HIGHLANDS RANCH — After watching his younger brother grind out nearly 100 yards and score what turned out to be the deciding touchdown, Max McCaffrey wanted a piece of the action.
The Valor Christian junior got his wish when his final-minute interception preserved the No. 6 Eagles’ hotly contested 20-17 home win against No. 5 Ponderosa in a Class 4A South Metro League game.
“I saw their quarterback drop back, overthrow it, and I made a play,” Max McCaffrey said. “We had to prevent them from getting to behind our 40, and we did.”
That mandate was because Ponderosa kicker Nate Ekhoff possesses a booming leg, which Valor Christian (6-3, 4-0) found out when the senior put the Mustangs (6-3, 3-1) ahead 10-7 at the half with a 49-yard field goal.
McCaffrey’s pick of Ponderosa quarterback Taylor Johnson, which came with Ponderosa at the Valor 44, marked the fourth turnover of the game for the Mustangs, who were nearly in position to tie despite the miscues.
“It always makes a difference,” Ponderosa running back Tyler Sandt said. “I feel like we had missed opportunities and we gave them opportunities that we shouldn’t have. We played good but not good enough. We can’t wait to see them in the playoffs.”
Valor Christian quickly wiped out its halftime deficit when quarterback Brock Berglund scored on a 67-yard touchdown run and freshman Christian McCaffrey scored on a 7-yard run to make it 20-10 entering the fourth. Berglund, who has committed to Colorado, was not available for comment because the Eagles have put a moratorium on him talking to the media.
The McCaffrey brothers, sons of former Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey, were the story this night anyway with Berglund going 9-for-23 for 143 yards. Christian McCaffrey, who has earned the No. 1 running back job, churned out a workmanlike 86 yards on 22 rushes.
“It’s real cool to have him on the team,” Max McCaffrey said. “Most people don’t get to experience what it’s like having a brother on the team.”
Ponderosa hadn’t experienced what it was like to gain a first down until the first play of the second quarter, when Johnson kept the ball after faking to Sandt and darted 94 yards to make it 7-0. Valor Christian fullback George Talanoa bruised his way for a 18-yard TD to tie it up early in the second.
Talanoa, a Colorado State commit, was one of three Valor Christian players to leave with an injury.
Ponderosa 0 10 0 7 — 17
Valor Christian 0 7 13 0 — 20
P — Johnson 94 run (Ekhoff kick). VC — Talanoa 18 run (Yancey kick). P — FG Ekhoff 49. VC — Berglund 67 run (Yancey kick). VC — McCaffrey 7 run (kick blocked). P — Sandt 1 run (Ekhoff kick).
