HIGHLANDS RANCH — Joe Hansley said it was good to be “King of the Ranch.”
The versatile senior was at his do-it-all best again Friday night, when Highlands Ranch turned in a convincing 33-14 decision of city rival ThunderRidge at a crowded Shea Stadium in The Denver Post game of the week.
Falcons followers, who watched their team, ranked No. 8 in The Denver Post Class 5A media poll, move to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the ever-competitive Continental League, may as well have thrown rose petals at his feet. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior deserved it — he caught a 47-yard pass for a touchdown, then burst for rushing scores covering 55 and 11 yards.
He added an acrobatic interception as the Falcons won their sixth consecutive game, smartly rushing and passing, and faring well up front.
“(ThunderRidge’s) defense played well, they came to play,” Hansley said. “But we were able to step it up.”
Hansley had 139 yards in receptions, 113 rushing, and his interception, fittingly, came off a tip from Richard Mbugua, who also turned in a big game as did quarterback Steve Donatell. The two hooked up for the game’s first score, a 9-yard toss, and Mbugua, emerging of late, had 73 yards rushing and two receptions.
“He’s going to be big for us,” Hansley said.
So was the 6-5 Donatell, who arguably turned in his best effort. He ran for a touchdown and threw for two, and managed the game with consistent execution. He was 11-of-17 passing for 226 yards and contributed 39 yards on the ground.
“It’s awesome,” Donatell said. “I’ve only been here since sophomore year and I didn’t know about it at first, but my teammates told me all about it.”
A thrilled Falcons coach Darrel Gorham could only say, “Wow! . . . our guys just did a great job, particularly the kids up front. So many of them go both ways.”
With the game tied at 7 midway through the second quarter, the Falcons quickly took control and rode it out between the two original high schools in Highlands Ranch. They built a 14-7 halftime lead, made it 20-7 on Hansley’s 55-yarder on the first play of the third quarter that seemed to let the air out of the Grizzlies and were never seriously threatened.
Conversely, No. 9 ThunderRidge (5-2, 2-1) certainly had its chances and was within range well into the second half, but coach Joe Johnson once again watched a series of turnovers (three, including two lost fumbles) and mistakes.
“We’ve been doing that for the last three weeks,” Johnson said. “I’m at a loss. We play a little fearfully at times. We were afraid to make a mistake, which, of course, makes you make more mistakes.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
Highlands Ranch: 7 – 7 – 6 – 13 — 33
ThunderRidge: 0 – 7 – 0 – 7 — 14
HR — Mbugua 9 pass from Donatell (Corken kick).
T’R — Tempel 6 run (Beck kick).
HR — Hansley 47 pass from Donatell (Corken kick).
HR — Hansley 55 run (kick blocked).
T’R — Tempel 3 run (Beck kick).
HR — Hansley 11 run (pass failed).
HR — Donatell 29 run (Corken kick).
