MERINO, Colo.—Senior quarterback Ethan Kurtzer scored three touchdowns to lead Merino to a 26-9 win over Dayspring Christian for the Class 1A 8-man state football title Saturday.
Kurtzer also had an interception on defense.
After the Dayspring Christian Eagles returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Merino stayed poised against its conference foe to finish the season 13-0. The Eagles ended their season 11-2, with their only two losses coming from Merino.
Kurtzer got in at the 5:58 mark of the second quarter to cut Dayspring Christian’s lead to 9-8. Freshman Cody Propst connected on a 28-yard field goal to give Merino its first lead, 11-9.
Kurtzer scored again in the third quarter with 11:15 to play to give his team an 18-9 advantage.
The insurance touchdown was a 14-yard scamper to the end zone by Kurtzer, thanks to a big block by senior Zach Baker.
Merino’s win marked the sixth championship for the school and fifth under head coach John Barber, who picked up his 100th win guiding the program earlier in the year.
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Information from: Sterling Journal-Advocate,
