Littleton – Adam Avery might be the epitome of Littleton football this season.
The senior defensive end, listed at 6-feet, 192 pounds, has the build of a safety and a tireless motor.
Avery sacked Ranum quarterback Tyler Daniels on third down in the fourth quarter Friday to push the Raiders out of field-goal range, and the Lions held on fourth down to preserve a wild 27-26 victory over Ranum.
“It’s true, they’re bigger,” Avery said of the Raiders. “Once you get in the game, it’s just all on and you fight with whatever you got.”
The Class 4A Lions got two key punt returns from standout Chris Romero – one for a touchdown and another to set up a score in the third quarter of the Skyline League opener for both teams at Littleton Public Schools Stadium.
The Lions (4-0) went 6-4 a year ago after a series of one-win and no-win seasons.
After winning three games over struggling Denver Prep League teams to begin this season, on Friday they earned perhaps their most dramatic victory of the 21st century.
Lions running back Marcus Brogan carried the ball 32 times for 210 yards and had a 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. His ability to gain yards was essential, as quarterback Joe Vigil went 0-for-9 with two interceptions in the second half.
“We watched film and knew how they got in on the blitz, so we decided to go 50-50, run, pass,” Brogan said.
Vigil got the Lions on the board first on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Lance Hollandsworth. Vigil completed seven passes for 125 yards.
The Raiders (3-1, 1-1 league) were stuffed on the ground and leaned heavily on Daniels. The junior had a cold second quarter but finished with 328 yards on 20 completions with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
In addition to giving up Romero’s 45-yard punt return, the Raiders booted an extra-point attempt into the Littleton line that would have tied the game at 27 with 4:55 remaining.
“Special teams killed us,” Ranum coach Matt Brothers said. “We’ve got to clean up our mistakes.”
The teams combined for more than 25 penalties.
Ranum 13 0 7 6 – 26
Littleton 6 14 7 0 – 27
L – Hollandsworth 21 pass from Vigil (kick failed). R – Kircher 46 pass from Daniels (kick failed). R – Kircher 54 pass from Daniels (Hughes kick). L – Brogan 3 run (Barth kick). L – Romero 45 punt return (Barth kick). L – Lanford 1 run (Barth kick). R – Garcia 10 pass from Daniels (Egan kick). R – Hughes 9 pass from Daniels (kick blocked).
