Ralston Valley gets defensive in 2nd round win against Chatfield

ARVADA — Ralston Valley’s defense was rock solid on the cold Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.

The No. 3-seeded Mustangs defeated No. 19 Chatfield 22-7 in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs. Ralston Valley’s defense led the way allowing just one scoring drive by the Chargers.

“Our defense as a whole played incredible,” Ralston Valley coach Jared Yannacito said. “We really focused on taking away (Chatfield’s) best plays. They executed the game plan perfectly and flew around to the ball just like you draw it up. It was awesome.”

Ralston Valley (9-2 record) heads into the next round of the postseason where the Mustangs face another Jeffco rival. No. 6 Columbine defeated No. 11 Rock Canyon in come-from-behind fashion 24-17 at Jeffco Stadium to set up the all-Jeffco quarterfinal game.

“Jeffco has some really good football in it and that is how it ends up,” Yannacito said of facing another league foe next week. “We know it is going to be a big physical game. We’ll be ready for it.”

Ralston Valley defeated Columbine 16-13 on Oct. 7 at Jeffco Stadium in the league showdown. The state quarterfinal game will be played either Friday or Saturday next week at NAAC.

“I’m blessed to be playing on a team that I love,” Ralston Valley senior defensive lineman Gunner Schoephlin said. “It’s been a hell of a senior year.”

It was actually the second meeting between Chatfield and Ralston Valley over the last three weeks. The Mustangs edged the Chargers 27-20 on Oct. 21 at NAAC. The loss ended a 4-game winning streak for Chatfield. Ralston Valley clinched the 5A Jeffco League title with the victory.

It was tight early Friday night with Ralston Valley holding just a 15-7 halftime lead.

“We just regrouped and we were calm,” Ralston Valley junior receiver Jackson Hansen said coming out of halftime. “We put a drive together and scored.”

Ralston Valley couldn’t have drawn up a better start to the second half. Leading 15-7, the Mustangs got a good kickoff return to set themselves up on their own 42-yard line. Ralston Valley covered 58 yards in nine plays to open up a 22-7 lead.

Junior quarterback Logan Madden hit Hansen over the middle on a 3rd-down play. Hansen broke a tackle and scored on a 29-yard pass play to give the Mustangs their first 2-score lead of the game.

“They were playing off coverage and coach gave me a chance to make a play,” Hansen said of his touchdown catch. “My guys blocked and Logan gave me a good ball.”

The touchdown drive would be the lone score of the second half.

“That was huge,” Yannacito said of the opening scoring drive of the second half. “It was pretty sweet.”

Ralston Valley’s defense did the rest. Chatfield only managed three first downs in the second half on four drives and never crossed the 50-yard line after halftime.

“Honestly it was just a team effort,” Schoeflin said. “We capitalized on the little things. (Jones) is an amazing runner when he gets outside. We had to make sure we had to contain him and we did that tonight. We got the job done.”

Both the Mustangs and Chargers took advantage of turnovers that led to the first two scores of the game in the first quarter.

Ralston Valley junior Sean Moran sacked Chatfield quarterback Jake Jones on the first possession the game. Jones fumbled and junior Tyrese Johnson recovered on Chatfield’s 19-yard line. Madden would eventually score on a 7-yard touchdown run to give the Mustangs an early 7-0 lead.

A fumble by Ralston Valley senior Josh Rillos on the Mustangs’ next possession gave Chatfield the ball on Ralston Valley’s 30-yard line. Jones hit junior Charlie Yanett for a 5-yard touchdown with 5:44 left in the first quarter to tie things up 7-7.

Ralston Valley regained the lead on the first play of the second quarter. Senior Diano Benallo scored on a 5-yard touchdown run and Rillos ran in a 2-point conversion to give the Mustangs a 15-7 lead. That would be the score going into halftime.

Ralston Valley is now two wins away from the elusive championship game that has escaped the Mustangs throughout their program’s history. It won’t be an easy road facing conference rival Columbine next week and then the potential task for either the Mustangs or Rebels traveling to Valor Christian High School and facing the No. 2 Eagles.

Chatfield (5-7) ends its first season back in the largest classification after winning the 4A state title last year. First-year head coach Kris Rosholt has plenty of build on for next year with a number of key juniors and sophomores returning in 2023.