Have we had a better night of high-school football among big schools in 2014?
Probably not.
Ralston Valley edged Pomona 22-15.
Prairie View outlasted Denver East 42-38.
Legacy held off Monarch 28-21.
Fairview somehow managed to slip past Fossil Ridge 42-40.
Great games, all of them.
And Cherry Creek gave Valor Christian its first in-state loss since the opening game of the 2012 season. The Bruins beat the Eagles 33-17 in the Class 5A Centennial League and looked pretty good doing it.
Not only did it end Valor’s streak of 28 consecutive victories against in-state foes as well as 52 of its past 53, but Stutler Bowl also produced one of the better big-school crowds in the Denver area all season. Truth is, sp many our crowds have been, well, lame, for the most part, but this one was well-attended.
Everyone had been talkig about beating Valor.
Cherry Creek actually did it.
Count the ways Valor-Creek headed the night:
He was saying afterward that it was all about the team, but let’s face it – it was Bruins coach Dave Logan’s best victory in three years in command. Any time an unranked team (Cherry Creek) can knock off the undisputed No. 1 (Eagles), it’s big time.
It was Valor’s first foray into the Stutler Bowl, the site of so many of our most-important and –interesting games of the era.
It also was the first-ever meeting between the two programs, one (Cherry Creek) that is itching to return to its glory days of the 1980s and -90s, the other (Valor) that has simply owned the game in recent years with five consecutive state championships, two in 5A, two in 4A and another in 3A.
From Logan, on his defense: “You keep that team out of the end zone, that’s saying something … we get a kick blocked ,we get a penalty inside the 10(-yard line), we stayed the course. You play a team like that, you have to play 48 minutes. I’m really proud of my kids and staff.”
Coincidence? According to statistics issued by Valor Christian, both teams netted 322 yards of offense. That happens, like, never.
Cherry Creek ran for 266 yards and Valor passed for 283.
Bruins running back Milo Hall once again was brilliant. He compiled 194 yards on 32 carries and scored a touchdown. Valor coach Rod Sherman said he was impressed by Hall’s “exceptional balance” and that “he was the best player on the field.” Also for the Bruins, D.J. Luke added two rushing TDs.
Creek junior quarterback Joe Caplis probably had his bets game despite going 5-of-15 for 56 yards and an interception. The Bruins had been handling the position by committee, but his play against the top-ranked team definitely put a stamp on his standing. He also rushed for a TD, a 2-yarder.
Valor sophomore QB Dylan McCaffrey was 16-of-33 for 283, with two TDs, two interceptions. He looked good hooking up with the highly talented Eric Lee Jr. (five receptions, 157 yards and a TD), but also was harassed by the Bruins pass rush.
Bruins LB Zach Grado punctuated the victory with a 35-yard interception return on the final play of the game. “It was all adrenaline, it was all team effort from the start,” he said. “If I would express that pick-six, I would say it was a total team effort.” However, he did allow later that “when I realized I got past the goal line, I got off on it.”
Brian Dawkins Jr. blocked a field-goal attempt and led the Eagles (6-2 overall, 3-1 in league) with 11 tackles. Grado led the Bruins with nine tackles.
To its credit, Valor didn’t whine. Said Lee Jr.: “You just take it like men and move on. That’s the game of football. You take it and move on. Everyone’s looking to get their revenge on Valor, even if they haven’t played us. We just try to rise to the occasion.”
As both Logan and Sherman noted, it took a lot of players who showed well. For the Bruins, Jonathan Van Diest, Steven O’Malley and Mike Morean had moments. So did Valor’s Grant Craver, Ben Waters, Jordan Bostick and Nathaniel Whatmore. And a thumb’s up to the Creek offensive line, which withstood Valor pressure.
Next up for Valor is Grandview, which entered the week ranked No. 2 and is 8-0 overall. “We still believe that we control a lot of our destiny,” Sherman said.
Cherry Creek will finish the regular season against Eaglecrest. “Everybody played well, there are so many guys I could single out who played well, (but) you wouldn’t have time for,” Logan said. “I’m just proud of all of them.”
