CASTLE ROCK — You’re one of those people who thought ThunderRidge should have been playing Class 5A football all along, aren’t you?
If Thursday night was any indication, you were correct.
In a rousing opener, memories of which should last a generation for every Grizzlies players who suited up, ThunderRidge knocked down district rival and 2007 5A state runner-up Douglas County 41-35 in overtime.
The Grizzlies were thorough, overcame a handful of mistakes and made it crystal clear that the former 4A power, a program that has won three Colorado lower-level championships, will be a welcome addition to big schools.
ThunderRidge’s first-ever 5A league game, in the new nine-team Southern, was a keeper.
Behind 201 yards rushing and four touchdowns, including the game-winner by Chris Nwoke, the Grizzlies frequently left the home-team crowd at Douglas County Schools Stadium quiet and perhaps a little stunned.
The Grizzlies were stout up front, played tough defense, denied the Huskies any points on the opening possession of the extra session and were, well, thrilled.
“We played hard, not very smart at times, but we played hard,” ThunderRidge coach Joe Johnson said. “I thought our line play on the offensive side was really good, we did everything we could and we sustained it somehow.”
Said Nwoke: “The line was killing today. We did it as an offense and we came together as a team.”
And the Grizzlies did it despite throwing away a tie at halftime. Quarterback Tim Jenkins let a flat pass get away from him on what should have been a harmless final play of the second quarter. Douglas County’s Andrew Shumake picked it off and scored untouched for a 20-14 lead (the Huskies missed the extra point).
“I shouldn’t have called it,” Johnson said.
Undaunted, the Grizzlies’ front walls established control in the second half and Nwoke, who has an offer from Wyoming, scored all of his touchdowns.
ThunderRidge, while attempting to put the game away, misfired on a handoff between Jenkins and Nwoke with 1:10 to play in regulation. The Huskies made it count in spectacular fashion. Senior running back Jose Astorga, who ran for 933 yards in last year’s playoffs, came down with a desperation toss from Eddie Williams in the left corner of the end zone and three defenders all over him.
The catch came on fourth-and-23 from the 35-yard line and only 10 seconds to play in the fourth quarter.
However, the Huskies failed on their first OT attempt as the Grizzlies nabbed Astorga, who had 182 yards rushing and three touchdowns, at the 4.
Nwoke then ran it in from the 7 on the Grizzlies’ third play and the celebration began.
“We just made too many first-game mistakes,” Douglas County coach Jeff Ketron said. “It’s tough. ThunderRidge made less (mistakes) and ran the ball very effectively.
“It’s exactly what we thought, (the Grizzlies) are a very good football team. We knew what we were going to get.”
Conversely, Johnson’s group had some unknown in their thoughts.
“It was good enough and we feel pretty good about it,” he said.
ThunderRidge 41, Douglas County 35 (OT)
ThunderRidge 0 14 14 7 6 — 41
Douglas County 7 13 8 7 0 — 35
DC — Astorga 9 run (Romano kick).
TR — Jenkins 1 run (Jenkins kick).
DC — Astorga 69 run (Romano kick).
TR — Glassman 1 run (Jenkins kick).
DC — Shumake 34 interception return (kick failed).
TR — Nwoke 6 run (Jenkins kick).
DC — Astorga 23 run (Astorga run).
TR — Nwoke 7 run (Jenkins kick).
TR — Nwoke 32 run (Jenkins kick).
DC — Astorga 35 pass from Williams (Romano kick).
TR — Nwoke 7 run.
