1A Football: Limon Records State-Leading 23rd State Title

PUEBLO – This game wasn’t a work of art for the Limon High School football team, especially in the first half.

However, the end result was another state championship masterpiece.

Despite committing three first-half turnovers, the Badgers erased a 10-point deficit and outlasted Buena Vista 14-10 to win the Class 1A state championship Saturday at the ThunderBowl on the Colorado State University-Pueblo campus.

“This is just amazing, just the effort that these kids put in, I couldn’t be prouder of a group of kids,” veteran Limon coach Mike O’Dwyer said. “We had some turnovers and we had to battle through those turnovers, so I was really proud of them.

“When we were down 10-0, I just thought we had to stay with what we were doing. We have to be who we are, and our strength is up front, and our running backs run hard and they did a heck of a good job running the ball. Those guys up front, I can’t say enough good things about them.”

The smashmouth football philosophy of Limon was never more apparent than on the key play of the with just under two and half minutes to play.

Facing a 4-and-1 at their own 42-yard line, running back Camdyn Tacha rammed his way for 1-yard to clinch the game with 2:19 remaining. After the measurement, the Badgers got the first down and went into victory formation.

“I thought we had that first down by a little bit further, ” O’Dwyer said. “I thought they marked it back a little bit, but they (the referees) had a better look than I did and that’s where it was. Again, a monumental effort by those kids, every one of them.”

That game-clinching first down and a touchdown reception propelled Tacha to be chosen as the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame Colorado Chapter Most Outstanding Player.

“Man, this feels awesome,” said Tacha, a 6-foot, 205-pound sophomore. “All the hard work we put in over the summer, the two-a-days. All the running we did. It all led up to this moment, and it was just fantastic. I couldn’t ask for a better group to win this with.”

Limon added to its storied football history by winning its 23rd state championship. The Badgers now have won titles in 1933, 1938, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1976, 1978, 1979, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2025. Cherry Creek is second with 14 state titles.

Limon coach O’Dwyer has been at the helm of the Badgers’ last eight state titles. The Badgers finished the season with an 12-1 record, avenging its lone loss – a 13-10 defeat to Buena Vista on Sept. 26.

“Our team, we are the hardest workers out there, I promise you that,” Tacha said.

Buena Vista (12-1) was trying to win its third football state crown to go with the ones it won in 1999 in Class 2A and 2015 in Class 1A.

Limon took its first lead of the game at 14-10 when Tacha caught a pass in the flat from QB Brooks Scherrer and pinballed his way into the end zone for a 38-yard TD at the 7:03 mark of the third quarter.

Limon’s defense came up with a critical play when it snuffed out a fake punt by the Demons with 8:18 left in the fourth quarter.

BV got a huge break when Limon QB Scherrer fumbled the center exchange midway through the fourth quarter, but Buena Vista’s offense couldn’t get anything going.

The game didn’t start the way Badgers wanted that’s for sure.

When Limon fumbled the opening kickoff, BV recovered and then took a 3-0 lead on a 33-yard field goal by Casius Orlet.

The Demons extended their lead to 10-0 on a 12-yard scoring strike from Hudson Wingo to Caleb Pierce early in the second quarter.

Limon finally answered with a 3-yard TD plunge from Jacob Jaklich at the 3:22 mark of the second quarter to get the Badgers within 10-7.

The Badgers were still very much in the game despite committing three first-half turnovers – two fumbles and an interception.

Then, Limon took care of business in the second half to celebrate another state title.