Football roundup: Cherry Creek survives Cherokee Trail in overtime

Ashton Riley had a 1-yard score in overtime to give No. 1 Cherry Creek a 16-13 win over No. 10 Cherokee Trail on Friday night.

The win kept the Bruins’ winning streak intact, and extended it to 12-straight games. That figure is the second-longest current streak in the state.

Cherokee Trail played the defending champions as tough as anyone has this season. The Cougars actually had a chance to win the game as time expired in the fourth quarter, but a 41-yard field goal missed.

In overtime, Cherry Creek forced Cherokee Trail to settle for a field goal on the first possession. Then, after an incomplete pass, Riley ran nine yards to the 1-yard-line. The next play, he scored.

Riley had 16 carries for 65 yards and the score. Marquise Davis added 106 yards on eight carries, and a touchdown, for Cherry Creek.

Cherokee Trail was led by its defense. Michael Ward had two interceptions, and Anthony Holmes and Dan Turner also had picks. In fact, one of Wards’ interceptions went for the Cougars’ lone score.

3A/4A: Pueblo Central 27, Pueblo Centennial 24

In the 115th edition of this rivalry, known as the Bell Game, Pueblo Central got four total touchdowns from Mike Ranson to reclaim the Bell.

It was Pueblo Central’s first win in the past six meetings between the two teams, who have been playing since 1892. The game is Colorado’s oldest rivalry.

Ranson had two passing touchdowns, and two rushing.

AJ Sena had three rushing scores for Pueblo Centennial, including one to make it 27-24 with 1:48 to go.

Pueblo Centennial did get one last shot, taking over at its own 44-yard-line, but it wasn’t enough.

The game was a sellout, meaning 15,000 people attended.

4A: (8) Durango 36, (9) Montrose 35

Nick Jernigan hit a 20-yard field goal with six seconds to play to lift Durango over Montrose for the first time since 2010, according to the Durango Herald.

Durango is now 5-0.

“Late in the game, I looked in their eyes, and there wasn’t any doubt,” Durango coach David Vogt told the Colorado Preps Scoreboard Show. “It was great.”

Montrose was up 21-19 at the half, and the two teams traded the lead in the second half. It was 26-21 Durango in the third, then 28-26 Montrose early in the fourth. Montrose pushed that lead to 35-26 a few minutes later.

But Durango’s Lawrence Mayberry scored with 2:55 remaining, and the Demons recovered the onside kick. The ensuing drive included a fourth-down conversion with 21 seconds to play, and, of course, the winning field goal.

“We haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here, and it was kind of a statement for this program to get over that hump with Montrose,” Vogt said. “They’ve been the dominant football program in this region. So it was a great victory for our boys, and for the program.”

3A: (9) Delta 35, (4) Rifle 21

Delta stormed out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks in large part to two Jonny Ponce touchdowns, and then went on to beat Rifle.

It was the first time Delta had beat Rifle in six years, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.

Delta’s Beau Byers finished the game with six catches for 57 yards and a score.

3A: (5) Roosevelt 50, (7) Mead 22

In a game delayed weather, including lightning, Roosevelt took a 23-6 lead at halftime, and then pushed it to 43-6 after the third quarter before cruising to the win.

“It was a big win,” Roosevelt coach Noland Eastin told the Scoreboard Show. “It was a crazy night with the rain. … The weather came in and kind of played havoc at the beginning from kickoff time. But, man, it was a big win and it was a great night on homecoming.”

6-man: Holly 31, (9) Springfield 30

Holly pulled off one of the bigger upsets of the night, even though it trailed 14-11 at halftime.

The Wildcats responded following a big 64-7 loss to Sedgwick County last week.

“We had a couple kids out after our game with Sedgwick County, and I really kind of questioned them about how much heart we had, to come back and play a high-stakes game like this,” coach Dayne Eaton told the Scoreboard Show.

“We just want to get ourselves into the playoffs, and the best way to do that is win these pivotal games like we had tonight,” Eaton said. “It went down to the very end, and it went our way.”

Notables

Weather had its way with some of the state. In Colorado Springs, it was wet and cold, and a giant fog hovered over the Pine Creek/Vista Ridge game all night. But the northern part of the state had it worse: lightning delayed a number of games, and some didn’t end until 10:34 p.m.
Fossil Ridge knocked off Poudre 17-14 on a 30-yard field goal as time expired in 5A action.
Canon City handled Air Academy 52-6 in 3A, but there was a bit of history in this one for the Kadets. Quarterback Cale Powers completed 33 of 55 passes. The 33 completions are tied for the 13th-most in state history, while the 55 attempts are tied for the 12th-most.
Another record book entry: Rye running back Trey Zupancic had five rushing touchdowns in the first half, which is tied for the third most in the state. Rye, No. 5 in 1A, beat Dolores Huerta 62-0.
Smoky Hill pull off a huge rally to beat Grand Junction 30-26. The Tigers led 26-7 late in the third quarter, but Smoky scored the game’s final 23 points. Tahir Hopkins had what proved to be the winning touchdown with 2:14 to play. Earlier in the day, Smoky Hill apparently set a world record for the loudest gym. Quite a crowd.
Chaparral beat rival Legend 42-35 in 5A. Photos from that game.
Rock Canyon entered Week 5 unbeaten at 4-0 and looking to make a statement against 5A No. 4 Regis Jesuit. But the Raiders had other plans, and won 58-14. Regis is now 4-1. Photos from that game are here.
In 2A, No. 4 Platte Valley beat No. 6 Eaton 26-6.
8-man No. 2 Sedgwick County handled No. 7 Haxtun 52-14.
Another top-10 showdown in 8-man: No. 5 Akron beat No. 3 Merino 42-0.
Dove Creek upset No. 10 Hoehne in 8-man, 28-24.
6-man No. 1 Fleming took care of No. 7 Peetz 64-24.
Also in 6-man: No. 2 Eads 66, No. 9 Cheraw 14; and No. 3 Kit Carson held off No. 6 Hanover 36-30.
Upset in 6-man: Hi-Plains 40, No. 8 Otis 35.