COLORADO SPRINGS — Matt Biery scored all of his team’s touchdowns Saturday as Elizabeth took another step closer to its first boys state championship.
The Cardinals (13-0) downed host Vista Ridge 34-7 at Sand Creek High School in the Class 3A semifinals.
Biery (25 carries for 120 yards) scored on runs of 15, 11, 4 and 2 yards. He added a 28-yard scoring return with a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.
Biery scored on a rushing touchdown in each quarter.
Vista Ridge (10-3) had won five games in a row and rolled to 276 yards, including 208 passing from Thomas Newman.
However, the Wolves managed only a 26-yard scoring pass from Newman to Tyree Walker.
Vista Ridge committed two turnovers — an interception and a fumble.
Elizabeth advanced to the title game, 2:30 p.m. next Saturday at Legacy Stadium in Aurora.
Elizabeth 7 7 7 13 — 34
Vista Ridge 0 7 0 0 — 7
E — Biery 15 run (Taylor kick). VR — Walker 26 pass from Newman (Gable kick). E — Biery 11 run (Taylor kick). E — Biery 4 run (Taylor kick). E — Biery 2 run (kick failed). E — Biery 28 fumble return (Taylor kick).
Glenwood Springs 25, Cañon City 6
GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Drew Halsch and Luke Jacob combined for 303 yards rushing as the Demons handled the Tigers.
Glenwood Springs takes a 12-1 record into the final. Cañon City ended 9-4.
Halsch and Jacob each scored twice. Both of Halsch’s touchdowns came in the middle quarters before he left the game because of a hip injury. He indicated it wasn’t serious. Jacob’s touchdowns came in the fourth quarter to ice the victory.
“Our lines give us a chance to win every game,” Halsch said.
Demons coach Rocky Whitworth said the long drives proved crucial in a game played on a sloppy field.
“In these conditions, those long ball- control drives mean everything,” he said. “It gave us field position, which was important, and a couple times turned into points.”
Cañon City 0 0 6 0 — 6
Glenwood Springs 0 6 6 13 — 25
GS — Halsch 8 run (kick failed). GS — Halsch 3 run (run failed). CC — Schwindt 20 pass from Javernick (kick failed). GS — Jacob 7 run (pass failed). GS — Jacob 30 run (Weeden kick).
