AURORA — It was complete from start to finish and included the usual feeling between the two powers that have dominated the higher end of play for years.
Cherry Creek went into Lou Kellogg Stadium on a breezy, cold Saturday night and handled defending Class 5A state champion Regis Jesuit 8-4 and in every regard.
In a rematch of the 2014 title game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High last May, a solid crowd witnessed the Bruins, who improved to 10-1, taking control early and never letting the Raiders (9-2) within serious striking distance.
State runners-up for three seasons in succession, the Bruins were complete.
“It was good,” Cherry Creek captain Mike Morean said. “We just played good team ball today. More than anything it was just the hustle, getting groundballs. … That’s how you win games.”
Morean, Asher Nolting and Maxwell Tennant each scored two goals. Nolting got the game’s first score, off a Regis Jesuit turnover, in the opening minutes, and the Bruins never relinquished control.
In addition to getting to the groundballs, they picked off passes, cut off lanes and had a commanding advantage in possession.
“It’s a very a nice win for us,” longtime Bruins coach Bryan Perry said.
It was because Cherry Creek continued with regular scoring, sound defense and terrific play in goal by senior Ben Adams, who was a wall virtually every time a Raider managed a shot, including from close range. Adams was able to keep his emotions under control as he was at Regis Jesuit a year ago.
In particular, the Cherry Creek defense modified its attack’s ball possession by keeping the Raiders off the board in each of the second and third quarters and nearly 28 minutes. Regis Jesuit had no answers.
“Their zone’s tough to crack and they just outplayed us,” veteran Regis Jesuit coach Jim Soran said of a flat offensive showing. “We’ll be working hard, I can guarantee that. (The Bruins) just have a nice team.”
Nate Miller and Connor Till added goals for the Bruins. Senior Dylan Johnson was credited with three assists. For Regis Jesuit, senior Chet Dunstan scored three times. Captain Matt Soran added a goal.
“Our patience was OK for a while, but I’d like to see it a little better,” Perry said. “But certainly, it’s a good win for us; we’re happy to have it.”
Said Morean: “We played well from a team standpoint.”
Cherry Creek 3 1 3 1 — 8
Regis Jesuit 2 0 0 2 — 4
Goals — CC: Morean 2, Nolting 2, Tennant 2, Miller, Till; RJ: Dunstan 3, Soran.
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or
