Lakewood – Montrose coach Todd Casebier thought he had his Indians well-prepared to play a Zero Week game Friday night against Class 4A defending state champion Wheat Ridge.
In addition to losing a full week of practice for the early game, the coach tutored his players in the two-minute drill, got them ready for trick plays, threw in a few new plays, prevent defense, etc.
The one thing he didn’t go over was playing in overtime.
Of course, that’s what Montrose faced and overcame – the Indians outlasted the Farmers 30-24 in a nonleague game at Jefferson County Stadium to get the 2007 season off to a rousing start.
“That’s what we didn’t do,” Casebier said. “We didn’t go over overtime, but our conditioning played a role and our kids kept coming.
“I told myself with three minutes to go that no matter what happens, we have found out a lot about ourselves.”
The Indians’ lines were solid throughout, their sound conditioning was evident and junior quarterback-defensive back Kirk English established himself as one to watch as he scored four touchdowns, including the winner, and turned in multiple key plays in the secondary.
“I’m just speechless about it,” English said. “We’re not going to stop and we’re going to work hard.”
Wheat Ridge, which battled cramping to key players, notably to junior back Parker Orms, had chances to put the Indians away, running to a 13-0 lead and looking for more.
However, Montrose kept grinding, won the battles up front, particularly late, and rode English, running back Jeremy Jones and a defense that helped overcome two lost Indians’ fumbles.
Senior quarterback Ryan Routzen, who stepped in at midweek when Farmers projected starter Taylor Aversano, a transfer from Green Mountain, was informed he would have to sit out the first half of the regular season, threw one touchdown pass to Mac Land and ran for another touchdown.
In a game with four lead changes, Farmers sophomore kicker Matt Schultz punched through a 27-yard field goal with one second to play in regulation.
But after the Farmers didn’t reach the end zone three times from the 10-yard line in OT, Schultz’s 26-yarder sailed left.
Montrose took three plays to end it, with English getting in behind a superior Indians front.
“We couldn’t put them away,” Farmers coach Reid Kahl said. “But it was a heck of a football game.”
Montrose 0 7 7 10 6 – 30
Wheat Ridge 7 6 8 3 0 – 24
WR – Land 16 pass from Orms (Schultz kick). WR – Routzen 2 run (kick failed). M – English 8 run (Hedrick kick). M – English 5 run (Hedrick kick). WR – Land 8 pass from Routzen (Mews run). M – FG Hedrick 36. M – English 3 run (Hedrick kick). WR – FG Schultz 27. M – English 1 run.
Staff writer Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-854-1714- or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
