AURORA — Tahj Willingham is a confident runner.
“Of course, it’s what I do,” the younger brother of Leilon Willingham, a former Mullen star defender, said.
The junior’s determination was big Friday night, when he helped lift Cherry Creek past host Rangeview in a tight one, 20-14 at Aurora Public Schools Stadium in a Class 5A playoff opener.
Willingham motored to 146 yards rushing and two touchdowns, including what proved to be the game-winner, as Cherry Creek (6-4) earned a home game and rematch against Centennial League rival Grandview in next week’s second round.
A play after Rangeview (7-3) made one of its multiple miscues — muffing a punt — Willingham ran left and tiptoed down the sideline as if he was a gymnast on a balance beam. His 45-yarder in the third quarter gave the Bruins the cushion they needed, and they needed all of it.
“I have to thank my (running backs) coach for working with me and I just kept my balance,” the 5-foot-7, 190-pounder said.
Bruins coach Mike Brookhart could only exhale with relief.
“(The Raiders) are a good team, they’d won seven straight games and they’re (an East Metro) League champion,” Brookhart said. “We feel fortunate to come out of here.”
Willingham’s rushing and stout defense at key times kept the Bruins alive, as did a big 65-yard punt return by Hunter Burton in the second quarter.
However, while Rangeview had all kinds of chances, it would give up a sack. Throw an interception. Or come away twice inside the Bruins’ 10-yard line with zero points. The first resulted in being stripped for a fumble at the 8; the second was having first-and-goal at the 4 with less than eight minutes to play.
“That was the statement drive of the game, when we got it first down there and we couldn’t punch it in,” Raiders coach Dave Gonzales said.
Plus, the Raiders’ speedy Steffen Johnson, on the first play of the fourth quarter, caught a 31-yard pass in between two defenders and may have scored to tie it at 20, only to somehow run into a referee, a definitive YouTube candidate. Incensed, Johnson spiked the ball and was penalized 15 yards, but the Raiders still drove to the 4 and didn’t score.
“We had opportunities and didn’t capitalize,” Gonzales said. “My hat’s off to (Cherry Creek), it did what it had to do.”
Cherry Creek 7 7 6 0 — 20
Rangeview 7 0 7 0 — 14
R — Harris 39 run (Robles kick). CC — Willingham 13 run (Simpson kick). CC — Burton 65 punt return (Simpson kick). CC — Willingham 45 run (kick blocked). R — Lyle 15 pass from Odegard (Thompson kick).
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
