Lakewood – Add three more names to the long list of big-play backs from Conifer.
Quarterback Jimmy Gorrell and tailbacks Travis Stickney and Willie Hayes all gained more than 100 yards rushing as the Lobos racked up 432 yards rushing in a 49-30 Class 3A nonleague victory over visiting Woodland Park on Thursday night at Trailblazer Stadium.
The backs, as well as Conifer coach Larry Fitzmaurice, heaped much of the credit on the offensive line.
“Our ‘hogs’ are just too good. There was a lot of room to run. We couldn’t have done it without the hogs,” Hayes said.
Hayes, a sophomore, finished with 124 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Stickney led the Lobos with 144 yards on 13 carries, and Gorrell racked up 100 yards on his first three carries and finished with 110 and two scores. Gorrell also completed 4-of-6 six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Conifer (2-0) blew open a close game in the second half. The Lobos led 14-6 at halftime, then scored four touchdowns on consecutive possessions to jump ahead 42-14.
But Woodland Park (1-1) tried to relive its rally from a year ago behind quarterback J. Gromel- ski. The athletic senior ran for two touchdowns and threw for another in the final quarter.
The game’s last six possessions ended in touchdowns, three for each team.
“We played pretty well defensively for three quarters, then Jake went to work,” Fitzmaurice said. “He did that to us last year. He’s a great quarterback.”
Gromelski led a second-half comeback in the Panthers’ 38-37 double-overtime victory over Conifer in the first game of last season. He did not give up until the final gun this time, whether it was kick returns or nearly recovering his own onside kick.
“They ran it right down our throats, and we had no answer for them,” Gromelski said. “But we said the whole time through the fourth quarter that we were going to play for pride.”
Woodland Park’s Benjamin Fischer gained 96 yards on 17 carries but lost two first-quarter fumbles.
Woodland Park 0 6 0 24 – 30
Conifer 14 0 14 21 – 49
C – Balent 1 run (Poe pass from Gorrell). C – Hayes 36 run (run failed). WP – E. Beaver 5 pass from Gromelski (run failed). C – Gorrell 1 run (Flavin kick). C – Hayes 7 run (Flavin kick). C – Poe 16 pass from Gorrell (Flavin kick). WP – Gromelski 1 run (Fischer run). C – Waibel 7 run (Flavin kick). WP – Gromelski 13 run (Fischer run). C – Gorrell 1 run (Flavin kick). WP – Fischer 11 pass from Gromelski (Gromelski run).
