Bear Creek football airs it out in win over Lakewood

LAKEWOOD — The final play of the first half Thursday night brought flashbacks to the classic Bear Creek football from the late-1990s and early-2000.

“That’s OG Tom Thenell,” Bear Creek senior JD Lazzaro said of the wheel route touchdown catch to close the first half Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium. “We originally had another play set up, but we called (wheel route) and had success.”

The wheel route was always a staple for Bear Creek coach Tom Thenell’s offensives over the years when the Bears had one of most high-powered offenses in the state. Junior quarterback Riley Wilson and Lazzaro ran the vintage play to perfection with 4.4 seconds left in the second quarter from Lakewood’s 29-yard line to extend Bear Creek’s lead to 35-3 at halftime. 

“We practice that all the time. We love it,” Wilson said of the wheel route. 

The traditional opening game at Jeffco Stadium — Bear Creek versus Lakewood — ended with the Bears taking a 43-9 victory. Wilson tossed four touchdowns in the first half alone. Lazzaro had touchdown catches of 14 and 29 yards in the first half. 

Senior Kamari May flashed with touchdown grabs of 24 and 47 yards, along with an 81-yard kickoff return right after Lakewood got on the scoreboard with a 36-yard field goal by Lakewood freshman Eli Angers. 

“That’s the goal,” Thenell said of showing signs of the great Bear Creek offensives of the past. “This is a group of kids who have a lot of experience now. They have bought into the entire system. It showed up for a stretch tonight.”

Wilson started at quarterback as a sophomore. He threw for 1,560 yards and 10 touchdowns. He will more than likely shatter those numbers this season. May had 62 catches for 722 yards and four touchdowns a season ago.

“I was much more excited this year. Not nervous,” Wilson said of his second year under center. “I just want to come out here and play with my buddies. Get it done.”

Bear Creek junior running back Dylan Thomas had a pair of touchdown runs, including a 6-yard touchdown run and ensuing 2-point conversion midway through the third quarter that pushed the Bears’ lead to 43-3 and induced a running clock for the remainder of the game.

“It has helped a lot working over the summer with all those guys to get that chemistry,” Wilson said of his offensive weapons. 

Lakewood had its losing streak extend to 37 games dating back to the 2021 season. The Tigers did score a touchdown late with a 3-yard run into the end zone by junior Ezekiel Maddux. 

The Tigers are on the road against Rangeview next Thursday at Aurora Public Schools Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Bear Creek returns to Jeffco Stadium to face Skyline on Friday, Sept. 5. It will be a 4 p.m. kickoff for the Bears.

“I really like these kids. I believe in them,” Thenell said as he starts his second year back at Bear Creek. “I think they believe in me now. We’ll see how far we can progress this year. It’s a good bunch playing my kind of football.”