In the longtime, big-school struggle that has been the city versus the suburbs, chalk one up for East.
The Angels, in earning perhaps their biggest victory since the 1980s, outlasted Overland in a good old-fashioned shootout, 51-45 Saturday at All-City Stadium in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
“We needed it,” said Angels junior running back Quentin Hildreth, prominent among several players with wild numbers in an action-filled game not decided until the final 10 seconds.
Hildreth ran 15 times for 256 yards and four touchdowns, including an 80-yarder. Teammate DaVaughn Thornton had three catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
There were a combined 1,286 yards of offense, 13 touchdowns, two field goals and just two punts.
Overland, which trailed the whole way, rang up a ridiculous 676 yards and 39 first downs … and lost.
East (8-2) next gets Thomas Jefferson. Overland ended 5-5.
“(The Trailblazers) run the type of (veer) offense that scores points, and our kids just battled,” said East coach Ron Woolfork. “Overland is a good team and the type that we have to beat if we want to reach our goals.”
Said coach Tony Manfredi, whose Trailblazers began and ended with a turnover: “If you can’t stop the run, you can’t win.”
East quarterback Josh Russell ran on a draw on the game’s second play for a 41-yard score and the pace was set.
Hildreth and Thornton helped the Angels to a 34-24 halftime lead and they never broke or panicked against assorted Overland moves. Devon Connors, Rafael Elliott, Lance Willis and Marcus Kennard accounted for most of Overland’s comeback, including Kennard’s stellar grab between two defenders for a touchdown that brought it within 41-31, but East withstood anything else thrown its way.
It ended when Jamiko Verner intercepted Connors at the East 20-yard line with 10 seconds to play.
“It was good for us to go up against a team like that,” Woolfork said.
Overland 14 10 7 14 – 45
East 21 13 7 10 – 51
E – Russell 41 run (Grossnickel kick). O – Connors 37 run (Moran kick). E – Thornton 71 pass from Russell (Grossnickel kick). O – Connors 1 run Moran kick). E – Hildreth 2 run (Grossnickel kick). E – Hildreth (8 run (kick blocked). O – FG Moran 36. E – Ross 43 pass from Russell (Grossnickel kick). O – Kennard 20 pass from Connors (Moran kick). E – Hildreth 64 run (Grossnickel kick). O – Kennard 19 pass from Connors (Moran kick). E – FG Grossnickel 42. O – Connors 8 run (Moran kick). E – Hildreth 80 run (Grossnickel kick). O – Elliott 17 run Moran kick).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
