There are three championship football games set for Saturday. This week, the coaches of all six teams talked about what it took to make the title games.
Tom Pulford, Palmer Ridge: “I think it takes a lot of organization, it takes buy-in from the kids. It takes a staff that’s really bought in. It takes support from administration.
“I think that in anything that you do, you’re not going to be successful without a good village around you. And I think that in Monument, Palmer Ridge has a really good village. And I think that in Pueblo, Pueblo East has a really good village.
“So without support from a lot of different arteries, sustained success probably isn’t realistic. And there’s many things that I’m not mentioning right now, but I think going into this Saturday, I know that the people that have helped us to get to this point are people that we’ll be sure to thank at the end of Saturday’s game.”
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Andy Watts, Pueblo East: “It takes a great village. Right? It takes a village to be where we are. Just a great attitude and effort for the boys, and really total buy-in from your team.
“You know, your staff, and your team as a whole has to be bought in and has to trust the process. Just be willing and ready to grind it out for 14 games. We’re both fortunate enough to be here in Week 14.”
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Class 4A
(Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Wayne McGinn, Loveland: “It’s a combination. It’s a combination of great coaches, and great players. We have 20 seniors, and I know every one of them can go out and play on the field and they’re very tough and disciplined and do things the right way.
“I’ve got the best coaching staff in the state of Colorado. … We’ve got great coordinators on both sides of the ball, and you see it. We’re leading the state on defense and offense in scoring and controlling the ball.”
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Mike Silva, Skyline: “I think, obviously, the biggest reason is how we’ve come together. That’s the challenge through every football season, to get our guys to play as one, to play for each other, play like you love each other. And that’s easier said than done. And all these coaches up here will know exactly what I’m talking about, and how difficult that is.
“I think we’ve hit our stride at the right time, obviously, and that message has come across, and our boys really understand that. And I think that’s the biggest reason we’re here.”
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Class 5A
(John Priest/CHSAANow.com)
Dave Logan, Cherry Creek: “You’ve got to have good players, and you’ve got to have a staff that understands really how to lead young men, and you’ve got to have a system that you believe in and that you can teach to these guys in a really short period of time.
“We don’t get a lot of hours with these kids during the week. So you’ve got to not only have a system you believe in, but you’ve got to have the ability to teach it in a relatively short period of time.
“And then, listen, you’ve got to have a little bit of luck, you’ve got to have the ball bounce your way every now and then.
“So that’s how you get to this game, and then ultimately, that’s really how you win the game.”
(Steve Oathout)
Ed McCaffrey, Valor Christian: “You never know, right? I mean you never know how the season’s going to go. No two seasons are the same, no two games are alike. Every week’s a new challenge, and we’ve got one more in front of us.
“I think it’s special anytime you have an opportunity to play for a state championship. There are so many good teams, and so many good coaches in the state. It is hard to get to this point. And we’re not done yet. He knows that, his team knows that, our team knows that. We’re not finished yet, we have one more game to go.
“But just to be here is pretty special. I mean the teams you had to play against, the close games that you had to win to just have an opportunity to play in this games, it’s a hard, tough road to get here. We’re happy to be here, but we’re not finished here.”
GOLDEN — Early on it looked like Golden senior Ilja Bubukin might be the only player with a scoring touch Thursday night.
In the opening round of the D’Evelyn/Golden Boys Basketball Preview Classic, Bubukin poured in eight points in the opening 90 seconds while it was a struggle for the rest of the Demons, along with any Pueblo East players to find the bottom of the net.
“When Ilja gets going he can fill it up quick, real quick,” Golden’s first-year coach Lou Vullo said after the No. 10 ranked Demons in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A boys basketball preseason poll defeated No. 8 Pueblo East by a score of 72-49.
Golden senior Ilja Bubukin (11) splits Pueblo East’s Darnell Kindred, left, and Kyle Miller on Thursday night. Bubukin scored a team-high 15 points in the Demons’ 72-49 victory. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Bubukin finished with a team-high 15 points, but his teammates eventually joined the scoring party. Nine different Demons (1-0 record) scored in the first half as Golden extended its lead to 42-23 at halftime.
“I could tell we were all really nervous, but I felt we all worked off of each other’s energy,” Bubukin said. “Everyone contributed a lot tonight.”
Pueblo East (0-1) was held to just five field goals in the first half. The Eagles were without a handful of football players who are preparing to play in the Class 3A state football game Saturday against Palmer Ridge.
Junior Darnell Kindred led the Eagles with a game-high 23 points. Senior Conor Mattorano pitched in 14 points for Pueblo East in the loss. The Eagles were held to 14 points or less in each quarter.
“Our whole philosophy is to have our defense dictate our offense,” Vullo said.
Offensively, Golden’s bench scored an impressive 31 points. Junior Jack Anderson led the Demons’ reserves with 12 points. Senior Connor Howe added nine points and sophomore Nathan Wiggins hit a pair of 3-pointer off the bench for Golden.
“After we saw Ilja starting hitting it we started feeling ourselves,” Anderson said.
Golden sophomore Jake Liedtke (4) drive the baseline on Pueblo East junior Cameron Vigil on Friday night at Golden High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
Golden faces No. 4 Holy Family in the tournament semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday night at Golden High School. The Tigers defeated Sierra 69-50 in the first game Thursday night.
“Pueblo East is a great team. We know they were missing some guys,” Anderson said. “Holy Family is always one of the top teams in the state with a great coach (Pete Villecco). I think we have a chance if we play hard and physical against them.”
The D’Evelyn/Golden Preview Classic has become one of the premier early season tournaments. This year there are four Class 4A teams — Lewis-Palmer, Holy Family, Pueblo East and Golden — ranked in the top-10 of the CHSAANow.com preseason rankings.
“I’m a true believer of scheduling the best teams. It just helps you down the road for sure and helps you get better,” Vullo said. “Holy Family is a great team. We are going to have our hands full.”
Prior to coming to Golden, Vullo spent nine seasons heading the boys basketball program at The Pinnacle. It was a great atmosphere with Golden’s former coach John Anderson sitting with his new Pinnacle team in attendance to support its former coach.
“It a great culture and tradition they have here at Golden is unreal,” Vullo said. “When I got the job here I was so excited. It was great to see my old guys here. I appreciated John (Anderson) bring them here too.”
John Anderson — Golden’s head boys basketball coach for 18 years — took over for Vullo heading up The Pinnacle program. Both Anderson and Vullo are good friends that has made the transition smoother for both programs, including with Anderson’s son Jack.
“It was emotional,” Jack Anderson said. “It was tough not having my Dad there (on the bench), but Lou is a great coach. I love him. (Vullo) has kept the tradition here and that is all you can ask for.”
Pueblo East junior Darnell Kindred (20) is bracketed by Golden juniors Carter Thompson, left, and Kevin Mulligan during the opening round of the 11th Annual D’Evelyn/Golden Preview Classic on Thursday night at Golden High School. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
GOLDEN — Ilja Bubukin had 15 points, Jack Anderson added 12, and Golden boys basketball picked up a 72-49 win over Pueblo East in a 4A top-10 matchup on Thursday.
Saturday will mark the second meeting of the year between Palmer Ridge and Pueblo East. The difference in round two is that the game will decide who will be the 2018 Class 3A state football champion.
Ahead of the game, The Gazette’s Lindsey Smith, The Pueblo Chieftain’s Marcus Hill and CHSAANow’s Dan Mohrmann gave their collective thoughts on what fans to look forward to when the game kicks off at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.
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What – besides limiting turnovers – needs to be different for Palmer Ridge this time around to get a win over Pueblo East?
(Ismael Gomez)
Smith: Palmer Ridge needs to continue the balanced attack it has utilized in the postseason. The Bears’ run game has really come together the last four weeks, and Raef Ruel is at the center of it. But with weapons like Noah Brom and Josiah Castro this Bears’ run game is a lot deeper than I think people realize.
Hill: They also need to score a first quarter touchdown. The Bears managed to stay afloat in their first meeting with both teams staying off the board in the first. Palmer Ridge has to score in the first quarter to have a chance at victory. East showed up at their house. Can you imagine what they’ll do in a (pretty much) home game?
Mohrmann: Does that mean that there’s a lot of pressure on that run game if they’re going to do that? It almost feels like Palmer Ridge can lessen Kain Medrano’s impact if they run the ball with some consistency.
Smith: I also think we will see a different game from the Palmer Ridge receivers this time around. I don’t think Medrano will have quite as many opportunities thanks to some of these younger PR receivers with more experience. 11 weeks is a long time and a lot has changed for this Palmer Ridge team since week 3 — I think we’re going to see a completely different game on Saturday.
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How much will the atmosphere of the ThunderBowl come into play early in the game and can that set the tone for all 48 minutes?
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Smith: I think it’s going to be huge. I’m excited to see this town stop for high school football.
Hill: It will be huge and I have a feeling the crowd won’t let Ty Evans forget about those five picks.
Smith: I hear schools are reporting its going to be a sold-out crowd, which would be incredible. When Palmer Ridge played Pine Creek in Week 1 there were about 3,500 fans there. If they can double that on Saturday – phew.
Mohrmann: I think they can certainly double it. For last year’s 4A title game between Pueblo South and Pine Creek, South easily outdrew Pine Creek. And that game was in Denver. This is practically next door.
Hill: East is about 1.5 miles from the ThunderBowl, so it’s no big deal to make the trip. If the Bears so much as jump offsides early in this one, the crowd will let them hear it. No question the Eagles fans will have a big role in this one.
Smith: Pueblo East is going to have major home field advantage — but I think Palmer Ridge fans deserve some more credit. There were probably around 100-150 fans who made the 5-plus hour drive to Grand Junction last week — these fans are dedicated and I hope they show up in droves on Saturday. Regardless of who they are cheering for I think the atmosphere is going to be huge in pumping these guys up to play. I’m not sure if it will ‘get in their head’ so to speak, but you never know.
Mohrmann: Evans told me on Tuesday that they walk into every stadium believing they’re the most hated guys there. We’ll see if crowd size makes a difference or that mentality is all they need to gut it out.
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Is there pressure on Palmer Ridge to score early to try and control the flow of the game and try to take the Pueblo crowd out of the game?
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Smith: I wouldn’t say pressure, but it’s definitely on their mind. That’s Palmer Ridge’s goal every time they go out on the field. Score fast, or the defense get a 3-and-out to set the tone.
Hill: Does Santa wear red during his worldwide trip? It’s critical for Palmer Ridge to score before East does.
Smith: I think especially against a team that has already beaten them once, Palmer Ridge starting well is going to be extremely important for their momentum. Add with that crowd — if the Bears stumble on the first drive, that crowd will eat it up. The Palmer Ridge offense has scored on its first possession in eight straight games while the defense has allowed one touchdown by opponents on their first possession in the last eight games.
Mohrmann: It’s going to a tough task for that defense to slow down East. They’ve scored no fewer than 35 points in each game this postseason. The coin flip is actually going to be a big factor on Saturday.
Hill: If East lights up that scoreboard at the ThunderBowl first, the end result will be worse than the first meeting. East puts up numbers no matter where they go. The Eagles realize it’s just as critical to get going early. They will.
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Andy Watts said a big key for East’s win this year was making Ty Evans uncomfortable. Can Aidan Cullen, Jaden Sparks and Jacob Dillon flip the script and rattle Luc Andrada and disrupt the Eagles offense?
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
Smith: That’s their goal. I talked to JC and they’ve been working to pick apart the weak areas of the East offensive line and I think this defense is buzzing right now.
Hill: Three kids who have 36 of their teams 51.5 sacks? Absolutely! They did have 8.5 of those in their matchup in September. Defense was ferocious and has been all year for the Bears.
Smith: Holding Palisade’s Cam Tucker to just 24 rushing yards last week (he averaged 127 per game) I think shows how solid this defense is. Sparks had 17 total tackles including five for a loss in that game – he’s a scary human and if he has Andrada’s number, the East offensive line is going to have a tough time trying to protect. Jacob Dillon is averaging more than a sack per game and Cullen is just a playmaker. He has this weird sense of being in the right place at the right time.
But with that being said, Palmer Ridge hasn’t really faced a big passer yet this postseason. Orlando Westbrook-Sanchez and Harrison would have been a good indication of how this defense would handle a passing threat, but the weather was so bad we didn’t see much of it.
Mohrmann: It’s hard to label Luc Andrada as just a passer. He might be the best overall athlete on the field so even if that offensive line breaks down, he is certainly capable of escaping danger with his feet.
Hill: The Bears have to make the most of those guys in this game to stay alive in a raucous environment. Managing to keep Luc Andrada pedestrian won’t be easy, though.
Smith: I do think this defense is going to come into this game with a sense of responsibility based on last time. If East does make Evans uncomfortable and things being to unravel like in Week 3, the defense will need to step up and keep them alive.
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Pueblo East wins the game if…
(Ismael Gomez)
Smith: They can knock Palmer Ridge off balance early. Momentum is huge for this team. And while we haven’t seen Palmer Ridge play off balance for 11 weeks, we saw it against Pine Creek and Pueblo East and we know how that turned out.
Mohrmann: I completely agree. If the Eagles get momentum early, they should be able to ride it for the majority of the game. Especially in the friendly confines of the ThunderBowl.
Hill: They’ll win if they stick to what’s put them on this win streak. They haven’t lost since September and have been efficient on both sides of the ball. The Eagles have Madden-like numbers on offense since their last defeat and have been stingy on defense. If they play their brand of football the Eagles will come away with title No. 4.
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Palmer Ridge wins the game if…
(Jeff Tucker/jefferywtucker.zenfolio.com)
Smith: The offensive and defensive lines stay as solid as they have been this postseason. Build it and they will come. The offensive line needs to create opportunities for Raef and the run game, while the defensive line needs to keep Andrada off balance.
Mohrmann: If Evans doesn’t try to do too much and the Bears stay balanced on offense, that will give them their best shot. It’s also essential to get on the board early and try to take the crowd out of the game as much as possible.
Hill: They have to limit the turnovers. Crazy to think the Bears lost by only seven points despite six turnovers in their first meeting. That should be a positive for Palmer Ridge, though. It’d be hard to think they’d commit that many turnovers again (but, hey, who knows). If Ty Evans shows off that D-I arm and is on point, this game could get too close for comfort for East.
PUEBLO — Week 3 of the regular season was a high note for the Pueblo East Eagles. Not so much for Palmer Ridge. East had traveled to Monument and handed the Bears their second loss of the year. Overall, they had fallen to 1-2.
With a Pac 12 recruit on each roster and the fact that the two teams had combined to win the previous four Class 3A state championships, the idea of a rematch in the playoffs instantly became enticing for fans of both teams, the local media and, of course, the players.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to compete,” Palmer Ridge coach Tom Pulford said. “East has a rich tradition. They’ve won three in a row and that was with three different head coaches. At the end of the day, the cream rises to the top. Coach Watts and his staff has done a great job over there with his players and we’re looking forward to competing at a high level.”
(Ismael Gomez)
There might not be anyone more excited for round two than Palmer Ridge quarterback Ty Evans. The University of Colorado commit had high expectations coming into 2018, but that Week 3 game against East didn’t go as planned. He threw five interceptions, three of which to UCLA commit Kain Medrano. Ever since, Evans has been looking forward to a chance at redemption.
“The whole defense played well that game,” Evans said. “And that was probably one of the worst games I’ve played in my life, to be honest. Since that game, we’ve said that we’d see them again.”
He’ll get his shot on Saturday at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl on the campus of CSU-Pueblo.
The Bears (11-2 overall) are the designated home team but the game will be played just minutes away from Pueblo East High School. Evans and his teammates are looking forward to the raucous Pueblo crowd that is sure to show up.
“I’ve played sports my whole life and I’ve played in countless hostile environments,” Evans said. “Everyone is trying to get into your head and everyone is trying to find a way to get their edge over you. The more you win in those environments the more it helps you in situations like this. We fully go out and expected to be the most hated people in the stadium. That’s how we approach every road game and it’s worked for us.”
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
There is no sense from anyone wearing Pueblo East gear that winning the game is a forgone conclusion. And the one thing that the Eagles (11-2) know for certain is that Evans will not repeat the performance of their first matchup. They have no doubt that last year’s 3A player of the year will come out sharp and if Medrano is to have similar success, he also needs to up his game.
“I do think that he’s going to be better than he was last time,” Medrano said. “He won’t do that as much. I just have to trust my technique and know that if (an opportunity for an interception) is there, I have to go get it.”
At Wednesday’s press conference, each coach admitted that they have looked at tape from the previous matchup and tried to learn what they can ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
It’s often said in sports that beating a team twice in one year is very difficult to do. East coach Andy Watts certainly gives credence to that line of thinking, but as he prepares for Saturday it helps him to remember that the mental edge of having already beaten his upcoming opponent also plays a role.
“It’s very challenging in any sport at any level,” Watts said. “It’s tough on the team that won the first battle. But there is still pressure on them, we’ve proven that we can beat them and that they’re beatable. It will be tough for both teams. We both know what we’re getting into.”
They’re getting into a rematch of Week 3, plain and simple. Only this time, there is hardware at stake. East will look to win its fourth title in five years. The Bears are looking to go back-to-back.
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PUEBLO — Palmer Ridge and Pueblo East got a sneak peak of the setup for the Class 3A football championship this weekend.
The two teams visited Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo on Wednesday morning for a tour of the facility and a press conference in advance of their matchup.
Officials are expecting upwards of 6,000 attendees during the game on Saturday, which is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Tickets are on sale now.
“Pueblo is an event town,” said Jim Brooks, the voice of CSU-Pueblo, as he introduced the event. “Pueblo loves high school football, and they love big events. That’s what this is.”
It’s an environment the players are preparing themselves for.
“It’s going to be crazy,” said Pueblo East star Kain Medrano, a senior who is committed to UCLA. “You’ve got to really focus in and focus on the task at hand, that being the football game. You can’t be distracted by how many people are in the stands, or what they’re saying in the stands. You’ve got to just go out and play football.”
On Wednesday, the teams and coaches got a small taste of that experience when they walked through the stadium facilities, including the locker rooms, and the field itself.
“This is a big-time experience,” said Palmer Ridge coach Tom Pulford. “This opportunity to come down, and for our players to see the stadium, walk through the locker room, that’s a big deal.”
The players were impressed by the venue itself, home for CSU-Pueblo’s football team.
“CSU-P is a great field, and the ThunderBowl is — you hear about the ThunderBowl all around Colorado, and I think it’s another great venue for my last high school football game,” said Palmer Ridge quarterback Ty Evans, a CU commit.
They also enjoyed meeting the media during the press conference.
“It’s amazing,” Medrano said. “Coming through, and getting this type of environment going into a state championship is amazing. It gives us the feel for the stadium the feel for how everything is going to be with cameras and stuff. It gives us that feeling, and it’s a pretty amazing feeling.”
Added Evans: “It makes all those 6 a.m. workouts worth it. When you come down here and see where you’re going to be playing for a state title, and you’re getting interviewed by everybody, it makes every ounce of work worth it.”
Ultimately, all involved know that Saturday brings a chance for a state championship. Palmer Ridge, the defending champion, is 1-0 in championship games. Pueblo East is 3-0.
“You guys have a chance to go live a dream,” said CSU-Pueblo football coach John Wristen, who spoke to the players on Wednesday. “What a great opportunity.”
PUEBLO — The final credits didn’t roll on Pueblo East’s football season Saturday afternoon.
Quarterback Luc Andrada and UCLA-bound receiver Kain Medrano, both seniors, weren’t about to let that happen.
Andrada had two rushing touchdowns and Medrano had one TD reception and 102 yards receiving, powering the Eagles to a 35-17 victory over Erie in a Class 3A semifinal game at Dutch Clark Stadium.
“I was little nervous at first, but it is about adversity, and that’s when real leaders are made,” said Andrada, who overcame two first-quarter interceptions. “I had to bounce back and not let my team down and this was a huge win for us. Our defense flew around like their hair was on fire and they made play after play and made it easy on me.”
East improved to 11-2 overall and advances to play Palmer Ridge (11-2) in the Class 3A state championship game at 1 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl in Pueblo. Palmer Ridge, which beat Palisade 42-7 on the road Saturday, is the reigning Class 3A state champ. East beat Palmer Ridge 28-21 on Sept. 7 at Don Breese Stadium in Monument.
“We need to rest up Sunday and come back Monday and do our thing,” said Medrano, who had seven receptions and 21 yards rushing. “We need to focus all week and I think it is going to be a great game. I can’t wait.”
In that game earlier this season against Palmer Ridge, East caused seven turnovers – five which were interceptions of Bears quarterback Ty Evans, who will play for Colorado next season in Boulder.
“I’m excited (to play Palmer Ridge again),” said Andrada, who had a game-high 132 yards rushing and 230 yards through the air Saturday. “It was meant to be and we’re going to be ready.”
The Eagles also are no stranger to the title game. Pueblo East won three consecutive 3A football titles from 2014-2016. Erie ended its season with a 12-1 record. The Tigers lost to Palmer Ridge a year ago in the 3A championship. Erie won its lone state football crown in 1997.
The Tigers were playing without their star running back Noah Roper. The senior, who accounted for 2,421 yards of total offense and 37 touchdowns broke his left leg in the third quarter of the Tigers’ 34-0 win over Green Mountain in the quarterfinals last Friday. Roper also was a force on defense as a cornerback/safety.
(Ismael Gomez)
“We just didn’t do a good job of being consistent with all 11 guys,” Erie coach Chad Cooper said. “It was one guy here, one guy there. Sometimes Noah made up for that at times, but I just think we didn’t execute like we normally execute offensively. Credit to them on defense, but we just didn’t execute up front, outside, like we normally do with or without Noah.”
The first quarter was marked by miscues – two interceptions by Andrada and two failed fourth-down attempts – one by Erie at the East 20-yard line and one by East at the Erie 9. On that play, the Medrano caught a short pass and tried to bull his way into the end zone but was stopped inches short.
Moments later, the Eagles were in business when Erie punter Julian Custine bobbled a high snap in the back of his own end zone. Custine tried to run but fumbled and the ball was recovered by East at the Erie 2-yard line. After a 5-yard penalty, Andrada zigged and zagged his way in for a 7-yard score at the 11:30 mark of the second quarter.
Erie kept battling and cut the deficit to 7-3 on Custine’s 36-yard field goal with 6:51 remaining until half.
Then, the Eagles came alive.
East marched down the field and Noah Rivera scored from two yards out to give East a 14-3 edge with 2:37 showing on the second-quarter clock. The key play on the drive was a 34-yard reception by Medrano from Andrada on fourth-down-and-2 from the Erie 36.
“Our mindset was we prepared like Noah Roper was going to play,” said the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Medrano. “That’s what we did, and we executed very well. They had double coverage and it is hard to beat it, but we did well with how they covered us.”
East kept its foot on the gas and Andrada sped in for a 2-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left in the half, giving East a 21-3 advantage.
The Eagles kept soaring in the second half. On their first possession, Medrano had a slick 22-yard reception along the left sideline during the drive. For good measure, Medrano added a nifty 3-yard touchdown catch in the left corner of the end zone, putting the Eagles up 28-3 at 7:25 of the third quarter.
Erie tried to keep things interesting with Jaymeson Nelms’ 13-yard scoring reception from Dion Lucero to get the Tigers within 28-10 with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
Once again East answered with 3-yard TD run by Patrick Gonzales to put the Eagles up 35-10 with 11:10 remaining in the game.
