LAKEWOOD — There’s no more doubt. Defending Class 5A champion Columbine is the one.
The Rebels had little trouble in thrashing Bear Creek 56-20 on Friday night at Jefferson County Stadium in The Denver Post game of the week. Top-ranked in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll and within the top 25 of various national polls, Columbine won the South Metro League, its ninth game in a row in 2007 and 22nd in succession.
The Rebels haven’t lost since opening week of the 2006 season and are a lock to be the top seed into next weekend’s 5A state playoffs. The Colorado High School Activities Association will announce the 32-team bracket Sunday.
Columbine was thorough as its lines, defense and rushing game quickly turned it into a rout in the second quarter. The Rebels actually trailed 6-0 early, then gradually pulled away.
“We’re surprised (the victory occurred so easily),” Rebels senior running back Orenzo Davis said. “We thought Bear Creek would come out for a good game, but we played hard, scored (more than) 50 and got it done … We’re just going at it week-by-week and trying to get better.”
How much better can they get?
A lot, said Curtis Cunningham, a senior defensive tackle who’s headed to play at the University of Colorado.
“We need to keep doing it.” he said. “The playoffs are here and we’ll get everyone’s best game.”
Said Rebels coach Andy Lowry: “The kids are getting better. We challenged them. … We have some challenges in front of us and the kids are responding. They responded tonight.”
Bear Creek opened with a 13-play, 84-yard drive that Lowry said was “great,” but it was all Rebels afterward.
Six plays later, Davis, who is getting some recruiting sniffs from Wyoming, scored from the 31.
Columbine created space with a 16-point barrage in the second quarter, aided by Brett Weibel keeping a punt from going into the end zone. It pinned the third-ranked Bears (7-2) at their 2-yard line and Cunningham sacked quarterback Zach Thenell for a safety on the first play.
Kyler Brady’s 63-yard touchdown run and a 25-yarder by Jeff Cicchinelli – set up by Scott Anundsen’s interception – made it 23-7 at halftime, then Cicchinelli and Davis added touchdowns.
Senior running back Chad Korodaj had a 1-yard scoring plunge and sophomore place- kicker Danny Spond added a 76-yard interception return for another touchdown. Backup quarterback Tyler Trader ran 65 yards for the final score.
Bear Creek had no answers. The Columbine defensive line of Cunningham, Ben Tedford and Matt Birkeness was very active and the unit intercepted Thenell three times.
“We had our chances for some scoring and we didn’t do it,” said Bears coach Tomn Thenell, whose team also may have lost left tackle Jeremiah Sirles. The 6-foot-8 junior suffered a knee injury and was to be evaluated Saturday.
Columbine 7 16 13 20 – 56
Bear Creek 6 0 8 6 – 20
BC – Flanagan 3 run (kick failed). C – Davis 31 run (Spond kick). C – Saftey. C – Brady 63 run (Spond kick). C – Cicchinelli 25 run (Spond kick). C – Cicchinelli 2 run (Spond kick). BC – Mack 3 pass from Thenell (Mills pass from Thenell). C – Davis 24 pass from Brady (kick failed). C – Korodaj 1 run (Spond kick). C – Spond 76 interception return (Spond kick). BC – Flanagan 72 pass from Thenell (pass failed). C – Trader 65 run (run failed).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
