Bear Creek football remains undefeated with dominating win over Silver Creek

LAKEWOOD — Bear Creek football coach Tom Thenell lost his hair before the Bears kicked off their homecoming game Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium.

“No more bets now,” said Thenell, who allowed his team to shave his head after the 3-0 start. “Now I start betting other guys like my assistants. Their hair is going to go now.”

Bear Creek is on a roll. For the fourth straight week, the Bears put up 40-plus points. Bear Creek (4-0 record) dominated previously undefeated Silver Creek to the tune of 49-15 to please the large homecoming crowd.

“They are having fun. That’s the difference. These kids are having fun,” Thenell said of the best start for Bear Creek since 2022. “They are starting to care about each other and that is what has to happen. We’ll see how far they take it.”

Bear Creek junior quarterback Riley Wilson threw for three first-half touchdowns as the Bears took a 35-15 lead at halftime. 

Senior Kamari May had a 65-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. Senior Donaven Tibbels-Walker was Wilson’s favorite target in the second quarter with touchdown grabs of 17 and 49 yards.

Junior running back Dylan Thomas had a field day on the ground rushing for four touchdowns. Thomas scored from 4 and 61 yards in the first quarter to open up a 14-0 lead. 

“That was all Donaven (Tibbels-Walker),” Thomas said of the block from his receiver that sprang Thomas for his longest run of the night. “It was like seeing the Red Sea parting. I saw the seam split and I was gone.”

Thomas found the end zone from 1 and 15 yards out in the third quarter to extend the Bears’ lead to 49-15.

“When we are doing things right it really revolves around what teams are giving us,” Thenell said of his offense. “Tonight it was DT (Thomas) and Donaven.”

It wasn’t all just offensive highlights for Bear Creek. Senior Landon Rasmussen blocked a Raptors’ punt after Silver Creek was forced to a 3-and-out on the first possession of the game. The Bears took over at Silver Creek’s 4-yard line where on the next play Thomas scored his first touchdown.

“Special teams definitely set the tone with that blocked punt,” Thomas said.

Junior JJ Hernandez had a nice game sacking Silver Creek quarterback Nolan Gaccetta three times. Silver Creek (3-1) was shutout in the second half.

“Our defense is strong. We are just playing as brothers,” Hernandez said. “If we make a mistake we don’t keep each other down. It’s always the next play. We boost each other up.”

Junior Jonah Brink had a leaping interception of Gaccetta early in the second quarter that led to Wilson’s first touchdown pass to Tibbels-Walker. 

“When we play hard and fast on offense and defense, we are OK,” Thenell said. “Here we go. We are trying to get back to winning six, seven, eight games if we can.”

Bear Creek started last season with a 3-0 record, but lost a tight game against Silver Creek in Week 4. The Bears edged Brighton in overtime the following week, but preceded to end the 2024 season on a 6-game losing streak.

The Bears are back in action against Brighton on Friday, Sept. 26, at Trailblazer Stadium before starting their Class 4A South Metro League schedule. Bear Creek opens up conference play on the road against Highlands Ranch on Oct. 3.