Littleton – Alex Rios didn’t have his blinker on, yet he executed an unannounced turn for his Arapahoe Warriors that would be the envy of Denver’s frustrated commuters during rush hour.
In the closing seconds of the first half Thursday night, Rios picked off a pass and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown through traffic that was the decisive play in the Warriors’ season-opening 28-19 victory over Chaparral in Class 5A Continental League action at Littleton Public Schools Stadium.
“That was the game-turner right there,” new Chaparral coach John Vogt said.
A play after Wolverines starting quarterback Jerry Slota was sidelined with an elbow injury, Rios intercepted the first attempt by backup Nikolas Pavlich, got to daylight, outran immediate Wolverines pursuit, picked up a couple of blocks and took it to the end zone with eight seconds remaining in the second quarter. The ensuing conversion kick gave Arapahoe a 14-13 lead after it easily could have been trailing 21-7.
“It was a big-time play by a big-time player,” Warriors coach Mike Campbell said.
Said Rios, “I made (the interception) and had no idea I was going to return it.”
It had been all Chaparral early, but two lost fumbles and a missed field goal didn’t back up its superior line play. And behind Rios and defensive tackle Matthew Weems, Arapahoe limited Chaparral to a net 3 yards in the third quarter.
Then the rushing of Bill Mercer, the passing of Matt Johnson, crack line play on both sides and a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD by Eric Soehngen after Rios stopped a two-point try that would have tied it at 21 sealed it.
Chaparral 7 6 0 6 – 19
Arapahoe 7 7 7 7 – 28
C – Johnson 78 run (Davies kick). A – Mercer 1 run (Durkin kick). C – Gallagher 67 pass from Slota (kick failed). A – Rios 84 interception return (Durkin kick). A – Mercer 15 run (Durkin kick). C – Newton 3 pass from Pavlich (pass failed). A – Soehngen 99 kickoff return (Durkin kick).
Staff writer Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
