Lakewood – Not only did Douglas County stun Columbine 40-28 on Friday night in the Class 5A quarterfinals, but the Huskies beat the Rebels at their own game.
At Jefferson County Stadium, Douglas County attracted about 3,000 fans and treated them to a punishing victory over the program that made physical play popular the past several years.
In improving to 11-1, the Huskies sent the Rebels home with a 10-2 record mainly because of 236 yards rushing and five touchdowns by senior running back Andy Muns and outstanding play across both fronts.
For a school that began in 1897, has won just a half-dozen league titles and is in the big-school semifinals for the first time, Douglas County and its followers could have been forgiven for flying back to Castle Rock. It’s a high unlike any other in school football history.
“No one really gives us a chance, no one thinks we can win,” Huskies head coach Jeff Ketron said, and he wasn’t arguing the point. “But these kids believe.”
They also came out and hit Columbine right in the mouth. Douglas County rolled to a 20-0 lead as it won the line of scrimmage and Muns took turns running over Rebels defenders. He scored twice on his team’s first three possessions.
Never mind Muns stands 5-feet-8 – Ketron said he’s the strongest Huskie.
“You think he’s just a scatback, but he’s a power back, too,” Ketron said.
Douglas County started to leak a little in the second quarter, when Columbine scored twice and threatened for a third only to run out of time.
However, the expected takeover by the Rebels after the break never occurred. In between forcing the Rebels to punt twice, Muns’ 29-yard touchdown run made it 26-14 halfway through the third quarter. His 12-yarder with 3:10 to play sealed it.
“We just came out with intensity and attitude,” said Muns, who ran 31 times.
The Huskies will next get the winner of Grandview-Gateway.
Columbine, which got a big game from J.T. Baum (243 yards rushing and receiving) had no answers.
“I give (the Huskies) a lot of credit,” Rebels coach Andy Lowry said. “We came out a little flat, then climbed back in it, but they matched our intensity level and took it back.”
Said Muns: “Everyone wanted this so bad.”
Douglas County 14 6 6 14 – 40
Columbine 0 14 0 14 – 28
DC – Muns 28 run (Reynolds kick). DC – White 5 pass from Garton (Reynolds kick). DC – Muns 1 run (kick blocked). C – Baum 12 run (Gillman kick). C – Baum 38 run (Gillman kick). DC – Muns 29 run (pass failed). DC – Muns 37 run (Reynolds kick). C – Baum 29 pass from Fink (Gillman kick). DC – Muns 12 run (Reynolds kick). C – Baum 12 pass from Fink (Gillman kick).
