No. 1 Montrose football closes out the season unbeaten with win over Ponderosa

MONTROSE – Montrose played its final game of the regular season and closed it out in style, winning 19-14 over Ponderosa on Friday night at home.

The game was closer than most of the Indians contests have been this fall, but the Montrose boys finished out the season unbeaten at 10-0.

“I am so proud of the Montrose Indians tonight,” Montrose head coach Brett Mertens said. “These kids overcame a lot of penalties and injuries and every time we had kids step up and make big plays. Thanks to the people of Montrose for being there to support the team. We are going to enjoy the win and get ready for the playoffs.”

While they enjoy their latest victory, the Indians will now wait to see where they are seeded with a good shot at the No. 1 overall seed in Class 4A.

In their regular-season finale against Ponderosa, the Indians got on the scoreboard first just like they have often this season. Austin Griffin scored from three yards out to give Montrose a 7-0 lad at the end of the first quarter before Ponderosa’s Andrew Idle connected on a touchdown pass to KJ Bricker that send the game into halftime tied at 7-7.

“We play hard against a very tough and well-deserved number one team in Montrose,”

Ponderosa head coach Jaron Cohen said. “Another classic battle.”

The Indians scored again, this time on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Gage Wareham to Ethan Hartman, and led by six points to start the fourth quarter. In the final frame, Blake Griffin scored again from five yards out. To give the Indians a 19-7 lead. After recovering a fumble, the Mustangs started on their own 15-yard line with just under four minutes left and drove down the field to score with 18 seconds left and cut the lead to 19-14.

The Indians recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.

“I think as a team we came together despite setbacks and adversity we faced very well,” Austin Griffin said. “I have said it before, but I truly believe we play as a team better than anyone in the state. I’m very excited to see where it leads us.”

“We had two of our major seniors go down with an injury,” Gabe Miller added. “We had a bunch of calls that didn’t go our way and were playing a good football team. We had a bunch of younger classmen step up and we overcame all of that to win. We are now 10-0 and the league champs. We are more than a team, we are a family and I love going to war with each and every person on the team.”