Greeley – High school football in June?
It had better be fun, and it was for dozens of recently graduated seniors Saturday evening at Nottingham Field on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado.
The South squad handled the North 20-10 as the 50th annual All-State Games, sponsored by the Colorado High School Coaches Association, provided all with an opportunity to make new friends and get in one last game as a schoolboy before looking ahead to college.
The South hadn’t defeated the North in the series since 1998.
“It was a lot of fun,” Grandview defensive lineman Ethan Davis said after helping the South with two sacks. “You get to meet lots of new people and (the South) had been on a losing streak for so long.”
Davis, an All-Colorado defensive lineman chosen by The Denver Post in 2005, will play next season for the UNC Bears.
Ultimately, quarterback Josh Chavez (Pueblo Central) sealed the victory for the South on an 8-yard bootleg with 1:40 to play in the game, which was conducted in 15-minute quarters, as opposed to the standard 12 for preps.
But the South, which trailed 10-7 at halftime, could have run away and hid earlier. Despite an all-star game unusually devoid of numerous penalties – players practiced only four times – one had a definite effect. Jeremy Young (Florence) threw what appeared to be a 52-yard touchdown pass to Chris Schardt (Colorado Springs Christian) on a halfback-option play in the third quarter, only to have it erased by an offensive lineman caught downfield illegally.
Still, Young threw an option pass from his wide receiver position for the game’s first touchdown in the second quarter.
“I would have liked to have that second one, too,” Young said.
Said Chavez: “Not just the game, but the whole week was good. These are some of the best athletes in Colorado and I think we showed it.”
Tight end Nate Solder (Buena Vista) and linebacker L.D. Meier (Limon) were other South players who drew notice, as did team MVP Aaron Vandermark (Rye).
For the North, quarterback Sean McDougal (Arvada West), wide receiver Aromous Robinson (Bear Creek), running back Blayde Becksted (Poudre) and quarterback Kyle Black (ThunderRidge) were the offensive leaders, with linebacker Dex Cure (Wray) one of the defensive stalwarts.
In the second quarter, Chavez threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Matt Bourget (Salida) for South and Young nailed a 51-yarder to Tyler Rawlings (Montrose).
Nick Lind (ThunderRidge) opened the scoring for the North on a 25-yard field goal in the first quarter and Black rolled to a 5-yard run in the second quarter. Both are headed to the Air Force Academy.
“We got a little nervous,” Chavez said. “But even with all the work we put in, it was well worth it.”
This year’s version of the All-State Games will conclude Wednesday, when softball players will compete at Christopher Field in Westminster at 2:30 p.m.
North 3 7 0 0 – 10
South 0 7 7 6 – 20
N – FG Lind 25. S – Rawlings 51 pass from Young (Young kick). N – Black 5 run (Lind kick). S – Bourget 14 pass from Chavez. S – Chavez 8 run (kick failed).
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or at ndevlin@denverpost.com.
