Chatfield football grinds out victory over Golden
ARVADA — Chatfield football improved to 2-0 in the Class 4A Jeffco League late Friday afternoon by leaning heavily on its run game.
Chatfield (5-2) primarily used its running attack to take a 36-19 victory over Golden at the North Area Athletic Complex. The Chargers’ running back tandem of senior Hunter Barnes and junior Malcolm Boyd carried the majority of the load.
“One of our strengths is we have a big offensive line. Hunter and Malcolm are both great running backs,” Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin said. “The only thing that really stopped us was those turnovers.”
Barnes and Boyd combined for 31 carries for 291 yards and four touchdowns. Barnes got it all started with a 58-yard touchdown run on the third play from scrimmage.
“I felt good off of that first run I had scoring on that one,” Barnes said of his touchdown run in the opening minutes. “It’s nice to have two backs with myself and Malcolm that are able to get in there.”
Chatfield junior quarterback Jack Wells ran in a 28-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Wells and junior Matthew Canino split time with senior starter Zack Yanda still sidelined with a shoulder injury.
“Ever since Zack went down is we just need to find a way to win games,” McGatlin said.
Golden (4-3, 0-2) actually had a chance early in the third quarter to take the lead. Chatfield led 22-19 and it looked like the Demons had taken the lead with a 30-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback David O’Connell to senior Jack Walters. However, a costly offensive pass interference penalty and unsportsmanlike penalty took away a touchdown that would have given the Demons the lead.
“You can’t have those type of mistakes, especially against good football teams like Chatfield,” Golden coach Jared Yannacito said after the Demons’ second straight loss.
The Chargers took advantage scoring touchdown on their next two drives to take the 17-point victory.
“That was huge. I thought the call might be on us,” said McGatlin, who added that he believes the Demons have had a couple of bad breaks in a few losses this year. “He (Yannacito) is doing a great job. They will be significant for a long time I think.”
Golden faces old rival Wheat Ridge next Friday night at Trailblazer Stadium. Yannacito believes the Demons still can make a legitimate run to get into the postseason for the second straight year.
“I’ve been telling the kids just to keep believing in ourselves and finding ways to win,” Yannacito said. “We were in this boat last year sitting 4-3 and we found a way to battle and win out.”
Chatfield also faces its rival. The Chargers square off against Dakota Ridge (3-4, 1-1) next Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium.
“I’m pumped. I’ve got a lot of friends over there,” Barnes said. “It will be fun playing against them.”
