Colorado Springs – Jordan Savage and the Pine Creek defense went wild Friday night.
The 5-foot-9 running back ran for four touchdowns and the Eagles forced five Pueblo West turnovers in a 28-7 Class 4A Pikes Peak League victory at District 20 Stadium.
Savage carried the ball 19 times for 117 yards, scored on runs of 9, 19, 1 and 1, and hauled in a 50-yard pass late in the second quarter to help the Eagles (6-1, 5-1 league) build a 21-0 halftime lead.
While not too interested in talking about his big night, Savage was more concerned with what the victory meant.
“This is a big conference game, because now we stay a game behind (Fountain-Fort Carson) and we’ll be OK if we keep playing well,” he said. “It was a big game and it was homecoming.”
Pueblo West quarterback Jerry Denogean was intercepted four times and workhorse running back Justin Jackson was held to just 44 yards. Jackson caught five passes for 28 yards and Ryan Wormington had 73 yards on six catches.
The Cyclones (5-2, 2-2), who played 3A football last season, abandoned the running game late in the first quarter after falling behind 14-0.
Pueblo West had great field position through most of the second half but could only manage a 20-yard touchdown run on a reverse by receiver Tim Peveler.
“We try to hang our hat on our defense,” Eagles coach Todd Miller said.
The Cyclones stuffed the Eagles’ opening drive on fourth-and-1 at the Pueblo West 7 but would pay for the poor field position on Pine Creek’s next drive.
The Eagles next took over at the Cyclones’ 45 and needed seven plays for Jake Roberson to hook up with Savage on a 9-yard option to the right side with a minute left in the first quarter.
Pine Creek doubled its lead 13 seconds later.
The Cyclones’ next drive lasted one play as Jackson was hit behind the line of scrimmage and lost the ball to Cody Martin. Savage took the next play around the left side for a 19-yard touchdown scamper.
Denogean worked out of a shotgun formation with three- and four-receiver sets in the second quarter but was intercepted twice, once by Martin and once by Jake Divich, which set up Savage’s third TD.
Savage was hauled down at the Cyclones’ 6 after a 50-yard catch and scored 1 yard out three plays later on a dive over the left tackle.
Pueblo West 0 0 7 0 – 7
Pine Creek 14 7 0 7 – 28
PC – Savage 9 run (Bills kick). PC – Savage 19 run (Bills kick). PC – Savage 1 run (Bills kick). PW – Peveler 20 run (Rodriquez kick). PC – Savage 1 run (Bills kick).
