FLORENCE — There was something extra pushing Tyler Faoro forward Saturday.
He knew Florence needed only four quarters of its best football to lock a spot in the Class 2A state title game.
“It was a ticket to the state championship. That’s what was behind us,” the running back said, “and I wanted to get it so bad.”
It showed in the way Faoro and his teammates ran with authority as the No. 2-seeded Huskies knocked off No. 3-seeded Kent Denver 52-35 at Palmer Field.
Faoro finished with 147 yards on the ground, part of the Huskies’ three-headed rushing monster. Quarterback Cody Nichols finished with a team-high 157 yards and sophomore running back Johnnie Krien had 125 yards. Krien and Nichols each had three touchdowns, and Faoro added one.
Faoro and Nichols said the offensive line, anchored by center Jared Wilson, was the reason for the team’s success.
“We felt like we were better up front,” Huskies coach Mark Buderus said. “If we were better one place, that’s where it was and we had to pound it and wear them down a little.”
The Sun Devils could only muster up 96 yards of offense in the second half after 323 in the first helped them to a 28-26 lead. Many of Kent Denver’s players play both offense and defense, while Faoro is the only Husky to play both continually.
Kent Denver 14 14 7 0 — 35
Florence 7 19 13 13 — 52
KD — Florence 3 run (Petre kick). F — Faoro 26 run (Faoro kick), 2:48. KD — Gantz 72 pass from Florence (Petre kick). F — Nichols 2 run (Faoro kick). KD — Franklin 27 run (Petre kick). F — Nichols 1 run (Faoro kick failed). KD — Jones 11 run (Petre kick). F — Krien 35 run (2-point failed). F — Nichols 4 run (2-point failed). KD — Gants 23 pass from Florence (Petre kick). F — Krien 1 run (Faoro kick). F — Krien 7 run (Faoro kick), 7:19. F — Hoffarth 10 fumble return (Faoro kick blocked).
