GREENWOOD VILLAGE — After being seriously tested, Cherry Creek just called “Next.”
The four-time defending Class 5A state champions are headed back to the title game after rallying for a dramatic 21-14 win over Ralston Valley in the semifinals on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Stutler Bowl.
“Every yard was tough today,” Cherry Creek head coach Dave Logan said. “That’s two really good teams, and we knew it was going to be this way. They had been playing their best football down the stretch. We knew it was going to be a battle…. Between two teams like this, it usually comes down to a play or two, and it did today.”
With the win, the Bruins are set up to pad their historic championship streak next Saturday in their 22nd appearance in the title game. They already have the Class 5A record for consecutive titles, but with a win at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Cherry Creek can pass Palisade (which won four consecutive Class 3A titles from 1994-97) and inch closer to tying Limon’s all-time mark of six straight Class 1A titles from 1963-68.
Cherry Creek opened the game looking the part of the heavyweight, quickly taking a 7-0 lead on Brady Vodicka’s pass in the flat to Max Lovett. The other Bruins wideouts blocked up the second level and Lovett ran untouched to the end zone with 9:32 left in the opening quarter.
But a fumbled shotgun snap by Vodicka on Cherry Creek’s second drive reversed the momentum.
Ralston Valley recovered to set themselves up in plus-territory, but the Bruins defense held, stopping the Mustangs on 4th-and-goal from the 4-yard-line when Jackson Hansen was just out of bounds on a catch in the end zone.
Cherry Creek went three-and-out on their next two possessions, and in between, Mustangs star senior QB Logan Madden’s 47-yard pass to Hansen set up Brady Weldon’s 1-yard TD run to even it at 7-7 late in the first quarter. Ralston Valley then took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter that quieted the home side of the stadium. Anthony Benallo took a perfectly-timed screen pass on a Cherry Creek blitz 42 yards down to the 1-yard line, setting up another short Weldon TD run.
The Bruins finally found some footing after that, when Kiyon Johnston’s athletic interception on Madden’s deep pass set the Bruins up in RV territory, and culminated with Jordan Herron’s 9-yard TD run to even the score 14-14 with 1:44 left in the half.
“I trusted my instincts, and I knew our team needed a big play there,” Johnston said. “It was the moment, right there, so I took it. We knew their receivers were going to make plays, but at that point, we needed to make one.”
No one scored in the third quarter as Ralston Valley ate up almost nine minutes of clock on the opening possession that ended with Cole Pfeifer clanking a 40-yard field goal off the right upright. Cherry Creek immediately went three-and-out to give the ball back to the Mustangs as the fourth quarter began.
“We had a hard time getting them off the field in the second half,” Logan said. “We made a couple of adjustments, then they adjusted, too.”
Pfeifer then missed another field goal, this time from 31 yards, as the Cherry Creek defense didn’t break in the red zone.
The Bruins got the ball back and drove into RV territory. Cherry Creek converted on 4th-and-1 with a QB sneak from the Mustangs’ 24-yard line, then Vodicka snuck it again on fourth down from inside the 1-yard line to put Cherry Creek back ahead, 21-14, with 2:18 remaining.
“I thought three (points) at that point (wouldn’t cut it) with that offense we were going against, and if we didn’t get (the conversion) at least we had them pinned down,” Logan said. “I never really thought about a field goal. I have faith in our offensive line, even though we were banged up and missed a couple of starters there today. We chewed up some clock and we didn’t want Logan (Madden) to have the ball back with a whole hell of a lot of time left.”
Ralston Valley then marched deep into Bruins territory, but Madden’s last-second heave to Hansen was broken up at the goal line, and the Bruins held on for the win.
“Coach Jared (Yannacito) and Ralston Valley had a hell of a season, and that’s a really good program and a very well-coached team,” Logan noted.
The Bruins’ boss also gave props to Madden, who was the best player on the field on Saturday as he consistently turned would-be sacks into positive plays for the Mustangs.
“I’ve known (Madden) since he was born,” Logan said. “I coached his dad (Brad Madden) at Arvada West — he was my slot receiver my first two years. So I love the family… and I thought he played great. Logan should be going somewhere and playing big-time college football. Wherever he decides to go, he’s made of the right stuff.”
The Mustangs’ season ended in the semifinals for a second straight year after they fell in a 42-41 double-overtime thriller to Valor Christian on the same stage in 2022. Ralston Valley finished 10-3, with their three losses coming to the state finalists. Cherry Creek beat RV handily 35-9 on Aug. 25 in the season opener for teams, while Columbine also dispatched of the Mustangs, 30-14 in Jeffco League play on Oct. 6.
Madden admitted he was “heartbroken” after his last-second heave to try to tie the game fell to the turf.
“It sucks, losing two years in a row in the semifinals,” Madden said. “But I hope it sets the groundwork that Ralston Valley is one of the top teams in the state, and hopefully we’ll be back here next year. We were right there in it, and we gave it our all. We just couldn’t get it done at the end.”
Cherry Creek takes on Columbine next Saturday at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins in a rematch of the 2019 title game won 35-10 by the Bruins. Both teams are 13-0, and Columbine is coming off a win over Jeffco rival Chatfield in the other semifinal.
