Lakewood – C.J. Gillman’s fumble deep in Bear Creek territory Thursday night wasn’t nearly as damaging as the Columbine running back first thought.
Columbine, ranked No. 4 in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll, withstood a late charge by Bear Creek and held on for a 28-21 South Metro League victory at Jefferson County Stadium.
“I was hoping I’d get a chance to make a play … and make up for (the fumble),” Gillman said.
That he did – on defense.
Gillman intercepted a Jake Spitzlberger pass in Columbine (8-1, 8-1 in league) territory with 25 seconds left after Spitzlberger led the Bears just across midfield. The drive followed the Rebels’ 76-yard, go-ahead touchdown drive that culminated with Chad Korodaj’s 4-yard run with 1:12 left.
Columbine’s long drive, which featured the running of Korodaj (95 yards on 17 carries for the game), answered a 94-yard, 16-play drive by Bear Creek (6-3, 6-3) that followed Gillman’s fumble.
Spitzlberger, 27-of-41 for 262 yards passing, engineered the drive with precise short passing. He hit Ryan Smith for a 9-yard touchdown to tie the game 21-21 with 6:36 remaining.
“I was pretty worried,” Gillman said of his fumble. “But Chad marched us straight down the field. There was nothing stopping him.”
But Gillman and the Rebels defense realized the game was far from over after Korodaj’s second touchdown run of the game, especially with Spitzlberger, the state’s leading passer, in action.
After Columbine went 58 yards capped by Korodaj’s 20-yard touchdown run for a 21-7 lead to open the second half, Bear Creek responded with an 80-yard, 13-play drive, Spitzlberger hitting do-everything sophomore Tommy Flanagan for a 36-yard touchdown. Flanagan finished with 12 catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Bear Creek, which had four second-half turnovers against Doherty last week, opened the game with a big miscue. Flanagan fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and University of Colorado-bound Ryan Miller recovered on the Bears 24.
Bear Creek 7 0 7 7 – 21
Columbine 6 8 7 7 – 28
C – Gillman 10 run (kick failed). BC – Flanagan 5 pass from Spitzlberger (Flanagan kick). C – Korodaj 1 run (run failed). C – Safety, blocked punt. C – Korodaj 20 run (Anundsen kick). C – Flanagan 36 pass from Spitzlberger (Flanagan kick). BC – Smith 9 pass from Spitzlberger (Flanagan kick). C – Korodaj 10 run (Anundsen kick).
