Fort Collins – The McDougal name for years was revered in Fort Collins.
At least for one night, it was cursed.
Arvada West quarterback Sean McDougal, younger brother of former Colorado State standout Kevin McDougal, shredded the Fort Collins defense for 271 yards Friday night and helped the Wildcats to a 49-42 victory over the host Lambkins at J. Ray French Field in the Class 5A quarterfinals.
Arvada West (10-2) will play the Bear Creek-Mullen winner in next weekend’s semifinals.
“We just kind of went through the motions, which you can’t do in the playoffs,” McDougal said. “And that killed us tonight. It was scary one, but we pulled it off and we’ll take it.”
The Wildcats appeared to be in control late, leading 49-28.
But Fort Collins (9-3) chipped away behind quarterback Matt Yemm and running back Zach Donaldson, who trimmed the lead to 14 with a 6-yard run with 4:46 to play.
“We just couldn’t quite put them away,” Arvada West coach Casey Coons said. “But our kids just kept battling.”
Fort Collins, which gave up a 64-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game to L.D. Briscoe, stiffened on defense and got the ball back again. The Lambkins edged closer with 1:23 to play after Joe Freismuth rumbled for a 2-yard touchdown.
The ensuing onside kick appeared to go the Lambkins’ way, but A-West came up with it and was able to run out the clock.
Said Fort Collins coach Eric Rice: “We thought if we could get a few breaks, keep battling, maybe get an onside kick, we can get back in this thing. We darn near got it.”
Arvada West made the Lambkins pay for their one and only turnover. Just before halftime, Trevor Zott intercepted Yemm’s pass. The Wildcats took five plays to go 65 yards, with McDougal rewarding Zott with a 14-yard score with only 10 seconds left.
“It was the biggest play of the game,” McDougal said. “We don’t score there, they win.”
McDougal completed 14-of-23 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 14 times for 127 yards and a score. Briscoe, who didn’t return after turning his left ankle midway through the third quarter, had 174 yards on 14 carries.
Donaldson was the workhorse for Fort Collins with 22 carries, 246 yards and two touchdowns.
Arvada West 14 14 14 7 – 49
Fort Collins 7 7 7 21 – 42
AW – Briscoe 64 run (Hill kick). FC – Walker 2 run (Welch kick). AW – Hill 3 pass from McDougal (Hill kick). FC – Freismuth 2 run (Welch kick). AW – Briscoe 16 run (Hill kick). AW – Zott 14 pass from McDougal (Hill kick). AW – Ullrich 20 pass from McDougal (Hill kick). FC – Donaldson 54 run (Welch kick). AW – McDougal 27 run (Hill kick). FC – Yemm 5 run (Welch kick). AW – Sanchez 1 run (Hill kick). FC – Donaldson 6 run (Welch kick). FC – Freismuth 2 run (Welch kick).
