Lakewood — When a team doesn’t have a history of saying much, a hard-fought victory can be a big statement.
Falcon saw a good start fizzle against Conifer as missed opportunities, turnovers, penalties and a refocused Lobos squad in the second half seemed to have the Falcons pointed back toward recent history.
Nursing a three-point lead, however, the Falcons came up with two stops in the fourth quarter to preserve a 17-14 Class 3A nonleague victory at Trailblazer Stadium in a game they probably would have lost a season ago.
“I tell you what, the kids never gave up,” Falcons coach Jason Catron said. “That’s something we’ve improved from the past couple years is that in tight, crunch situations, we didn’t fold. We kept our heads high and got the job done.”
Falcon quarterback Paul Rotering threw for 146 yards and rushed for 59, and elusive running back Keenan Ballage was held to 66 yards while battling some discomfort in his right leg in the second half. Ballage was effective early, though, rushing for 71 yards by halftime and a 9-yard touchdown run around the right side.
Receiver Matt DeGeorge had four catches for 80 yards for a Falcon team that won just three games last season, one via forfeit.
“Most of the times we’ve had a good season, but it could have been better,” Rotering said. “This year, we’re just tearing it up, I think.”
The Falcons (1-0) scored twice in the second quarter and could have been up by more had they not missed a short field goal and DeGeorge not had the ball stripped out of his hands by Willie Hayes on the Conifer 8-yard line.
The Lobos (0-1) cut the deficit to 14-6 in the third quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Travis Stickney.
A 23-yard field goal by Falcon’s Raul Franco proved to be decisive as it put the Falcons up 17-6 with 8:53 remaining.
Conifer scored one minute later on a 69-yard touchdown strike from backup quarterback Craig Fowler to sophomore Stephen Theiss. The Lobos failed, however, to pick up a first down after getting the ball back with 4:30 remaining courtesy of an Aaron Madrid interception.
“We had a little talk at half and the kids came out and played Conifer football,” Lobos coach Larry Fitzmaurice said. “Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough.”
Falcon0 14 0 3 — 17
Conifer0 0 6 8 — 14
F — Gustad 7 run (Franco kick). F — Ballage 9 run (Franco kick). C — Stickney 2 run (kick failed). F — FG Franco 23. C — Theiss 69 pass from Fowler (Gorrell run).
