Highlands Ranch – When it comes to rushing offenses, the ThunderRidge defense has seen that, stuffed that.
Nothing changed Saturday as the Grizzlies bottled up Thompson Valley, and fullback Nick Lind rushed for three touchdowns at Shea Stadium as ThunderRidge booked its return to the Class 4A state championship game with a 45-6 victory.
ThunderRidge’s Blackheart defense held the run-first Eagles to 64 yards on the ground and allowed just one first down in the first half as the defending champions extended their winning streak to 22 games.
“I think we got it down how to stop it,” Grizzlies defensive end Brendan Nelson said of the run. “Our coaches prepare us so well every day at practice. We just came out fired up.”
ThunderRidge (13-0) will take on Grand Junction (13-0) on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the first state football final played at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“It just amplifies the experience,” Grizzlies quarterback Kyle Black said of playing at Invesco Field. “It makes it that much better.”
ThunderRidge’s starting backfield of Lind, Black and running back Mike Coffey combined for 332 yards on the ground. Throw in backup Ben Faddis, who ran for a 57-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and the Grizzlies’ quartet piled up 403 yards on the ground.
Lind, who scored four touchdowns in last Saturday’s quarterfinal victory over Monarch, converted five extra-point attempts and nailed a 51-yard field goal as time expired in the third quarter to put ThunderRidge up 31-0.
“We knew we had to get it done one week at a time,” said Lind, who scored on two 1-yard runs and a 9-yard burst. “We did that, and now it’s so close we can taste it.
“I don’t think we’ll ever have the chance to play at Invesco (again). It’s exciting to say the least, especially our senior year. The only way to really end our season is to win at Invesco.”
Black worked the option to perfection in the first quarter to spring Coffey for a 65-yard score. The Grizzlies were up 21-0 at halftime after Black’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Eric Moats.
Thompson Valley (10-3) forced three turnovers but couldn’t move the ball.
Quarterback Justin Gorham threw for 131 yards and running back Rayne Rule caught seven passes for 115 yards and ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“They run to the ball good, they’re big, they were fast and they were bigger than us,” Rule said of the Grizzlies.
Thompson Valley 0 0 0 6 – 6
ThunderRidge 14 7 10 14 – 45
TR – Coffey 65 run (Lind kick). TR – Lind 1 run (Lind kick). TR – Moats 22 pass from Black (Lind kick). TR – Lind 9 run (Lind kick). TR – FG Lind 51. TR – Lind 1 run (Lind kick). TR – Faddis 57 run (Ceccarelli kick). TV – Rule 7 run (kick failed).
