Fourth-quarter surge sends Ponderosa football to 4A state semifinals
LAKEWOOD — The fourth quarter simply belonged to Ponderosa on Saturday in the Class 4A football state quarterfinal game.
The Mustangs scored 21 unanswered points in the span of nine minutes in the final quarter to rally from a 7-point deficit and eventually take a 31-24 victory against Chatfield.
“Our kids have believed all year long. We believe what we are doing and we never quit,” Ponderosa coach Jaron Cohen said after the win on a frigid Jeffco Stadium. “I’m so proud to be the head coach of the Ponderosa Mustangs.”
The No. 5 seeded Mustangs (10-2 record) turned things around at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Senior quarterback Dylan Hollowell connected with junior Joe Hufford on a 48-yard touchdown pass with 11:15 left in the four quarter.
“I’m just so proud of this team,” said Hollowell, who had an 8-yard touchdown pass to junior Kayden Johnson in the first quarter. “Joe (Hufford) ran an amazing route and I just put it up to him.”
Ponderosa was going to kick the extra point to tie the game, but when No. 13 Chatfield jumped offside on the PAT the Mustangs took advantage and went for a 2-point conversion and the lead. Hollowell bulled his way into the end zone to give the Mustangs a 18-17 lead.
Chatfield (8-4) fumbled on the ensuing drive at midfield to give the ball back to the Mustangs. Senior running back Koby Kercher carried the ball eight times before back-up quarterback Bode Jensen scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 2:40 left to extend Ponderosa’s lead to 25-17.
“Congrats to our offensive line and our blocking backs for getting after it in that fourth quarter,” Cohen said.
The next play from scrimmage really put the game on ice. Ponderosa junior Mikee Barker intercepted Chatfield senior quarterback Zack Yanda and returned it 30 yards for a defensive touchdown.
“I just did what I’ve been taught to do on that slant,” Barker said. “I just jumped the route. I had full confidence in myself and teammates behind me.”
Chatfield scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Yanda to senior Charlie Wildermuth in the final seconds, but it was to late for the Chargers to overcome the fourth-quarter surge by Ponderosa.
“Ponderosa played great and we weren’t very opportunistic when we had the chances,” Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin said. “When we had big breaks we didn’t capitalize on them. In playoff football you have to do that.”
Ponderosa will host No. 9 Skyline in the 4A semifinals next week. The game will likely be played Saturday, Nov. 24. The Falcons upset No. 1 Pine Creek 21-20 Saturday afternoon at Everly-Montgomery Field in Longmont.
Ponderosa has now won 10 straight games after getting off to an 0-2 start this season.
“We are just so excited to spend another week together,” Cohen said.
Chatfield held a 17-10 lead at halftime thanks to a pair of interceptions.
After a long 7-minute drive by Chatfield that didn’t yield any points, junior Santi Ramirez intercepted Hollowell. Ramirez returned the pick to the Mustangs’ 19-yard line.
Four plays later Chatfield senior Derian Smith skated into the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown run with 55 seconds left before halftime to give the Chargers a 14-10 lead.
The next huge defensive play was by Chatfield junior Colin Simcox who picked off Hollowell with 20 seconds left before halftime. The Chargers cashed in the turnover with an eventual 32-yard field goal by Wildermuth as time expired in the first half to take a 17-10 lead into the locker room.
Chatfield’s longest play from scrimmage was a 61-yard touchdown run by senior Hunter Barnes on the opening drive of the game. However, 1,300-plus yards rusher this season wasn’t able to find the end zone the rest of the game.
“I guess they had a good game plan that second half,” Barnes said. “We fought our hardest. No matter what happened I didn’t what to go down without a fight.”
