last two weeks.

    “I had confidence that if he picked right, he would make the save.”

  • 5A boys soccer semis: Broomfield and Regis Jesuit advance to title game

    (Adam Bright/CHSAANow.com)

    PARKER — After back-to-back shootouts against Front Range League opponents in the Class 5A state tournament, the last thing Broomfield coach Jim Davidson wanted to see was another overtime contest Wednesday night.

    But that’s exactly where the ninth-seeded Eagles found themselves, playing another league rival in Boulder with a spot in the state championship game on the line. The Eagles didn’t need much extra time though as Zane Jacobson sent the winning shot home in the 84th minute, giving Broomfield the 2-1 victory over the No. 5 Panthers at EchoPark Stadium.

    “I think that would have been really hard to go a second overtime and then (penalty) kicks again,” Davidson said. “I was glad the guys got it done in regulation.”

    Broomfield (16-2-1) will play No. 6 Regis Jesuit in the 5A title game at 6 p.m. on Friday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. It’s the Eagles’ fifth trip to the title game in six years.

    Two of those title-game appearances came against Boulder.

    “Whoever wins this match is going to be an awesome team,” Davidson said before the second semifinal. “We’re going to have to be well prepared and try to recover quickly.”

    The Eagles lost to Boulder back on Sept. 24, one of only two losses during the regular season. After some struggles finding the back of the net the previous two games – Broomfield scored only one goal in 220 combined minutes of play against Fairview and Legacy the previous two games – the team broke through in the first half with a nice goal from Gustavo Gutierrez with a little more than 13 minutes remaining.

    Boulder (15-4) responded with the tying score 10 minutes later. Sam Phillips took a pass that just eluded a sliding Eagles defender and ripped it to the right of Broomfield goalkeeper Jack Stoecker.

    That held up until Jacobson found himself with the ball in front of a scrum of players early in overtime. The junior sent a ball directly on net that Panthers keeper Toby Bateman couldn’t come up with cleanly.

    “It’s exciting. The whole season my team has just told me to shoot, shoot, shoot, and see what happens,” Jacobson said. “I took a chance and it went in.”

    Davidson said he wasn’t sure how the ball got through.

    “I don’t know if the keeper didn’t pick it up or what,” Davidson said. “That’s why you take your chances, because you just never know.”

    Stoecker made a number of big stops on the other end, including two chances in front of the net shortly before Gutierrez scored for the Eagles.

    “Those forwards for Boulder are really, really talented,” Davidson said. “They’ve got a lot of pace and they can take guys on. Jack had to really keep his ground, he had to command his box and I thought he was excellent in the six-yard box tonight especially.”

    It was a fitting end to what had almost been a mini-FRL tournament on one side of the bracket. The second round and quarterfinals in Quadrant 1 were comprised of all Front Range League squads, with Broomfield knocking off Fairview and Legacy. Boulder had to defeat Rocky Mountain to reach the semifinals in Quadrant 2.

    “It’s been hard, but that’s what we like,” Jacobson said. “We don’t like easy games. We like to play our rivals, and we like to give our fans a good game. It’s been a good run.”

    Now the Eagles have the opportunity to add to their state-leading seven boys soccer championships Friday night.

    “I just wanted to go win the game for them,” Jacobson said. “We were missing (leading scorer) Mawolo (Easton), and I was thinking about him too and wanted to send him into his last game for his senior year. I didn’t want this to be his last game where he couldn’t play.”

    [divider]

    (6) Regis Jesuit 1, (18) Pine Creek 0

    (Brian Miller/CHSAANow.com)

    After chance after chance was either turned away or just off the mark, Regis Jesuit finally broke through late Wednesday night.

    Casey McCloskey scored in the 65th minute to break a scoreless tie, and the sixth-seeded Raiders made the goal stand up for a 1-0 victory over Pine Creek in the 5A state semifinals.

    Regis Jesuit (16-1-2) advanced to its first state championship game since 2008, where the Raiders will face No. 9 Broomfield on Friday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

    McCloskey finally found a way past Pine Creek keeper Eli Young with 15 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in regulation. Young, who came up with some huge saves, had just deflected a ball with a diving stop to his right, but the rebound went to McCloskey. With the net open, the senior forward simply had to put the ball on target.

    Young finished with eight saves.

    Pine Creek (12-6-1) had made quite a run as the No. 18 seed, upending No. 2 Cherry Creek in the second round and No. 7 Grandview in the quarterfinals. The Eagles had a couple of opportunities in the second half, but it was the play of their defense that was most impressive.

    Regis Jesuit last won a state title in 1996. The team’s only loss in 2019 came to a squad from Kansas City, Mo.

  • Photos: Roaring Fork advances to 3A boys soccer title game by beating Salida

    DENVER — Roaring Fork won its respective semifinal games to advance to Saturday’s Class 3A boys soccer final.