GREENWOOD VILLAGE — Let the crowing begin.
On storied ground at the Stutler Bowl, site of so many big games, thrillers and championships, the program that practically built suburban football in the Denver-metropolitan area and has yearned for a return to dominance, grabbed some of it Friday night.
Behind 194 yards rushing by senior Milo Hall and a defense that undoubtedly turned in its best effort, Cherry Creek reached down deep to knock off Valor Christian 33-17 in Class 5A Centennial League play.
“It was all team effort,” said Creek linebacker Zach Grado, who punctuated the victory with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play. “I was happy when I crossed that goal line.”
Valor Christian, top-ranked in the , hadn’t lost to an in-state foe since the opening game of the 2012 season, when it fell . In addition, Valor, now 6-2 overall, 3-1 in league, had handled 52 of its past 53 Colorado opponents.
Cherry Creek (5-3, 3-1), which had fallen out of the AP media poll and surely will return, gave third-year coach Dave Logan his signature victory in command of the Bruins.
“Chances are we’ll have to see them again (in the playoffs),” Logan said. “But I’m really, really happy with the way these kids played.”
The good-sized crowd was treated to two rushing touchdowns by Bruins senior bruiser D.J. Luke; another by junior Joe Caplis, who seems to have stabilized the quarterback spot; and spirited defense that muzzled the Eagles’ rushing attack. Cherry Creek survived a handful of big plays by sophomore quarterback Dylan McCaffrey and hugely talented two-way back Eric Lee Jr., bound for Nebraska.
“Offensively, they came right at us and Milo is as good of a running back as there is in the state,” Valor coach Rod Sherman said.
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or twitter.com/neildevlin
Valor Christian 10 7 0 0 — 17
Cherry Creek 7 0 6 20 — 33
CC — Hall 3 run (Lyon kick). VC — FG Kendziorski 34. VC — Lee Jr. 52 pass from McCaffrey (Kendziorski kick). VC — Waters 10 pass from McCaffrey (Kendziorski kick). CC — Luke 1 run (kick failed). CC — Caplis 2 run (Lyon kick). CC — Luke 9 run (Lyons kick). CC — Grado 45 interception return (no attempt).
Updated Oct. 18 at 9:49 a.m.The following corrected information has been added to this article: Because of an error by a reporter, the Cherry Creek junior quarterback was misreported. The quarterback for the Bruins is Joe Caplis.
