THORNTON — One of Sergio Lara’s few mistakes Saturday allowed visiting Weld Central to get back into the game.
One of the Skyview senior’s numerous gigantic plays took the Rebels right back out of it.
Lara’s interception return for a touchdown in the closing moments of the first half amounted to a game-breaker in the Wolverines’ 30-7 cross-classification, nonleague win and complemented a performance in which he also threw for three touchdowns.
“He accounted for four touchdowns today and six last week,” said Skyview coach Bill Nelson, who moved Lara from wingback to quarterback after starter Cody Childerston went down in the opener. “He’s a great athlete.”
In his lone blip of the contest, Lara was picked off midway through the second quarter by Weld Central’s Cord Dunham, whose 52-yard return set up a short TD run by Eli Hollister and trimmed the Class 2A Rebels’ deficit to 14-7.
But when Weld Central (2-1) decided to pass from its own territory with just 23 seconds remaining before intermission, Lara exacted his revenge and helped the 3A Wolverines improve to 3-0.
“It kind of surprised me that they weren’t taking a knee, but it’s football and football is full of surprises,” Lara said. “We’re supposed to be prepared for anything.”
Lara, who split time at QB with Childerston but took most the snaps, opened the scoring with a 69-yard bomb to Drew Martinez and also threw a pair of 20-yard touchdowns to Steven Shannon.
“The (interception return) was tough, but we knew we had to come back from it,” said Dunham, a senior tight end and linebacker. “We just didn’t do it. Mentally, we just shut down right after.”
The contest had added significance for standout Skyview running back Kyle Bowers, who grew up in the Keenesburg area and went to middle school with many Weld Central players. Bowers had a decent day with 103 yards on the ground, although Lara was the centerpiece.
“Last year they beat us and had bragging rights,” Lara said. “Now Kyle has bragging rights on all his friends.”
Weld Central 0 7 0 0 — 7
Skyview 14 8 8 0 — 30
S — D. Martinez 69 pass from Lara (run failed). S — Shannon 20 pass from Lara (Shannon pass from Lara). W — Hollister 2 run (Dunham kick). S — Lara 53 interception return (Bowers run). S — Shannon 20 pass from Lara (D. Martinez pass from Lara).
