ARVADA — Pomona senior Chris Marquez and Fountain-Fort Carson junior Charles Tigner put on a running back clinic Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Marquez jabbed his way through the No. 25-seeded Trojans’ defense to the tune of 234 yards and six touchdowns on 40 carries. Tigner used three touchdowns runs of 47, 57 and 70 yards to uppercut the Panthers’ defense for 205 yards on 15 carries.
“We were just throwing punches back and fourth,” said Marquez, who has over 1,900 yards on the ground and 25 rushing touchdowns on the season. “We finally got up on our feet and got the victory.”
In the end, No. 8 Pomona clawed out a 49-30 victory to advance into the second round. The Panthers (8-2 record) will face another Jeffco school in No. 9 Chatfield (8-2) either Friday or Saturday next week at the NAAC.
Pomona coach Jay Madden admitted the Panthers’ first-round Class 5A playoff game was a little wilder than he would have liked. Fountain-Fort Carson senior Ben Deis returned the opening kickoff 95 yards to give the Trojans an early lead.
After the first of six touchdowns by Marquez, the Trojans scored on an 85-yard touchdown run by junior Drew Harris on Fountain-Fort Carson’s first offensive play from scrimmage.
“As soon as we saw Fountain-Fort Carson, we knew they had speed,” Madden said.
While the Trojans used their speed to break long scoring plays, the Panthers fed the ball to their beast — their 5-foot-5 and 155-pound running back.
“(Marquez) is carrying the load. No doubt about it,” Madden said. “He knows he can do it for as many weeks as we can find ways to win.”
It was the fifth straight game Marquez has had 30-plus carries and was his fourth 200-yard game of the season. The six touchdowns was a season high.
“Offensive line did a great job tonight,” Marquez said. “There were cutbacks on every play.”
Seniors Lukas Russell and Chris Benefiel also got involved in Pomona’s ground attack. The two combined for 23 carries for 127 yards. Quarterback Justin Roberts was a perfect 7-for-7 passing for 107 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Isaac Marquez late in the third quarter.
“(Robert’s) accuracy and poise in the pocket is making a huge difference,” Madden said.
Fountain-Fort Carson had actually closed to 35-30 midway through the third quarter, but a pair of late third-quarter touchdowns gave the Panthers some breathing room.
The Trojans closed their season with a 4-6 record.
“We came in pretty confident. We played our hearts out tonight,” Tigner said. “We couldn’t stop Pomona’s running game. We’ll work on that for next year.”
Fountain-Fort Carson will return several key juniors, including Tigner, Harris and quarterback DJ Leatimua.
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