Montbello’s season-opening victory Saturday over visiting Regis in searing heat won’t win any beauty contests.
The Warriors don’t care.
“You take a sloppy win over a great loss any day,” Montbello head coach Oliver Lucas said after his Warriors slipped past Regis 7-6 in Class 5A nonleague play at All-City Stadium.
“I’ve heard people say, ‘Coach, that was an ugly win,’ but that’s OK.”
Particularly so when considering the Denver Prep League’s poor nonleague results back to the early 1990s. Even last season, the 10 city teams were a combined 5-25, including 0-3 by the Warriors.
Their victory Saturday was the only one in Week 1 for the DPL, further incentive for the Warriors, who next get Cherry Creek, then Mullen before hitting their league slate.
“It’s an improvement for us,” Lucas said.
Offensively, Montbello, ranked No. 7 in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll, had numerous difficulties, but won the game on big plays, most by junior wide receiver Andrew Davis. He got behind Regis’ double coverage early in the second quarter and hauled in a 52-yard strike from quarterback Chris Smith to make it 7-3.
In all, Davis made seven catches for 117 yards.
“I’m just trying to go up and get the ball,” he said. “We just try to make plays.”
Defensively, Montbello was efficient, particularly when the Raiders got close. The Warriors permitted only two field goals by Jimmy Parra – he missed another and had one blocked in the second quarter.
Whether it was an interception, a fumble, taking a bad sack, missing a block, not fielding a punt or misfiring from the pocket, Regis had a variety of woes.
“We came out early and strong, and I think our (lack of) conditioning got to us,” Regis coach Mike Woolford said after his first game back in the prep ranks since leaving Cherry Creek in 1999. “It looked to me like we’re going to have to go back to work on that. You have to be prepared for (the heat).
“It was tough, but could have very easily gone the other way.”
Montbello’s Henry Obie recorded a couple of sacks and led the charge that harassed Raiders quarterback Klay Kubiak all game. Victor Yorks was credited with a blocked field-goal attempt.
“You win with defense,” Lucas said. “If you don’t have it, you don’t go far.”
Taylor Rogers added a 51-yard reception for the Warriors and Kameron Brown added an interception that sealed it in the final minutes. Regis’ Butch Lewis had a solid game on the defensive front and Charlie Kay contributed an interception.
Regis 0 3 3 0 – 6
Montbello 0 7 0 0 – 7
R – FG Parra 42. M – Davis 52 pass from C. Smith (Gorham kick). R – – FG Parra 34.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
