Cherry Creek and Pine Creek roll to 5A and 4A titles, respectively; Palmer Ridge wins third in a row in 3A
Video: David Moore highlights
Pine Creek back has run for over 2,000 yards this season.
Three state champions were crowned Saturday in Colorado high school football.
In Class 5A, top-seeded Cherry Creek completed an undefeated season by besting Columbine 35-10 for the big school championship. The Bruins (14-0) built a 21-0 lead early in the third quarter before Columbine (11-3) rallied to make it a game. A 6-yard TD run by University of Colorado-bound
Jayle Stacks late in the fourth quarter essentially capped it before Cherry Creek added another score to pull away.
It is Cherry Creek's 11th state title and first since 2014, and Coach Dave Logan's eighth title between four schools. For Columbine (11-3) it was its first loss in six championship game appearances, and the Rebels fell to Cherry Creek in the postseason for the second year in a row (semifinals in 2018).
In the first game of Championship Saturday, Pine Creek returned to the top of the 4A ranks with a convincing 34-3 win against previously unbeaten Broomfield. In winning its fifth state title and first since 2016 when it also beat Broomfield, Pine Creek outscored its four playoff opponents 171-33.
Pine Creek (13-1) led only 7-3 at halftime, but quarterback
Gavin Herberg, who was selected as the player of the game, rushed and passed for a TD in the third quarter to break it open.
David Moore III (109 rushing yards) added two touchdowns on the ground, and the scoring was capped late by a 75-yard pick-six by
Eddie Kyle, who also had a TD reception.
The Pine Creek defense, led by safety
Beau Freyler’s 10 tackles, was stout. The Eagles limited Broomfield (13-1) to only 142 total yards and held the state’s leading rusher in
Caden Peters to 74 yards on 25 carries.
In 3A, Palmer Ridge won its third title in a row, beating Pueblo South for the second time this season with a 35-13 victory. Junior quarterback
Luke McAllister tossed four touchdown passes, two big ones to
Kaden Dudley (87 and 81 yards) in the win for the Bears (12-2).
Three state championships were decided last weekend, with the Class 2A, 1A and 8-Man brackets coming to a close.
In 2A, Sterling won its first state football title, outlasting Delta 20-19. Meanwhile, Limon added to its state-record total with its 18th championship. The Badgers repeated in 1A with a 26-13 victory at Strasburg, behind three TDs from
Kory Tacha.
In 8-Man, Sedgwick County established a new mark in the classification with its fifth consecutive title, this one a 44-8 win at Fowler. Two other schools had won four 8-Man titles in a row. The Cougars led just 14-8 at halftime before outscoring the Grizzles 30-0 in the second half. Those were the first points allowed in the postseason, as Sedgwick County outscored four playoff opponents 206-8.
Fleming was crowned the 2019 Class A 6-Man champions on Nov. 23, beating the 2018 champions Stratton/Liberty in a close game 28-27.
Colorado Class 5A Full bracket can be found here - 2019 CHSAA State Football Playoffs Class 5A
