Columbine football runs past Chatfield in rivalry game

LAKEWOOD — Honoring Janet Lowry’s fight against cancer was first and foremost the goal Friday night at Jeffco Stadium.

“I’m so grateful for all the support from both communities of Columbine and Chatfield,” Columbine long-time football coach Andy Lowry said after his Rebels took a 42-13 victory over the Chargers. “All the family and friends. I’m so grateful for all the support, prayers and people reaching out.”

The two rival south-Jeffco schools came together for ‘Lowry Strong’ night. Coach Lowry’s wife has battled cancer for a number of years. Both crowds and coaches wore ‘Lowry Strong’ t-shirts and there was a pre-game ceremony to honor Janet and those battling cancer.

“Tonight was all for her,” Columbine senior quarterback Brennan Goodwin said. “Coach Lowry does so much for us. Even with his wife battling what she has right now he is at practice and with us every single day. It speaks to his character and how much he loves us and how much we love him. He takes care of us. We took care of him tonight.”

Columbine — No. 6 in the Class 5A Colorado Prep Football Rankings — took care of business in the Rebels’ regular-season finale. No. 10 Chatfield grabbed a quick 7-0 lead with an impressive opening drive that was capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Hunter Balderston with 4:26 left in the first quarter.

However, the Rebels responded in a big way.

“(Chatfield) fought, but then it was our turn to go smack them in the mouth,” Columbine senior Mark Snyder said of the Rebels’ 35 unanswered points after the Chargers took the early 7-0 lead. 

Senior James Basinger broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run to tie things up 7-7. Then it was Goodwin’s turn to get into the action. The senior quarterback kept the ball on an option play and sprinted 92 yards for the longest touchdown of the season for any Rebel.

“It was crazy. It was great, but all the credit goes to the offensive linemen,” Goodwin said of his first rushing touchdown of the season. “They get all the dirty and hard work done. They are the ones we give credit to at Columbine.”

With teams focusing on shutting down Basinger and Snyder — both 1,000-yard rushers this season — Goodwin saw his opportunity to break off a big gain.

“It is defintely cool when you can run triple-option. It is a tough thing to defend,” Goodwin said. “We’ve got some great, great guys in the backfield. I just took advantage of the defense biting on our amazing running backs and took it.”

Goodwin got some experience behind center last season during the Rebels’ state championship run when starting quarterback Reeve Holliday was out for a few weeks after appendectomy surgery. 

“That was awesome,” Snyder said of Goodwin’s 92-yard touchdown run. “He is so sound with all that he does. Without him we couldn’t do this.”

Goodwin extended the lead to 21-7 just before halftime with a 13-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Conan Williams. Snyder had touchdown runs of 21 and 10 yards to push the lead to 35-7 early in the fourth quarter.

Chatfield ended the scoring run by Columbine with a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Zach Bickford in the fourth quarter. Bickford came in for starting sophomore quarterback Cash Williams, who suffered an injury in the first half.

Columbine senior Corbin Dyer finished out the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown in the final minutes to close out the regular season and the special night.

“Tonight was an emotional night for my family,” Coach Lowry said. “I let the team know that I appreciate all that they do for me. I needed them tonight.”

CHSAA is scheduled to release the 24-team 5A state tournament bracket on Sunday, Nov. 3. The top-8 seeds will receive a first-round bye. Seeds 9 to 16 will host first-round games next week.

“It is time to get better. We have to improve,” Snyder said of the Rebels (9-1, 4-1 in 5A Metro League) likely having a first-round bye next week to open the playoffs. “We have to keep practicing. Keep going and keep our heads up.”

Chatfield (7-3, 3-2) should get a home game at Jeffco Stadium in the opening playoff round next week.