BROOMFIELD — Junior quarterback Jack Burgesser had a game that felt like it was scripted for the big screen.
Broomfield’s starting QB, Logan McCormick, left Saturday’s game after suffering an ankle injury in the third quarter. Burgesser — who completed just five passes all season — threw for 109 yards and two touchdowns, leading the No. 11 Eagles to a 24-20 comeback victory over No. 3 Montrose in a Class 4A state quarterfinal matchup at Elizabeth Kennedy Stadium.
“Jack Burgesser had not played any significant time since Week 2,” Broomfield coach Gary Davies said. “We just said, ‘Be the gunslinger we know you are.’ “
Trailing 20-17 with five minutes to play, Broomfield stopped Montrose on fourth down at the Eagles’ 2-yard line. From there, Burgesser marched the Eagles’ offense 98 yards. He said the first play of the drive, a 30-yard pass to receiver Nate Lehnerz, was what gave the Eagles confidence to finish the game strong.
“That really sparked us,” he said. “After that play, I knew that we were going to go down there and score.”
With only 52.9 seconds remaining, the 10-play drive was completed with an 11-yard touchdown reception by Dante Panicucci — his second TD of the game.
Lehnerz, who came back two weeks ago from a broken arm, had his biggest game of the season, catching eight passes for 120 yards.
“I can’t say enough about those guys,” Burgesser said. “Those guys are unbelievable.”
Broomfield struggled to stop Montrose’s smash-mouth offense. Senior fullback Mike Rocha rushed for 213 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries to lead the Indians.
Montrose finished 10-2. Broomfield (9-3) will play Longmont in the semifinals.
Joe Nguyen: jnguyen@denverpost.com or
No. 3 Montrose (10-2): 0 6 7 7 — 20
No. 11 Broomfield (9-3): 7 3 0 14 — 24
B — Panicucci 21 pass from McCormick (Tanigawa kick). M — Rocha 1 run (Ruiz-Diaz miss). B — Tanigawa 27 FG. M — DeVincentis 1 run (Ruiz-Diaz kick). M — Rocha 46 run (Ruiz-Diaz kick). B — Lehnerz 39 pass from Burgesser (Tanigawa kick). B— Panicucci 11 pass from Burgesser (Tanigawa kick).
