Pomona football gets signature victory over Green Mountain

ARVADA — Big Black is back.

After a 3-17 record over the past two seasons playing in Class 5A, Pomona’s football program picked up a huge win Thursday night that very well could be a sign that the Panthers could be in the mix for a 3A state championship this season.

“It has been a long road the last two years, but this is what we’ve been building for,” Pomona coach Nate Johnson said after the Panthers took a dominating 33-7 victory over Green Mountain at the North Area Athletic Complex. “You see we will have some kinks to work out, but I do believe we are working toward being a state contender.”

Pomona (2-1 record) was coming off a close loss on the road against a strong 4A team in Pueblo West last week. Getting the convincing victory over Green Mountain — back-to-back 3A state semifinalist the previous two seasons — shows what the Panthers are capable of playing in 3A.

“I always knew we were a good team, even when we struggled going 1-9,” Pomona junior quarterback Emmit Munson said. “I have always believe in this team. It really feels good to get this team win. It has been a long time coming.”

Munson got Pomona going with a big 68-yard touchdown pass to senior Bauer Swazo on the Panthers’ first offensive possession. 

“He is no longer a freshman or sophomore,” Johnson said of Munson, who has played on varsity since his freshman season. “He isn’t finely tuned yet, but he is a lot more efficient with a smarter football IQ. We need that field general on the offensive side. Emmit is our guy.”

Green Mountain (1-2) drove into Pomona territory for the second time early in the second quarter, but junior Jaydon Molina snatched the momentum back with a 54-yard inception return for a touchdown with 9:20 left in the second quarter to give the Panthers a 13-0 lead.

“Early in the game they ran the same play. I was expected it, but I dropped it,” Molina said. “I had to come back the next time get it. The second time I caught it. It felt great.”

It was the first varsity touchdown for Molina. It was also the first of three interceptions by Pomona’s defense. Junior Sebastian Reyes picked off Green Mountain senior quarterback Simon Lunsford in the third quarter and junior Cotton McKay sealed the win with an interception on the Rams’ final drive.

The pressure put on Lunsford by Pomona’s front-seven helped lead to the interceptions.

“One of our strengths is our defensive line,” Johnson said. “We are going to bring the juice.”

The likes of seniors Izaya Hawkins and Michael Tischler were in the face of Lunsford all game long. 

“It gives us a lot of energy to the team when we see those hits on the quarterback before the ball gets out,” Molina said. 

Pomona’s offense finished off the first half in style with a pair of touchdowns in the final four minutes. Junior Luis Santana had a 8-yard touchdown run and Munson strolled into the end zone from 4 yards out to give Pomona a commanding 27-0 lead just before halftime.

Green Mountain did get on the board with under a minute to play in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run by senior Drennan Dowell. However the momentum stayed with Pomona in the second half with the Panthers’ defense shutting out the Rams.

Besides the two second-half interceptions, Pomona’s defense forced a pair of turnovers on downs when Green Mountain failed to pick up a first down on fourth down.

Junior Ethan Vu put the finishing touches on the win with a 11-yard touchdown run in the final minutes to push the lead to 33-7.

“When I saw Green Mountain was on our schedule I was ready to play them Week 1,” Munson said. “To beat Green Mountain like this with how good they have been in the past in 3A. It feels good. We aren’t coming anymore. We are here.”

Pomona squares off another Jeffco foe in a non-league game next week. The Panthers host (4A) No. 6 Dakota Ridge at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at the NAAC.

Green Mountain will celebrate homecoming next week and face Northridge (0-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Jeffco Stadium.

Despite Green Mountain and Pomona both being Jeffco Public Schools, Thursday was the first meeting on the gridiron between the Rams and Panthers since 1991. Pomona defeated Green Mountain 49-23.

Green Mountain won a pair of 4A state championships (1995 and 1999) under legendary coach Don McGatlin. The Rams have had great success in recent years advancing to the 3A state semifinals the past two seasons under coach Jesse German, who left after last season to take the head coaching job at Eaglecrest High School.

Pomona became a 5A powerhouse under former coach and alumni Jay Madden. The Panthers were 5A runner-up in 2009, 2015 and 2016 under Madden. Pomona finally captured the state title in 2017 with a dramatic 56-49 victory over Eaglecrest at Mile High.