LAKEWOOD — Oh, that vaunted Columbine passing game!
Just call it opportunistic.
The defending Class 5A champion Rebels have dominated the big-school ranks for over a decade with their smashmouth style and don’t throw it much. But when they do, they can be potent.
Senior quarterback Michael Burns was 5-for-5 for 103 yards and three touchdowns Friday night at Jefferson County Stadium in the Rebels’ 42-9 nonleague victory over Fort Collins.
“You know, it’s just kind of something we’ve been working on in 7-on-7s. They tell us we shouldn’t do 7-on-7s because Columbine doesn’t pass,” said Burns, who has orally committed to play baseball at Wichita State.
“We’ve got to keep teams honest, and when you’ve got guys like Bernard (McDondle), Garrett (Hyde) and Dean (Chavez), it’s just about getting the ball to them.”
After Fort Collins (0-1) junior kicker Cory Voorhis brought the Lambkins within 14-9 late in the second quarter with a 51-yard field goal, the Rebels’ ensuing drive was the one that ultimately would be the crusher to the visitors’ morale.
Columbine, winner of 15 consecutive games over two seasons, ran the ball across midfield behind the big guys up front — John Lisella, Matthew Mitchell, Isaac Jimenez, Mitchell McGinty and Joey Bustam. That set up Burns’ first touchdown pass.
McDondle, an All-Colorado running back last season, hauled in a circus catch between two Fort Collins defenders and went the rest of the 47 yards to put the Rebels up 21-9 at halftime.
“He’s just a great playmaker,” Rebels coach Andy Lowry said. “That’s just a special athlete.”
Burns completed two more touchdown passes in the third quarter — 21 yards to Hyde and 7 yards to Chavez — that put the game further out of reach.
Columbine’s defense managed to do the rest. The Rebels intercepted Lambkins sophomore quarterback Kyler Sigsbee four times.
“They broke him in, all right, didn’t they?” Fort Collins coach Eric Rice joked. “He showed some positive things, but he also showed what happens when you float the ball a little bit.”
In addition to his touchdown reception, McDondle had 111 yards rushing on 10 carries. Columbine, which will host Fountain-Fort Carson in Week 2, finished with 282 yards rushing on 48 carries.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354, jyunt@denverpost.com or
