Arvada – “That was a long week,” Arvada West coach Casey Coons said.
It’s especially long after a defeat, as it was for the Wildcats, who lost their opener on the road last weekend.
However, the time must have seemed to fly by Thursday night as the Wildcats whipped Bear Creek 38-14 at the North Area Athletic Complex.
Despite it being Week 2, Arvada West couldn’t afford another loss in the new Class 5A South Metro League. Both teams are 1-1.
The Wildcats made sure against the Bears, who were ranked No. 6 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll. They scored in every quarter, caused three turnovers, repeatedly won the line of scrimmage, played solid defense and grew up considerably.
“We’re a little young, still getting into the mix of things,” Wildcats junior quarterback Luke Campbell said.
Said Coons: “Luke played much better this week (A-West lost to Doherty 21-18). He handled the ball better and played with more composure.”
Campbell’s totals were modest – 46 yards rushing and 8-of-11 passing for 98 yards – but he ran the team, had three nice passing connections to Nebraska-bound tight end Ryan Hill and teamed with Jed Herblan (18-110) as the ‘Cats main rushers. He also scored the game’s first two touchdowns.
“Luke got the ball to Ryan and just made more plays,” Coons said.
A-West led all the way. Travis Harrison intercepted Bear Creek quarterback Jake Spitzlberger on the Bears’ first play, returning it 25 yards to the 3-yard line.
Campbell ran it in and the rout was brewing.
With the Bears unable to generate much offensively, Campbell scored from 25 yards out midway through the second quarter and the ‘Cats executed a crack two-minute drill, moving 55 yards to set up a 31-yard field goal by Justin Castor for a 16-0 halftime lead.
Hill, a large (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) target who also can line up wide, beat single coverage for a 33-yard touchdown reception early in the third quarter (he finished with four receptions for 94 yards), then a fumble recovery led to Herblan’s 1-yard plunge.
Herblan added a 21-yard touchdown run down the stretch before wholesale substitutions completed the whitewashing.
The Bears, listless throughout, played the second half without Spitzlberger. Coach Tom Thenell said he watched Spitzlberger take a shot in the head in front of the Bear Creek bench and refused to take any chances.
“We didn’t think he was right,” Thenell said. “It’s Week 2, so it wasn’t worth it.”
Bears backup quarterback Casey Mills, a junior, threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns, both to sophomore DaJuan Mack, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
“Our goals are to get better each week,” Campbell said.
Bear Creek 0 0 8 6 – 14
Arvada West 7 9 15 7 – 38
AW – Campbell 3 run (Castor kick). AW – Campbell 25 run (kick failed) AW – FG Castor 31. AW – Hill 33 pass from Campbell (Greco run). AW – Herblan 1 run (Castor kick). BC – Mack 16 pass from Mills (Flanagan pass from Mills). AW – Herblan 21 run (Castor kick). BC – Mack 16 pass from Mills (pass failed).
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
