Lakewood – By simple point of fact, Dakota Ridge quarterback Eric Cain is a year smarter and more experienced since taking over last season as a sophomore.
Saturday against Brighton, Cain looked light years ahead of where he left off in terms of poise and polish.
Cain threw for one touchdown and ran for another to lead the 10th-ranked Eagles to a 35-12 Class 4A nonleague victory over the Bulldogs in the season opener for both teams at Jefferson County Stadium.
Cain, who threw his first pass for a 40-yard touchdown to receiver Josh Kornmann, completed 12-of-17 passes for 176 yards and no interceptions as the Eagles churned out 16 first downs by the end of the third quarter.
Cain connected with five different receivers, led by the senior Kornmann, who hauled in six for 102 yards.
“It all started with coach (Ron Woitalewicz),” Cain said. “He really gets us going. It’s his play schemes and everything. It’s perfect. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Life without all-state running back Cody Lunsford went pretty well for the Eagles, who mixed and matched running backs Jeff Freeman and Stefan Sanchez with fullbacks Zach Erfurdt and Scott Valdez. Valdez led the committee with 50 yards rushing; Freeman scored two touchdowns and Erfurdt had one.
The Dakota Ridge defense showed off its experience by winning the battle in the trenches, limiting the Bulldogs to 91 yards rushing and forcing two turnovers that the offense converted into 13 points. Senior linebacker Ryan Davis grabbed an interception on the game’s fourth play and Jason Shultz pounced on a fumble midway through the third quarter.
“That’s what we’re going to have to do: bring some people and put pressure on the quarterback,” Woitalewicz said.
Despite a slow start, the Bulldogs regrouped in the second quarter and trailed 14-0 at halftime. But things unraveled in the third quarter as the Eagles scored three straight touchdowns and the Bulldogs’ offense failed to pick up a first down.
Quarterback Austin Klosterman threw for 117 yards and ran for two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter. The senior playmaker spent much of the afternoon dealing with bad snaps and porous pass blocking.
“We had a lot of pressure on me,” he said. “Our receivers need to get downfield better and get off their cornerbacks, but other than that, we did fine.”
Brighton’s best scoring chance in the first half came off a fumble recovery at the Eagles’ 36. The offense, which had picked up a first down in all its previous drives, got stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the Dakota Ridge 27.
Brighton 0 0 0 12 – 12
Dakota Ridge 14 0 21 0 – 35
DR – Kornmann 40 pass from Cain (kick failed). DR – Freeman 2 run (Freeman pass from Cain). DR – Cain 1 run (Bell kick). DR – Erfurdt 5 run (Bell kick). DR – Freeman 11 run (Bell kick). B – Klosterman 1 run (kick failed). B – Klosterman 2 run (run failed).
