Playoff football roundup: Big second half pushes Ralston Valley past Arapahoe

Trailing at halftime, No. 3 seed Ralston Valley scored the game’s final 21 points to knock off previously unbeaten, and No. 2-seeded, Arapahoe in the second round of the Class 5A football playoffs on Friday night.

Ralston Valley’s defense forced two turnovers to lead to their first 14 points in the second half. The unit shut down Arapahoe’s offense the rest of the way as the Mustangs secured the spot in the quarterfinals.

Arapahoe went up 3-0 with a 35-yard field goal late in the first quarter, but neither team scored again before halftime.

Ralston Valley took a 7-3 lead in the third quarter, one they didn’t give up the rest of the way. Kyle Rush added two scores in the fourth quarter for the Mustangs.

Ralston Valley advances to play Valor Christian in the next round.

4A: (13) Loveland 30, (4) Vista Ridge 14

Loveland led 10-0 at half, 17-0 after three and 23-0 late in the fourth quarter in a stunning upset of Vista Ridge in the first round of the 4A playoffs.

Quarterback Ayden Eberhardt passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more in spearheading the upset for Loveland, a No. 13 seed. He also kicked a 29-yard field goal to play a role in all 30 points.

Eberhardt found Ryan Svendsen just before the half for his first passing touchdown, and added another to Aidan McQuade just prior to the end of the third quarter.

No. 4 Vista Ridge made it 17-6 early in the fourth quarter, but Eberhardt and Loveland responded less than four minutes later.

Loveland will face the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 5 Durango and No. 12 Aurora Central.

4A: (11) Palmer Ridge 39, (6) Dakota Ridge 21

This game was actually close early, but Palmer Ridge, the No. 11 seed, scored 20 unanswered points spanning the first and second quarters to break it open.

The Bears led 39-14 at halftime and then cruised in the second half to the 39-21 win.

Palmer Ridge quarterback Isaiah Sanders had four touchdowns, all in the first half.

Jeremy Lujan had three rushing scores for No. 6 Dakota Ridge in the loss.

Palmer Ridge awaits the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 3 Windsor and No. 14 Pueblo Centennial.

5A: (1) Cherry Creek 38, (4) Mullen 6

Cherry Creek scored two touchdowns in the game’s first quarter, including a 60-yard passing score from freshman quarterback Alex Padilla, to take a 14-0 lead. The No. 1-seeded and defending 5A champion Bruins never looked back.

It was 21-0 at halftime, and then 31-0 in the third quarter.

Kory Taylor-Keel, Trey Windham and Ashton Riley each had rushing touchdowns for Cherry Creek.

“Everything really came together tonight as far as the offense and defense is concerned, so it was just a great win,” Padilla told the Union Street Journal, Cherry Creek’s student newspaper, after the game.

Cherry Creek will play the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 6 ThunderRidge and No. 7 Fruita Monument in the quarterfinals.

3A: (8) Discovery Canyon 43, (9) Rifle 20

Discovery Canyon got a crucial pick-6 just before halftime to go up 29-7, then held on for a big win over the Bears in the opening round of the 3A playoffs.

Brandon Storch returned the interception with 21.8 seconds before halftime to extend the lead and bring all the momentum into the break.

Rifle responded and would get to within 29-20 with three minutes to play in the third quarter, but Discovery Canyon put together two quick TD drives to put the game out of reach.

Discovery Canyon will face Pueblo East in the quarterfinals.

Notables

Pueblo East, the No. 1 seed and defending champion of 3A, rolled to a 49-10 win over No. 16 Lewis-Palmer. It was 49-0 after three quarters. Bryson Torres had four rushing scores for the Eagles.
5A No. 1 seed Columbine moved to 11-0 with a 48-14 win over No. 4 Heritage.
Regis Jesuit, a No. 2 seed in 5A, beat No. 3 Legacy 34-7. It was 21-0 at half. Regis Jesuit will play Columbine in the quarters.
Hayden Blubaugh had four touchdowns as Grandview, another No. 1 seed in 5A, cruised to a 49-20 win over No. 4 Mountain Vista.
Dylan McCaffrey and Blake Stenstrom each threw two touchdowns in No. 1 seed Valor Christian’s 47-3 win over No. 5 Chaparral. McCaffrey threw for 225 yards, and also rushed for a touchdown. Joshia Davis, a freshman, had 120 yards and a score on the ground for Valor.
Pomona, a No. 2 seed in 5A, easily handled No. 7 Horizon 35-14. The Panthers will play Grandview in the quarterfinals.