EVERGREEN — Rifle jumped out to a 17-point lead at halftime and rode it to a 37-10 win over Evergreen in the first round of the Class 3A football playoffs.
RIFLE – The road to the Class 3A Western Slope Conference title has recently gone through either Palisade or Rifle. Those two have dominated In the last few years.
This year was no exception as the two met Friday for the league title and the edge heading into the playoffs.
Give this year’s nod to Palisade, ranked No. 10 this week, which won its second consecutive WSC title with a 55-33 victory over the No. 9 Bears.
It looked like the home team would establish momentum early as Rifle scored on its opening drive, moving 80 yards in seven plays highlighted by Joel Lopez’s 54-yard and herds TD run.
Palisade was undaunted. The Bulldogs scored on their first offensive snap, quarterback Cameron Tucker answering with a 66-yard touchdown off left tackle.
Palisade then scored on its remaining four possessions on the half, the Bulldog defense holding Rifle to one score as Palisade took a 34-14 halftime lead.
There was no letup in the second half as the Bulldogs put together one of their few long drives.
The main culprits on offense were quarterback Cameron Tucker and running back Austin Bernal, who combined for five touchdown runs and over 300 yards rushing between them.
“We’re very versatile as an offense,” Bernal said. “It’s the Palisade demeanor.”
Tucker said the unusual amount of long runs against a normally stout Rifle defense starts up front.
“It’s a credit to our offensive line,” Tucker said.
Bulldogs coach Joe Ramunno was surprised his team scored as freely as it did.
“Rifle has a great program,” Ramunno said, tipping his cap to Bears coach Damon Wells.
As for the playoffs, “We still have some adjustments to make,” Bernal said.
For a team that had a lot of holes to fill due to graduation last years, Palisade has done a quick job of making those adjustments this season.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. New voters can sign up by emailing rcasey@chsaa.org. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
Class 5A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Valor Christian (10)
8-0
100
1
W
2
Eaglecrest
8-0
84
2
W
3
Pomona
6-2
69
3
W
4
Columbine
7-1
67
5
W
5
Regis Jesuit
7-1
62
4
W
6
Cherry Creek
6-2
49
6
W
7
Grandview
6-2
44
7
W
8
Fairview
7-1
34
9
W
9
Highlands Ranch
6-2
24
8
L
10
Chaparral
6-2
7
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Mullen 4, Ralston Valley 4, Lakewood 2.
Dropped out
Mullen (10).
Class 4A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Ponderosa (12)
8-0
166
1
W
2
Pine Creek (4)
7-1
157
2
W
3
Chatfield (3)
7-1
151
3
W
4
Fruita Monument
8-0
119
6
W
5
Windsor
7-1
110
4
W
6
Loveland
8-0
104
5
W
7
Pueblo West
7-1
82
7
W
8
Monarch
7-1
61
8
W
9
Pueblo South
7-1
55
9
W
10
Skyline
7-1
16
10
W
Others receiving votes:
Pueblo Centennial 7, Rampart 7, Vista Ridge 3, Widefield 3, Montrose 2, Brighton 1, Broomfield 1.
Dropped out
None.
Class 3A
RK
TEAM
W-L
PTS
PVS
LW
1
Mead (12)
8-0
129
1
W
2
Palmer Ridge (1)
8-0
115
2
W
3
Roosevelt
6-2
86
5
W
4
Erie
7-1
67
3
L
5
Harrison
8-0
62
4
W
6
Evergreen
7-1
48
6
W
7
Canon City
7-1
47
9
W
8
Skyview
7-1
46
10
W
9
Longmont
5-3
35
7
W
10
Rifle
7-1
27
–
W
Others receiving votes:
Palisade 16, Frederick 12, Silver Creek 8, Berthoud 7, Fort Morgan 7, Glenwood Springs 2, Discovery Canyon 1.
Denver South’s Yonatan Kefle raced away from the field to capture the Wash Park Invite on Friday afternoon.
The junior won in 16:29, ahead of Jefferson Academy senior Ryan Lehmuth, who was second in 16:52. SkyView Academy’s Ryan Butler was third along with Castle View sophomore Aidan Scott (both finished in 17:12).
Castle View won the Invite on the boys side, with five runners placing in the top 13. Denver South, the host school, was second, and SkyView Academy placed third.
Castle View also won the girls team race as their five scorers all placed in the top 21. The Sabercats were led by senior Erin Kraus, who won the individual event in 19:53.
Brighton junior Kiran Green was second (20:21), and Dakota Ridge senior Skylar Lodice (20:32) finished third.
Dakota Ridge was second in the girls team race, and Longmont finished third.
[divider]
Devil’s Thumb Hill Climb
Grand Junction freshman Dolcie Hanlon narrowly won the Devil’s Thumb Hill Climb on Friday, edging Rifle senior Sarah Wagler by 0.57 seconds to win.
Hanlon won the race in 27:53.30. Wagler finished second in 27:53.87.
Gunnison won the girls team race by having runners finish third through sixth, led by sophomore Bria Rickert (29:06.85). Rifle was second as a team.
On the boys side, Gunnison senior Colton Stice led the field and won in 22:36.77. Rangely senior Patrick Scoggins was second in 23:01.11 — narrowly edging Montrose senior Evan Graff, who finished in 23:01.76.
Gunnison also won the boys race. Paonia was second.
