5A Football: Cherry Creek Returns as Victors With Win Over Legend

FORT COLLINS – Everything went wrong for Cherry Creek, until it didn’t. 

Although the Bruins beat Legend 13-10 in the 5A CHSAA State Championship game, things didn’t look too promising early. 

The Titans were able to jump out to a quick 10-0 lead in the first half behind an early first quarter field goal and a 33-yard toss from Nick Farley to Ryken Banks for six. 

Things got worse for the Bruins when running back Jayden Fox went down with an ankle injury late in the second quarter. 

Momentum on the Bruins sideline fell flat.

But then again it’s not always about how you start, but how you finish. 

“Credit Legend,” coach Dave Logan said. “I knew this would be a difficult game, they’re a really good football team. We had some things go not our way in the first half and I told the guys ‘we have committed to playing 48 minutes, and we’ve only played 24.’”

In the 25th minute of the game, Fox showed heart, kickstarting the Bruins’ offense with a 33-yard carry. While Fox finished the night with 99 yards on 11 carries, he received work sparingly in the third quarter, and was unable in the fourth with his injury. 

Despite going into the locker room at halftime in pain, sitting out of that third was the furthest thing on his mind.

“I can’t let my team down,” Fox said. “We went this far and I just couldn’t stop until the game was over.”

Fox’s grit and determination provided inspiration for his team. Including for freshman Elijah Cromwell, who finished the game with 102 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Cromwell’s effort earned him the title as the National Football Foundation Player of the Game. 

While certainly no one thought a freshman would be the most valuable player of the game prior to kickoff, Cromwell had been putting in work. And that work paid off. 

“Me and my dad have been waking up at four o’clock in the morning and working on things I need to work on,” Cromwell said. “Going to the gym, getting stronger so I could prepare for moments like this when my name is called.”

Logan has been at the top 12 times now, leading Cherry Creek to five State Championships over the past seven years. 

While the feeling of victory never gets old, each squad he’s coached has had their nuances. 

“I think the thing that stands out the most about this team — this was a really close team,” Logan said. “Maybe closer than some other teams. … I think that and this team was resilient. We had been in close games before. We were tied in the fourth quarter against Pine Creek.

“We were down on the road against Skyridge. We had a five-point lead and had to have a drive late in the game against Highland Park to win that game. We’ve been in these situations before and I was just proud that the resiliency of these kids came to the forefront.” 

Part of that familial feeling about this team showed itself in the backfield Saturday night. 

“Jayden’s a big brother for me,” Cromwell said. “I learned a lot of things from him. When I see him on the field, I try to put what he’s doing into my game because he runs well.”

The ground attack became an anchor for a Cherry Creek ship that desperately needed to be settled, especially in a crazy third quarter.

After Cherry Creek’s first touchdown of the game in the third quarter, the extra point got blocked. After forcing Legend to fourth down, Cherry Creek muffed a punt, giving Legend the ball back deep in its own territory. 

Shortly thereafter, Banks fumbled, giving the ball right back to the Bruins. On the ensuing drive Legend’s Brody Shuss sacked Brady Vodicka forcing the Bruins to punt again. This time it was Cherry Creek who was able to turn the ball over. 

That’s when the game hung in the balance. Vodicka threw up a 50/50 ball to Jeremiah Hoffman who came down with a spectacular toe-tapping grab. Nine yards later Fox punched it into the endzone, in what would end up being the final points of the game. 

“Both teams had big turnovers,” Logan said, “And I think it probably aged Legend coach Monte Thelen and me. It happens when you’re coaching 15, 16, 17, 18 year old men, those things happen. But two really good teams, hard fought game and I’m just really pleased that we were able to hang in there and find a way to win this game.”