LAKEWOOD — Bear Creek may have a new saying: Lockett and pocket the victory.
Much maligned for their lack of defense and disappointing performance through six weeks of 2009, the Bears shocked Columbine 34-7 on Thursday night at Jefferson County Stadium in the Class 5A Big 8 League as Lukas Lockett dominated.
The senior running back rushed 26 times for 221 yards and five touchdowns as Bear Creek improved to 3-4 overall, 2-3 in league. And with their first win over the Rebels in five years, the Bears easily turned in a season-best performance.
“The line did a good job; the defense did the best job they’ve done all year,” Lockett said. “We held them to seven points. It was great.”
Columbine (5-2, 3-2), ranked No. 3 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, marched right down the field on its opening possession to take a 7-0 lead on Demetrius McDondle’s 2-yard run.
But that was it for the Rebels.
Bear Creek’s defense took over the rest of the way, permitting the Rebels only 78 yards rushing and just 35 through the air with four fumble recoveries and an interception.
It was all Lockett needed. The Bears were sharper off the ball, Lockett found holes and quarterback Zach Thenell, 5A’s leading passer, contributed 79 yards rushing.
Lockett scored on runs of 7 (twice), 45, 14 and 11 yards as coach Tom Thenell was ecstatic.
“We’re not used to being in this situation that we’ve put ourselves in,” he said of his team’s slow start. “But we have a new school (building), and I told the kids that we needed to come up with a new tradition.”
It may have begun Thursday.
“Our defense couldn’t have been put down more than it has,” Thenell said. “But not tonight. We just knew we had to run the football and take advantage.”
The younger Thenell had only seven completions for 47 yards, but the Bears rushed for 300. Their first scoring drive took 13 plays, consumed 7:09 and was marred by seven penalties, four by the Rebels.
Also, a wild swing near halftime saw six possessions over 2:38 as Columbine fumbled three times in five plays.
Unfortunately, Rebels quarterback Danny Spond went down early in the fourth quarter. He appeared to be suffering from a concussion but had his equipment cut off by trainers and was taken to a hospital by paramedics. Coach Andy Lowry was unsure of his status.
Columbine 7 0 0 0 — 7
Bear Creek 0 14 13 7 — 34
C — McDondle 6 run (Spond kick). BC — Lockett 7 run (Wingert kick). BC — Lockett 7 run (Wingert kick). BC — Lockett 45 run (Wingert kick). BC — Lockett 14 run (kick failed). BC — Lockett 11 run (Dalton kick).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
