PUEBLO — The Cherry Creek Bruins’ championship season began back in heated days of summer, in the midst of a pandemic, when playing even one football game seemed so uncertain.
Their season culminated with an impressive 21-0 victory over Valor Christian Saturday night at the Thunderbowl on the CSU-Pueblo campus.
“The guys were just so committed,” senior defensive end Arden Walker said. “Way back in the summer, we didn’t even know what was going on. But when we got together again in September, we just looked at each other and we knew what wanted to do.”
Then the Bruins went out and grabbed the brass ring, finishing 9-0 and winning their second consecutive state championship and 11th overall. Creek beat Columbine, 35-10, last season.
“These guys work hard and they love football so much,” said Creek head coach Dave Logan, who has now won nine big-school state titles in Colorado, with four different schools. “These guys never spit the bit, not one time and this was the most unique of seasons. This was very, very challenging for the kids. For all of the kids in Colorado football. I was impressed by it.”
Valor had beaten Creek six consecutive times, including winning the 2018 championship game, 24-14. But the Bruins’ superior talent was clear Saturday night, and senior Myles Purchase, their “Mr. Everything,” showcased his skills in his final high school game. He rushed for two scores, intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and was named player of the game.
Cherry Creek’s sophisticated offense — pro sets, four wide receivers, the wildcat formation — was a joy to watch.
Senior quarterback Julian Hammond (who has committed to the University of Colorado as a basketball player) cooly captained the ship. Case in point: Facing a third-and-15 at his own 24, he hooked up with senior wide receiver Chase Penry for 38 yards and a first down. Five plays later, the duo connected for a 33-yard touchdown, Penry hauling in the pass in the corner of the end zone midway through the second quarter.
“We just looked at their defense and figured that was the play to go to,” said Penry. “We worked together a long time and so we’re on the same page — a lot.”
First-year Valor coach Donnie Yantis was not surprised by the wide variety of formations the Bruins threw at his defense.
“They have a bunch of talented players and they did a good job scheming it,” Yantis said. “They have great staff and they did a great job, but they got great players. They outcoached me, so thatap on me and I’ll take it.”
Earlier in the week, Bruins defensive coordinator Tom Doherty called Puchase “an electric football player.” How right he was. Purchase struck like a lightning bolt on the seventh play of the game. Working out of the wildcat formation, Purchase ripped off a 44-yard touchdown run to give Creek a 7-0 lead.
Creek’s dominance was evident from the beginning, so there was no real turning point. But Valor’s chance to control the game’s tempo evaporated on their first possession. Powerful junior running back Gavin Sawchuck was churning through the Bruins’ defense at that point, but Zac Wiley fumbled and Purchase recovered at the Creek 32.
Nine plays later, Purchase stop, re-started, shifted, danced and sprinted for a 12-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“Those things happen, itap football, right?” Yantis said. “You’ve got to kind of bounce back from those things and we just couldn’t quite get things going, we were behind the chains a few times. And you get down in the score and it kind of shakes you out of your game plan.”
Despite the loss, Valor’s Sawchuck, a five-star running back who’s considered one of the best running backs in the nation, was in beast mode Saturday night. It took gangs of Bruins defenders to stop him. He finally broke free for a 54-yard run up the middle early in the third quarter, but the Eagles’ best scoring chance of the night dissolved when Creek senior linebacker Malik Majekodunmi sacked Valor quarterback Sean McNair, forcing a fumble. Branden Jackson recovered for Creek at the 31-yard line.
“We knew they were going to give it to (Sawchuck), the whole time,” Walker said. “I feel like, as a team, we made a pact. We made a pact that we had to find him and that’s basically what we were saying the whole game.”
