Pomona football rolls past Coronado to advance to 3A state quarterfinals

ARVADA — Pomona looked like a veteran playoff football team Saturday afternoon at the North Area Athletic Complex.

The No. 2-seeded Panthers handled their business with a 45-13 victory over No. 15 Coronado in the second round of the Class 3A state tournament. 

“You go through the fire for a couple of years. You get better and grow up,” Pomona coach Nate Johnson said of his senior-laden squad that had a 3-17 record for two years in 5A before having a 9-4 record last season and advancing to the 3A state semifinals. “We are built for these moments.”

Coronado (7-4 record) was within striking distance trailing 17-7 at halftime, but Pomona (10-1) stepped on the gas in the second half.

“You see it in the second half,” Johnson said of Pomona outscoring Coronado 28-6 after halftime. “When we are on we are unstoppable I think. I’m proud of the effort in the second half.”

Pomona started the third quarter getting a 3-and-out on defense. Junior quarterback Tucker Ingersoll scored on a 46-yard touchdown run, bouncing back after the signal-caller threw three interceptions in the opening half.

“My mindset was that I’m the best quarterback in the state,” Ingersoll said of how he dealt with the three first-half interceptions. “I just had to step up and show why I’m the best.”

Pomona seniors Emmit Munson and Luis Santana both scored on short rushing touchdowns to cap off drives. Munson’s 3-yard touchdown run finished a 90-yard scoring drive where the Panthers threw in a handful of different formations at Coronado’s defense.

“It felt great,” Ingersoll said of the 90-yard scoring drive that pushed Pomona’s lead to 31-7 midway through the third quarter. “It goes back to all the hard work we’ve put in since January. We aren’t going to let anyone come into our house and smack us in the mouth.”

Coronado came in with one of the most prolific passing offenses in the state. Senior quarterback Thomas Buckmiller had thrown for over 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. Senior receivers Lyric Smith and Collin Wolf had combined for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdown catches.

“We knew Coronado would be tough,” Pomona senior cornerback and receiver Jaydon Molina said. “There quarterback is leading the state in passing yards and have two receivers with over 900 yards. We took the challenge and ran with it.”

Molina showed early that the Panthers defense was up for the challenge when he returned an interception of Buckmiller 48-yards in the second quarter to push Pomona up 17-0.

“Jaydon is an all-state receiver and corner,” Johnson said. “He can’t display that (cornerback) skill that much in 3A. He did a fabulous job on both sides of the ball.”

Molina closed out the scoring with a touchdown catch in the final minutes to seal the victory.

“When we catch it I thought, ‘I’ve got to get into the end zone.’ I had to take it in to end the game,” Molina said of the final score of the game.

Pomona will face No. 10 Lutheran (8-3) in the 3A quarterfinals next Saturday at NAAC. The Lions dispatched No. 7 Eagle Valley on Friday night. Lutheran dominated the Devils 31-15 for the Lions’ third straight victory.

“Lutheran is a great team. I historically great 3A team,” Ingersoll said. “We aren’t going to overlook them. They are coming into our house so we are going to hit them as hard as we can every single play.”

The Panthers know their road to the 3A state championship Dec. 6 at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins will go through NAAC. Being the No. 2 seed will allow Pomona to host for not only the quarterfinal next week, but the semifinals the week of Thanksgiving if the Panthers get past the Lions.

“A lot to learn from, but we are on to the next round,” Johnson said. “We are just blessed and thankful.”