Broomfield – Spoiled kids never appreciate anything.
That is why the Holy Family Tigers, a football team that had to fight for everything this season, ignored the wind and cold and soaked up their Class 2A state championship victory with thousands of elated fans.
Holy Family quarterback Patrick Chappell connected with four touchdown passes during the second quarter – three to Mike Langfield – to push the Tigers to a 35-20 victory over the previously undefeated Buena Vista Demons on Saturday at Gabriel Stadium in front of an estimated 4,000 fans.
“We battled adversity the whole way. We wanted revenge, and I wasn’t going to lose another state championship game,” said Chappell, who connected on his first six passes and finished 9-of-15 for 125 yards.
The Tigers (10-3) lost to Metropolitan League rival Faith Christian in the title game last season, sneaked into the postseason this year with a wild-card berth by three-tenths of a point, avenged the loss to Faith Christian with a late score in the semifinals and then found a way to topple the Demons for a second state championship in four years.
“This one is better because of all the adversity,” Holy Family coach Mike Gabriel said.
Langfield caught four passes for 84 yards and Tigers running back Tim Stockhausen carried 32 times for 179 yards and a touchdown.
For Buena Vista (12-1), 1,000- yard rushers Vance Ray and Jake Fickle combined for 108 yards. Quarterback Caleb Graff completed 17-of-28 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns, but the senior was victimized by two interceptions after having just four all season.
“Turnovers kill drives and I had two interceptions. I take the blame,” said Graff, who ended the season with 2,136 yards passing, the most in 2A.
After Buena Vista lineman Pat Bachmann jumped on a Holy Family fumble at the Tigers’ 30-yard line, Graff guided the Demons to the game’s opening points, a 1-yard touchdown run by Ray.
Holy Family responded when Chappell went deep and found Langfield behind two defenders for a touchdown in the back of the end zone.
“From what I saw, it was extremely close to being out of bounds. I just made sure to get my foot in,” Langfield said.
The Demons took back the lead on the next series with a four-play drive highlighted by Keaton Robinson’s juggled catch that gained 57 yards.
Two plays later, Graff and Robinson hooked up for a 28-yard touchdown.
Again Holy Family had the answer, and this time Chappell hit Paul Schietinger from 16 yards. Buena Vista looked to take the lead back when it ventured into Holy Family territory. But Stockhausen stepped in front of a curl route and intercepted Graff’s pass to end the threat.
Two plays later, Chappell launched a moon-ball to Langfield, who fought off Graff and again barely stayed inbounds for the points that put Holy Family in the lead for good.
“You’ve got to trust that your receivers are going to be there,” Chappell said.
Holy Family took control when a snap sailed over punter Ryan Gutierrez, setting up the Tigers at the Demons’ 16-yard line. Chappell hit Langfield on a slant to make the score 28-14 going into halftime.
With the wind picking up and the passing game a crapshoot at best, the Tigers handed the duties to Stockhausen.
Starting at their 25 with 11:43 left in the game, the Tigers put together a 16-play drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock. Stockhausen carried 12 times on that drive for 58 yards and a touchdown.
“The O-line expected it to fall on their shoulders, and I just did my part in the offense,” Stockhausen said.
2A MVP
This honor could have gone to any number of Holy Family Tigers (see Patrick Chappell, Mike Langfield). But senior running back Tim Stockhausen took over the game in a windy second half by grinding out yards and eating up the clock. Stockhausen finished with 179 yards and a touchdown. And it was his first-half interception that led to Holy Family’s first lead, a lead the Tigers never relinquished.
Buena Vista 7 7 0 6 – 20
Holy Family 0 28 0 7 – 35
BV – Ray 1 run (Gutierrez kick). HF – Langfield 28 pass from Chappell (Glynn kick). BV – Robinson 28 pass from Graff (Gutierrez kick). HF – Schietinger 16 pass from Chappell (Glynn kick). HF – Langfield 34 pass from Chappell (Glynn kick). HF – Langfield 13 pass from Chappell (Glynn kick). HF – Stockhausen 1 run (Glynn kick). BV – Solder 15 pass from Graff (run failed).
