LONGMONT — Derek Vander Velde put together a performance for the ages, one his teammates rated a perfect 10 on the sick-o-meter.
That’s why the Dakota Ridge Eagles threw to the other side of the field Saturday on their most important play of the season, which forged a 31-28 win against Longmont in the Class 4A quarterfinals at Everly-Montgomery Field.
Vander Velde had hauled in 11 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns, and Dakota Ridge faced fourth-and-goal at the Longmont 7 while trailing 28-24. Quarterback Bolton Howes rolled out right — toward Vander Velde — who naturally drew double coverage.
So Howes threw back across the field to a completely uncovered tight end, Keaton Greenstreet, for the deciding, 7-yard touchdown with 1:57 to play.
“They were going to flow to Derek’s side, no matter what,” said Howes, who completed 25-for-32 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. “Derek had such a great game that he was going to be double-covered, no matter what, and Keaton was going to be wide open for a touchdown. I had so much confidence when that play came in.”
Longmont (7-5) then drove to the Dakota Ridge 30 but turned it over on downs after an incomplete pass on fourth-and-7.
“We believed in our hearts we could pull it out,” said Longmont sophomore quarterback Forrest Wetterstrom, who threw for three TDs, including a 35-yard strike to Darian Finley-Garcia to put Longmont up 28-24 midway through the fourth quarter. “We were moving the ball on them, but we got into a tricky fourth-down play.”
The Eagles (9-3), who will play Wheat Ridge in the semifinals, produced 506 yards, including 181 on the ground.
The rushing total featured 143 and a touchdown by tailback Brent Terrell. Vander Velde caught a 70-yard touchdown on the opening series and a 33-yarder early in the fourth. He was double-covered each time.
Said Howes: “I’m going to throw him the ball; I don’t care if there’s three on him. If he’s 6-5 and can jump like he can, I’ll throw him the ball.”
Vander Velde had no problems being the decoy on the winning score.
“They were looking at me all day, and we just slipped by them,” he said.
Dakota Ridge 7 0 10 14 — 31
Longmont 0 14 0 14 — 28DR — Vander Velde 70 pass from Howes (Jonsson kick). L — Hart 10 pass from Wetterstrom (Cinea kick). L — Burch 6 pass from Wetterstrom (Cinea kick). DR — FG Jonsson 33. DR — Terrell 16 run (Jonsson kick). L — Herbert 4 run (Cinea kick). DR — Vander Velde 33 pass Howes (Jonsson kick). L — Finley-Garcia 35 pass from Wetterstrom (Cinea kick). DR — Greenstreet 7 pass from Howes (Jonsson kick).
