DENVER—Bo Bolen scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead Grandview to its first state football championship with a 20-14 victory over Douglas County in the Class 5A title game Saturday evening.
Bolen, who rushed for 98 yards on 26 carries, ran 10 yards to clinch the game for Grandview (12-2) on the first play in overtime at Invesco Field.
Douglas County’s Tyler Jackson then blocked the extra-point attempt, his second blocked kick of the game, allowing the Huskies a chance to win on their overtime possession.
In high school competition, each team gets four downs to score in the extra period.
But everything went wrong for Douglas County (11-3), the No. 6 seed from Castle Rock, which won its only state championship in the school’s 112-year history in 2005.
On the first play, quarterback Will Arnold was sacked for an 18-yard loss. A delay-of-game penalty and an incomplete pass made it third-and-33, and Arnold was sacked again.
Douglas County running back Jose Astorga ran for a game-high 104 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown, while Arnold threw for 107 yards on 5-of-11 passing.
Grandview quarterback Rich Hitz was 6 of 12 for 45 yards and ran for 33 yards on 13 carries.
Bolen finished the year as the top rusher in Class 5A, running for nearly 2,400 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Grandview, the fifth seed from Aurora, stole the game from Douglas County.
With 1:56 to play, Jackson blocked a punt, picked it up and ran in for what appeared to be the game-winning score. But Douglas County was flagged for an illegal block below the waist, a play that occurred nearly 15 yards from the ball carrier, and the Huskies started the drive at Grandview’s 25-yard line.
To its credit, Grandview’s defense stood tall, forcing Douglas County kicker Justin Brown to attempt a 39-yard field goal, which fell short.
The game was evenly matched from start to finish.
Douglas County took a 7-0 lead two seconds into the second quarter on a 2-yard run by Astorga. The touchdown capped a 7-play, 55-yard drive that took 5:58 off the clock.
After the teams traded possessions, Grandview tied the game 7-7 on a hard-nosed, 17-yard run by Bolen with 5:38 remaining in the period.
Grandview took a 14-7 lead on a 1-yard scoring run by Bolen with 8:56 to play in the game. The Wolves converted three, fourth-down plays during the 70-yard, 21-play series.
Douglas County countered with a five-play, 70-yard drive of its own keyed by Astorga, who had a run of 63 yards. Brown caught a 9-yard pass from Arnold to tie the game 14-14.
A steady sleet began to fall just before the game began and lasted through most of the first quarter.
Grandview missed a sure scoring opportunity on the opening drive when Hitz threw a perfect pass to Evan Taylor, which likely would have gone for a 59-yard touchdown. But Taylor dropped the wet ball as he crossed the 20, waving his arms in frustration.
Douglas County also squandered an early opportunity.
After pinning Grandview at its 1-yard line with 6:23 to play in the period, Bolen fumbled and the Huskies Luke Ruff pounced on the ball at the 4. On the ensuing play, Douglas County fumbled and Grandview recovered on its 7.
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