Aurora – When the Grandview defense stiffened against the run Saturday, Douglas County looked to the air.
As always, though, the Huskies eventually turned to Andy Muns.
The senior running back dominated the Wolves in a Class 5A state semifinal game, contributing third-quarter touchdown runs of 64 and 53 yards as Douglas County pounded Grandview 38-12 at Legacy Stadium.
Muns finished with a game- high 224 yards on 25 carries – his second straight performance of more than 200 yards – as the Huskies rolled into the state final for the first time. On each of his touchdown runs, the 5-foot-7, 190-pound Muns broke tackles at the line of scrimmage.
“They kind of had us figured out in the beginning, it seemed like,” said the soft-spoken Muns, “but the (offensive) line just kept taking it to them. They made great blocks.”
Neither team mustered much offense in the first quarter, but Douglas County found its rhythm with a clock-eating, 99-yard drive in the second quarter. Huskies quarterback Garton Keiffer capped the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to receiver Steve Fendry.
It looked as if Grandview might tie the game 7-7 in the final seconds of the first half. Facing fourth down at Douglas County’s 35-yard line, Wolves coach John Schultz called a timeout with less than a minute left to settle his team.
But the gamble backfired as Grandview quarterback Jared Schlehuber was sacked for a 5-yard loss and the Wolves turned the ball over on downs.
Keiffer took advantage with three quick completions during a 60-yard, 25-second drive.
Fendry’s 6-yard touchdown reception gave Douglas County a 14-0 lead and crucial momentum going into the locker room. Muns scored his first touchdown less than 90 seconds into the third quarter to put his team up 21-0, and the Huskies coasted.
“We were trying to score a touchdown,” Schultz said of his decision to call a timeout late in the first half. “That’s what we had to do, and it just happened that we didn’t make a play.”
Keiffer finished with 192 yards and three touchdowns on 14- of-18 passing. Unrattled by Grandview’s stunting, slanting defensive schemes, Keiffer’s success allowed Douglas County to establish a ground game in the second half.
“You go in with a game plan, and then you’ve got to have a second way to do things,” Douglas County coach Jeff Ketron said. “Our (second way) is throwing the football.”
Douglas County 7 7 14 10 – 38
Grandview 0 0 0 12 – 12
DC – Fendry 29 pass from Garton (Reynolds kick). DC – Fendry 6 pass from Garton (Reynolds kick). DC – Muns 64 run (Reynolds kick). DC – Muns 53 run (Reynolds kick). DC – White 2 pass from Garton (Reynolds kick). DC -FG Reynolds 20. G -Sewell 5 pass from Schlehuber (run failed). G -Quarles 48 pass from Schlehuber (kick failed).
