HIGHLANDS RANCH — Incentive? Chaparral had plenty of it Thursday night against district rival Highlands Ranch, perhaps none more riveting than recalling last year’s loss.
So the Wolverines, despite a slow first quarter, erupted and pasted the Falcons 42-0 at Stadium in the Class 5A Continental League. Ranked No. 5 in The Denver Post/ 9News 5a poll, they moved to 6-2 overall, 3-1 in league and a game off the Continental pace set by Regis Jesuit.
“We were pumped up for this one,” said linebacker Adam Balsiger, one of several Chaparral players extremely active on defense.
A year ago, Highlands Ranch knocked off 6-0 Chaparral 38-26. This time, the Wolverines returned the favor as the Falcons, who made it into the poll at No. 10, slipped to 7-1, 3-1.
“Obviously, with Andrew (Loudenback), we’re just a different football team,” coach John Vogt said of his senior quarterback who sat out the first five games of the season — the Wolverines were 3-2 — because of a transfer more than a year ago.
Chaparral owned the middle quarters to put it away. Loudenback threw four touchdown passes to three receivers, two to Christian Gann, including an 80-yarder. The Wolverines scored on six of seven possessions to put the Falcons under the 40-point mercy rule — a running clock — late in the third quarter and rolled to 418 yards of offense.
Of note, the Wolverines’ lines were large and dominant.
“We were good there,” Vogt said.
Conversely, Highlands Ranch was held to 136 yards of offense. Every time the Falcons threatened, they were called for a penalty or didn’t convert — they were 3-for-12 on third down and 0-for-3 on fourth down. And they punted six times.
It was one of those nights, and there wasn’t a thing the Falcons could do about it.
“We had opportunities to capitalize,” Highlands Ranch coach Darrel Gorham said. “The kids were emotional and were just shook up, way too keyed up.
“Chaparral’s good and getting better as they go along. They were just too much for us.”
Highlands Ranch will close out the regular season in six days, when it hosts undefeated Regis Jesuit; Chaparral, in a week, will welcome Mountain Vista.
Highlands Ranch 0 0 0 0 — 0
Chaparral 0 21 21 0 — 42
C — Henry 10 pass from Loudenback (Kaley kick). C — Page 1 run (Kaley kick). C — Serena 13 pass from Loudenback (Kaley kick). C — Gann 7 pass from Loudenback (Kaley kick). C — Gann 80 pass from Loudenback (Kaley kick). C — Page 1 run (Kaley kick).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
