Berger’s big night pushes No. 2 Longmont football past Broomfield
BROOMFIELD — Second-ranked Longmont football came out strong in the first half of play against Broomfield, and it was senior Conlan Berger who led the way.
Berger had a quick 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter, one that proved to be the first of many in the Trojans’ 42-7 win over Broomfield in a Class 4A game on Friday.
“We knew we had to come out with the same mindset we had in our first two games and couldn’t underestimate anybody,” Berger said.
Longmont, last season’s runner-up in 4A, is now 3-0.
Longmont quarterback David Speidel added a 15-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and the Trojans led 14-0 at the half. In the third quarter, it was all Berger. The senior scored his second touchdown of the game on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Speidel.
Speidel then found tight end Josh Walker later on in the quarter for yet another Trojan score, making it 28-0.
The Eagles (0-3) just couldn’t seem to get a break. In the fourth quarter, Broomfield intercepted a pass — only to give possession right back by fumbling it away. Berger, the game’s star, was there to pick up the fumble, and he returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.
“It wouldn’t matter to me if I touched the ball zero times this whole season as long as we win the state championship,” Berger said.
Said Longmont coach Doug Johnson: “He is our work horse, a great kid, and we know we can go to him when we need to.”
Longmont’s Eli Sullivan capped off his team’s scoring with a 37-yard rush.
“We approached this game as if it was a playoff game,” Longmont coach Doug Johnson said. “We played them twice last season, once in the semifinals, and they beat us at our place (during the regular season).”
Broomfield quarterback Jack Burgesser hit wide receiver Tudor Arvinte on a 15-yard pass with in the games final minutes for the Eagles’ lone score.
Broomfield coach Gary Davies said his team needs “to work on just being more consistent, getting stops at crucial times of the game, and not making the same mistakes.”
