Madden-era begins with big win for ThunderRidge football

LAKEWOOD — It was a bit of a Bizarro World feeling Friday at Jeffco Stadium.

ThunderRidge ended its 12-game losing streak with a monster 26-6 road victory against Columbine. It was also the first time the Rebels have started the season with an 0-2 record since 2014.

“Obviously, I knew the kids have been working really hard. They have had great weeks of practice,” ThunderRidge’s first-year coach Jay Madden said after the win. “But you never know until they do it in person. This was a great win for these kids and ThunderRidge. They have been through a lot.”

The Grizzlies went 0-10 last year. Madden was hired last winter to take over the football program and brought his old coaching friend Ron Woitalewicz out of retirement to join him.

The two longtime and most recognizable Jeffco coaches over the last three decades stood on the visiting sidelines coaching the ThunderRidge Grizzlies of Douglas County. Madden — who had coaching stops at Alameda, Dakota Ridge, Mullen, Legacy and most namely Pomona where the Panthers won the 2017 Class 5A state title — is in his first year at ThunderRidge.

“It has been crazy, but it’s been a great experience,” Madden said of coming to ThunderRidge. “I love these kids. I’m looking forward to the next game.”

Madden brought in Woitalewicz (Woj) to be the Grizzlies’ offensive coordinator. Woitalewicz spent two decades as the head football coach at Dakota Ridge before retiring after the 2023 season. 

“It sure helps to have Woj. He called a great game,” Madden said of the Grizzlies scoring on their first five offensive possessions. “The kids executed a great and the defense was great.”

ThunderRidge (1-0 record) scored on its first five possessions of the game. Senior Ryan Anderson kicked a pair of first-half field goals. Senior quarterback Caeden Reeder connected with senior receiver Sidney Lynn twice before halftime to push the Grizzlies’ lead to 26-6. Senior Dieuvenson Sorenson scored on a 7-yard touchdown run that capped off a 65-yard scoring drive.

“Of course,” Reeder said if he expected to defeat the history Columbine program in the season opener for the Grizzlies. “We have been preparing all summer for this. I’d be wrong to say that we didn’t expect this.”

ThunderRidge’s coaching staff showed its confidence early in their offense midway through the first quarter. On 4th-down-and-3 from Columbine’s 19-yard line, the Grizzlies went for it and Reeder threw a perfect strike to Lynn.

“That is all credit to Coach Woj,” Reeder said of the fourth-down touchdown catch by Lynn that pushed ThunderRidge’s lead to 10-0. “My offensive line gave me enough time for me to make that throw. That’s the kind of confidence we are going to bring this year.”

Columbine did cut into ThunderRidge’s lead with a 85-yard touchdown run by senior Mark Snyder following Lynn’s first touchdown catch. However, it was the only score of the game for the Rebels.

The Rebels (0-2) were coming off a Week 0 road loss to Vista Ridge a week ago. Columbine will have another tough test next week when the Rebels host Legend (2-0) at 7:30 pm Friday, Sept. 5, at Jeffco Stadium.

ThunderRidge stays on the road to face Cherokee Trail next Friday night.

“I’m happy for them,” Reeder said of the win in Madden and Woj’s returns to Jeffco Stadium. “This is just the beginning.”