If there is pride in a football league, the Class 3A Tri-Valley was hurting a year ago. The league sent four teams to state and saw all of them sent home in the first round.
What a difference a year makes.
Fort Morgan, Fossil Ridge and Sterling won Saturday to join Berthoud, a winner Friday over Elizabeth, in the state quarterfinals and give the Tri-Valley a perfect start.
Sterling (7-4) takes top shock honors as the No. 15 Tigers upended No. 2 and previously unbeaten Glenwood Springs 28-27 in overtime.
Sixth-seeded Fossil Ridge (9-2) held off No. 11 Steamboat Springs 20-13, and fourth- ranked Fort Morgan (10-1) took care of perennial powerhouse and 2005 champion Florence 27-8.
Platte Canyon 30, Buena Vista 20 BAILEY — Behind 439 all-purpose yards from Ben Wegener, the Huskies earned their first trip to the Class 2A state football semifinals by downing the Demons. Wegener scored three touchdowns and rushed for 278 yards on 19 carries. The No. 11 Huskies (9-2) will host second-seeded Holy Family (10-1).
Eaton 13, Faith Christian 10 ARVADA — The Class 2A Patriot League champions stunned top-seeded and defending champion Faith Christian to advance. The No. 8 Reds (8-3) will visit No. 12 Platte Valley (9-2) in the semifinals.
Hayden 14, Byers 12 BYERS — Touchdowns by Russell Waugh and Sam Kopsa propelled the No. 5 Tigers (9-2) into the Class 1A semifinals next Saturday against top-seeded Akron (11-0). The Tigers stuffed the Bulldogs’ two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.
