Arvada – Columbine’s power toss was simply overpowering Thursday against Pomona, and Jordan Baum had a field day.
The Rebels’ senior running back ran for four touchdowns at the North Area Athletic Complex, scorching the Panthers for 162 yards on seven carries as Columbine crushed Pomona 48-20 in a Jefferson County League opener for both teams.
The Rebels (5-0), ranked No. 1 in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll, ran for 374 yards and pulled their starters early in the fourth quarter with a 48-6 lead.
In true Columbine fashion, coach Andy Lowry deflected praise to his unsung heroes – wingback Brian Weatherman and the mammoth offensive line.
“A couple of those holes even I could have ran through,” Lowry said.
Said Baum: “I had the easy part.”
Quarterback John Fink had one touchdown on 134 yards rushing and fullback Jeff Cicchinelli rushed for two scores and had 77 yards on 15 carries for the Rebels.
The youthful Panthers (3-2) moved the ball efficiently at times and were still alive despite trailing 20-6 at halftime. But Pomona turned the ball over on three straight possessions in the third quarter and the Rebels turned into 21 points on seven plays.
“You got to be perfect when you play teams like that,” Pomona coach Jay Madden said. “You think you’re in the game, then you make a mistake and they make you pay in a hurry.”
Senior Kyle Mericle ran for one touchdown and caught two more for the Panthers.
The Rebels sputtered out of the gates and Pomona looked electric. The Panthers took their first drive 61 yards in four plays, capped off by an 18-yard run by Mericle.
As they usually do, the Rebels got their running game on track quickly, scoring on their next three possessions.
Baum scored twice before the half on pitches to the right side. Baum went 67 yards to tie the game and scored from 16 out early in the second quarter to put the Rebels up for good.
“That first series, we didn’t execute,” said Fink, who scored on a 73-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. “We came out a little flat, but after that we just stepped it up.”
Baum had 94 yards on five carries at halftime as the Rebels outgained the Panthers on the ground 192-107.
Columbine 7 13 21 7 – 48
Pomona 6 0 0 14 – 20
P – Mericle 18 run (run failed). C – Baum 67 run (Gillman kick). C – Baum 16 run (pass failed). C – Cicchinelli 8 run (Gillman kick). C – Baum 31 run (Gillman kick). C – Baum 37 run (Gillman kick). C – Cicchinelli 19 run (Gillman kick). C – Fink 73 run (Gillman kick). P – Mericle 23 pass from Castillo (Reid kick). P – Mericle 12 pass from Castillo (Reid kick).
