AURORA — For Tyler Pace, the results weren’t proportional to the workload.
The Pomona running back was compiling an extravagant yardage total Saturday at Legacy Stadium, but his team was clinging to a mere six-point lead against Cherokee Trail entering the final quarter.
So Pace kept churning away.
His continued assault of the Cougars’ defense set up two late touchdowns, and the third-seeded Panthers escaped the Class 5A second-round playoff game with a 28-7 win against the No. 19 Cougars.
“It was almost frustrating because we had all these yards and we couldn’t put points on the board,” Pace said. “But it gave us motivation and we scored.”
In true workhorse fashion, Pace piled up 230 yards on 31 carries. While his 123 yards and 46-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Panthers a nice start, it was Pace’s 62 combined yards on Pomona’s final two scoring drives — each ending with a short touchdown run by Nick Allen — that punched the Panthers’ ticket to the quarterfinals against Big 8 rival Bear Creek.
The Pomona defense was stout, limiting Cougars standout quarterback Diamond Gillis’ effectiveness.
“They had good linebackers and corners who could jam us, and they had a good run defense,” Cherokee Trail receiver Austin Huff said.
The unit’s lone blemish was surrendering a 91-yard touchdown drive to Cherokee Trail (6-5) in the third. It ended with a 20-yard touchdown strike from Gillis to Huff and cut Pomona’s advantage to 13-7. The Jay Madden-coached Panthers allowed only one first down the rest of the way, and that was on the final play.
“Madden is one of the best,” Pomona linebacker Tanner Ryan said. “He’s got us scouting in film sessions and executing it in practice. Everything we do is based on what we see. It works.”
The Panthers entered the locker room up 13-0 after a 26-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Grimes to Drew Ebner with 1:13 remaining in the first half. After successfully closing out the Cougars, the Panthers will shift their focus to Bear Creek.
“We’ve beat them before, so we’re going to come out with the same mentality, play the same way and hopefully we come out with the win,” Pace said.
Pomona 7 6 0 15 — 28
Cherokee Trail 0 0 7 0 — 7
P – Pace 46 run (Carter kick). P – Ebner 26 pass from Grimes (kick blocked). C – Huff 20 pass from Gillis. P – Allen 2 run (Grimes run). P – Allen 3 run (Carter kick).
