5A football championship preview: No. 1 Cherry Creek and No. 2 Valor Christian set for heavyweight slugfest
As far as prize fights go, they don’t get much better in terms of Colorado high school football than when Cherry Creek and Valor Christian meet for the Class 5A championship.
This will be the third time that Creek and Valor have met for the 5A crown and it will serve as a fitting rubber match for the two programs.
The Bruins (8-0 overall) won their first state title under Dave Logan back in 2014 when they ended the Eagles’ (7-0) run of five consecutive championships. Valor got revenge four years later and beat Creek 24-14 to give coach Ed McCaffrey his first, and only, state championship as Valor’s coach.
It was just a year ago that the Bruins got themselves back on top with a win over Columbine. With standouts like Julian Hammond and Myles Purchase back from last year’s championship team, Logan is excited about the chance to bring consecutive titles to Cherry Creek for the first time since winning three straight from 1994-96.
“This has been a good bunch,” Logan said at
. “It’s a great group of young men to coach. There are some outstanding senior leaders on this team that have been through some battles.
In reality, Logan point to any of his seniors when saying that. Hammond has thrown for 1,373 yards and 19 touchdowns and James Walker II has rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. But it’s hard to watch this team and not be in awe of what Purchase does on the defensive side of the ball. The Iowa State commit has set himself apart as of one of the best all-around players in the state.
“There are very few things that he can’t do,” Logan said. “He’s an excellent corner. He can play safety, he’s big in the kick and punt return game. He’s dangerous with his hands on the ball.”
Purchase picked off five passes this season, returning two of them for touchdowns. He also has two punt return touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns to his name.
He might have to show the ability to help in the run-stopping game, however. Lining up behind a beefy Valor offensive line is standout running back Gavin Sawchuk. The junior is averaging just shy of 10 yards per carry in his career. In 2020, it has taken him just six games to eclipse 1,000 yards and has been a nightmare for opposing defenses to stop.
“Gavin goes about his business,” coach Donnie Yantis said. “We talk about being a pro. Everything that he does, he’s meticulous about. His pass (protections), how he carries out his fakes, little things.”
The Eagles have shown the ability to go through the air as well when they need to. Sean McNair isn’t quite putting up the numbers typical of past Valor quarterbacks, but he’s found Landon Turnwall or Tyler Larson to either convert on third down or set up the running game for a key touchdown.
In all, it should be a game worthy of capping off an unusual 2020 football season. The Bruins and Eagles will kick at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the final state championship game of the year.
