Broomfield football gets playoff revenge on Chatfield
BROOMFIELD — Caden Peters hadn’t forgot the team that eliminated Broomfield from the Class 4A football state playoffs a year ago.
“They beat us last year, so we came out for revenge,” Peters said after the Eagles took a 27-3 victory over Chatfield on Saturday afternoon at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium. “We wanted them bad. For the seniors, this was our last game on our home field and we put everything we had on the field today and it paid off.”
Chatfield upset Broomfield 10-7 last season in a first-round playoff game on the Eagles’ home field. There would be no repeat upset for the No. 7-seeded Chargers against the No. 2 and undefeated Eagles (12-0 record).
Broomfield got off a rough start offensively fumbling on its first offensive snap, but the Eagles’ ground game went to work after the miscue. Broomfield had back-to-back scoring drive of 11-plays, 76 yards and 9-plays 67 yards to grab a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
While quarterback Zachary Kapushion and senior Trey Ortega finished off the drives with short scoring runs, it was Peters who carried the major of the load on both drives. The senior running back had 13 carries for 89 yards on those two drives alone.
“He (Peters) does such a great job finding those holes, making the cuts and then accelerating through,” Broomfield coach Blair Hubbard said. “He thanks his line every week and is a humble kid. He is grateful for the guys upfront.”
An interception by Broomfield junior Jaden Solano with less than four minutes to play before halftime helped set up Peters get into the end zone for the first of two scores for one of the top rushers in the state.
Peters capped off a 12-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left in the first half. Chatfield did work its way into field-goal position to close out the half. Senior Andrew Lazarus booted a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, but it would be the only score for Chatfield (9-3).
“That is the best team we’ve seen this year,” Chatfield coach Bret McGatlin simply stated. “They hit hard. Control the line of scrimmage on both sides. They took us out of things we wanted to do and then you have to do things you don’t want to do.”
McGatlin did come out aggressive in the second half. The Chargers successfully recovered an on-side kick, but junior quarterback Ethan Delfino was picked off on the following play by Broomfield senior Aedan Collins.
“That was tough,” McGatlin said of the interception. “You go down and score there they you get some confidence. We never really got that going.”
Broomfield’s ground game went back to work following the turnover. The Eagles went on a 7-minute, 16-play drive that covered 77 yards and concluded with another short touchdown run by Peters for what would be the final score of the game.
It was the 20th touchdown run for Peters who is well over the 2,000-yard mark on the ground heading into next week’s state semifinal against No. 6 Dakota Ridge.
“Both lines played really well today,” Hubbard said of the Eagles’ big guys up front. “Our offensive line really got after it this week. We are surviving and advancing onto next week. We are excited about the opportunity.”
Dakota Ridge (10-2) edged Heritage on Friday night 38-34. The 4A state semifinal game will likely be played Saturday afternoon at Jeffco Stadium in Lakewood.
“I’m glad I get to play with these guys for another week,” Peters said. “Hopefully two more weeks and go to Mile High.”
The other 4A semifinal will pit No. 5 Pueblo West against No. 1 Pine Creek at 1 p.m. Saturday at District 20 Stadium in Colorado Springs.
