Columbine set a physical tone from the opening whistle Thursday night at Jeffco Stadium, as the Rebels forced a three-and-out on ThunderRidge’s first drive and then immediately scored on a 59-yard run on their first play from scrimmage en route to a 41-0 win over the Grizzlies.
Ted Mullin’s opening scamper gave No. 3 Columbine a 7-0 lead, and by halftime the Rebels had stretched their advantage to 21-0 thanks to additional rushing touchdowns from senior quarterback Mikey Griebel and junior running back Connor Snow. It was the kind of game that proved Columbine (8-2, 4-1) is zoned in for the start of a 5A championship push.
“We came into this game knowing they’re a very physical football team, and we came in with the mentality that we were going to outwork them,” Griebel said. “That’s what we did, and I’m proud of everyone on this team for that sort of focus with the playoffs starting next week.”
The second half was the same story for Columbine, as senior Tim Mullin and Snow chipped in touchdowns. And on defense, senior defensive end Jackson Block, sophomore linebacker Corbin Curry and junior linebacker Richard Hoffschneider helped hold senior quarterback Vic Lavigne, senior running back Zeke Johnson and the Grizzlies (4-6, 2-3) in check.
The Rebels now prepare for a 5A playoff run after coming up just short of a title game appearance last year, while the postseason chances of the Grizzlies (ranked 18th in the latest 5A RPI) have most likely been snuffed out.
And with the regular season having reached its conclusion — and the Rebels having suffered two gut-wrenching losses to Palm Bay (25-20 in the season opener in Florida) and to league foe Mullen (28-27 in overtime on Oct. 14) — Columbine realizes the sledding is going to get a lot tougher in postseason play.
It’s a challenge these ring-hungry Rebels are more than ready for.
“We have a motto, and it’s ‘unfinished business,’ and that’s been our motto all year,” Griebel said. “We’ll take that mentality into the playoffs, and we’ll start to fuel the fire in practice this week.”
SCORING BY QUARTER
TRHS 0 0 0 0
CHS 7 14 7 13
SCORING SUMMARY
1Q 7:52: Ted Mullin 59-yard run, Columbine 7 ThunderRidge 0
2Q 9:26: Mikey Griebel 8-yard run, Columbine 14 ThunderRidge 0
2Q 2:49: Conner Snow 44-yard run, Columbine 21 ThunderRidge 0
3Q 6:58: Tim Mullin 18-yard run, Columbine 28 ThunderRidge 0
4Q 11:52: Mikey Griebel 22-yard pass to Connor Snow, Columbine 35 ThunderRidge 0
4Q 4:38: Logan Dearment 24-yard pass to Max Vermillion, XP no good, Columbine 41 ThunderRidge 0
