Limon – Trailing by a touchdown at halftime, the Limon Badgers rallied and advanced to their third consecutive Class 1A title game.
Ty Rohrbaugh rushed for 121 yards and two long touchdowns in the second half Saturday, lifting Limon to a 20-6 victory over Lyons.
The two-time defending state champion Badgers (12-0) have won 38 games in a row and will face Akron in the final. Two years ago, Akron had won 38 games in succession, then lost to the Badgers in the 1A title game. The streaks are tied for fifth-best in Colorado history.
Saturday’s win was Limon’s 500th victory since 1935. The Badgers stand 500-205-12 in 71 seasons, according to officials.
“We don’t know how to lose,” Rohrbaugh said. “We keep fighting to the end.”
Lyons (10-2) took a 6-0 lead with 17 seconds remaining in the first half on an 8-yard touchdown run by Jake Becker. But Limon battled through multiple mistakes, including three fumbles, to fight back.
With 8:05 to play in the third quarter, Rohrbaugh, who had only 22 yards on 10 carries in the first half, scored on a 58-yard run.
Late in the third quarter, Tyson Liggett threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Ververs to pad the Limon lead, then Rohrbaugh sealed it with an 83-yard scoring run.
Rohrbaugh finished with 143 yards.
Lyons remains the most recent team to beat Limon, on Nov. 2, 2002, in the playoffs and reached the semifinals a year after missing the playoffs.
“It is a lot better making it this far, but losing hurts twice as much,” Lyons senior Sam Fortier said.
Akron 43, Dolores 10
Dolores – Austin Woods’ three touchdown runs, including two in the second quarter, led the Rams to their third title game in five years.
Woods scored on runs of 3, 40 and 53 yards.
Akron’s Dillon Davisson opened the scoring with a 70-yard touchdown run. He also contributed a 25-yard field goal. Both teams are 10-2.
