Arvada – Ralston Valley’s defense did not save its best for last. Instead, it started with greatness.
The Mustangs stopped the powerful rushing machine that is Monarch on the first series of the game – a statement that would set the tone the rest of the way – and then opened up a scoreless game midway through the fourth quarter for a 17-0 victory over the Coyotes in the Class 4A state quarterfinals Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex.
After watching Monarch grind out 5 and 6 yards a run using only a handful of plays, the Mustangs stiffened inside their own 10-yard line and Jentry Yost stuffed Coyotes running back Cale Soole on a fourth-and-2 at Ralston Valley’s 8. It would be the first of six fourth-down stands made by the Mustangs, who held Monarch scoreless for just the second time in a decade.
“I just did my job,” Yost said. “Everyone goes out and does their job, and that play happened to be my play.”
Ralston Valley (11-1) returns to the semifinals for the second straight year, and will host Wheat Ridge. Monarch (11-1), state champions in 2002, was able to generate a bit of yardage on the ground. But the 220-yard total, led by Soole’s 133 on 29 carries, was not on par with what this offense usually puts up.
Credit that to Ralston Valley’s impressive defense. Defensive end Erik Williams teamed with Nick Snyder to stuff Monarch fourth-down try on its first drive of the second half, and then Williams recovered a fumble with 5:16 remaining in the game and the Mustangs up 7-0.
“We wanted to let them know that we came to play, too, and we didn’t care what their record was,” Williams said.
Prior to Williams’ fumble recovery, after the teams combined for six punts, an interception and a turnover on downs in the second half, Ralston Valley put up the first points of the night.
Set up by a 15-yard punt by Monarch, Mustangs quarterback Cameron Wright ducked under a leaping defender and found Nate Ormsby for an 8-yard gain. Two plays later Wright faked a quick handoff and burst through the middle of the line for 23 yards and a first-and-goal on Monarch’s two.
Payton McLachlan punched in the touchdown from there.
Wright carried eight times for 47 yards to lead his team, and McLachlan finished with 25 yards on seven carries. T.J. Martinez, whose 26 touchdown run with 2:47 remaining wrapped up the victory, ran three times for 30 yards.
Monarch 0 0 0 0 – 0
Ralston Valley 0 0 0 17 – 17
RV – McLachlan 2 run (Mihalcin kick). RV – FG Mihalcin 22. RV – Martinez 26 run (Mihalcin kick).
