FORT COLLINS — For once, the Lambkins ate the Wolves.
While wondering if its ticket was validated for not only its league but across Class 5A, Fort Collins received its answer on Thursday night.
It’s good at all venues.
The Lambkins used big plays and a defense that got stronger to defeat Grandview 20-13 at French Field in big-school nonleague play.
Fort Collins, ranked No. 10 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, entered the game 4-0, but had no idea how good it is.
Consider it another answer heard loud and clear: The Lambkins, atop the Front Range League, will be factors.
“It’s a huge deal,” Fort Collins junior Ben Marum said after he turned a screen pass into a 40-yard touchdown and pulled off the game-winner on a 75-yard punt return. “We’re trying to prove ourselves to our league even and we’re focusing on it. We delivered.”
And how — the Wolves, ranked seventh, blew a 13-0 lead and had no answers down the stretch, particularly on offense.
“We struggled quite a bit and we’re very inexperienced there and it showed,” Grandview coach John Schultz said.
At the outset, Grandview, 3-2, appeared ready to earn a nonleague victory, then be ready for the final month of the Centennial. Instead, it was the Lambkins making a point and getting poised to keep control of the Front Range.
The Wolves scored on their first possession, a 15-yard scoring run by Zack Nelson, then proceeded to all but squander every other possession. Even with consecutive turnovers providing prime field position, Grandview settled for field goals by Luke Tomlinson.
Fort Collins, all but quiet on offense the first half, managed a 40-yard scoring pass from Erik Brakke to Marum 16 seconds before halftime and set the tempo the rest of the way.
The Lambkins, who had trouble with the Wolves’ exterior defensive pressure, beat it across the middle — Brakke connected with Eli Demmer on a slant pattern, and Demmer outraced the Wolves’ secondary for an 80-yard TD that tied it at 13.
The game-winner came four plays later and after the second of four Grandview punts in the second half. Marum, speedy and savvy, got a head start against the Wolves’ pursuit and breezed into the end zone.
Grandview had three more chances, but didn’t get a first down in the second half until just six minutes remained and didn’t handle the Lamb-kins’ front.
“I think our younger kids learned a lesson tonight,” Schultz said. “You can’t relax with a 13-0 lead.”
Said a thrilled Fort Collins coach Eric Rice: “Our defense took the field with confidence and thinks it can play with anybody.”
Grandview 7 6 0 0 — 13
Fort Collins 0 6 14 0 — 20
G — Nelson 15 run (Tomlinson kick). G — FG Tomlinson 23. G — FG Tomlinson 24. FTC — Marum 40 pass from E. Brakke (kick failed). FTC — Demmer 80 pass from E. Brakke (E. Brakke kick). FTC — Marum 75 punt return (E. Brakke kick).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
