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Cherry Creek defeats Columbine, 35-10, to claim 5A football title

Jayle Stacks swapped a football for a Gatorade bucket for his final carry Saturday afternoon at the Class 5A football state championship game — the best rush yet for Cherry Creek’s senior running back.

His head coach, Dave Logan, enjoyed the sideline splash as the final seconds counted down at Mile High. Logan knew the drill well. Count this as Championship Bath No. 8 in his incredible coaching career.

“It’s always a great thing to dump your coach,” Stacks said. “That means you did something.”

No. 1 Cherry Creek rolled to a 35-10 victory against No. 6 Columbine (11-3), capping a perfect Bruins season (14-0), and giving Logan his eighth career state football championship, just two shy of Lloyd Gaskill’s record 10 titles at Limon.

Logan’s coat and slacks glistened with Gatorade in a line of congratulatory postgame hugs. Bruins players leaped into the student section stands and sang the Queen classic: “We are the Champions.”

Stacks, named Most Outstanding Player after 13 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown, danced wildly in between selfies with fans.

“It never gets old,” Logan said. “This is about these kids, my time (playing) has come and gone. I want them to celebrate and get the notoriety — because they deserve it.”

Cherry Creek’s offense was efficient and methodical. The Bruins began the game with scoring drives of 12 and 10 plays, capped first by a short touchdown run by senior James Walker and later a pass play, quarterback Julian Hammond throwing a dart to wide receiver Chase Penry on a 23-yard play. The Bruins’ offense converted their first seven third-down attempts en route to a 14-0 halftime lead.

Columbine’s top-ranked 5A rushing attack — with team totals of 3,557 yards and 51 touchdowns — was limited to 166 yards and one touchdown. Its passing game gained just 33 yards. And the Rebels’ offensive desperation was clear from the start.

Columbine received the game’s opening kickoff and stalled at its own 20 to face third-and-17. The Rebels opted to quick-punt and void a punt return opportunity for Cherry Creek speedster Myles Purchase. Columbine’s second drive ended with a failed fake punt attempt at the Bruins’ 38. Senior running back Tanner Hollins overthrew senior wide receiver Osirus Smith in the end zone.

“We knew the only way they could beat us is if they ran the football,” Purchase said.

They didn’t.

Cherry Creek kept its foot on the gas in the second half. The Bruins’ opening play of the third quarter: a handoff up the middle to Stacks went for a 51-yard gain. The Bruins cashed in shortly after with a “Wildcat” formation touchdown run from Purchase to go up 21-0.

“I always picture what I’m going to do before the play even happens. I slow-motion everything,” said Stacks, who is committed to play at CU next season. “Good blocking up front and that’s exactly how I hit it.”

A 21-point deficit in the second half for the Rebels’ ground-and-pound offense seemed insurmountable but Columbine made things interesting.

The Rebels responded with an 80-yard scoring drive with running back Tanner Hollens taking a fourth-down option-pitch 7 yards into the end zone. Then Hammond made his first glaring mistake of the day for Cherry Creek with an errant pass on third-and-16 that was intercepted by Hollens. The Rebels added a 35-yard field goal from senior to cut the deficit to 21-10 early in the fourth quarter.

“I just tried to forget everything that happened,” Hammond said. “I knew I messed up, realized that, and it was past me and our team. … Our team has a lot of heart. We just fight.”

Columbine got the football back with 7 minutes left, but its run-first offense got stuffed again, and Stacks powered ahead for a 5-yard touchdown on the Bruins’ next possession. Cherry Creek’s defense put the game away moments later when Purchase intercepted Columbine quarterback Jadon Holliday and returned it for a touchdown.

Logan sat back and watched his team celebrate.

“We played with toughness,” he said. “I’m proud of my bunch.”

Cherry Creek head coach Dave Logan won his eighth 5A state championship, and second at Creek, with Saturday’s 35-10 win over Columbine. Here’s a look at each of the legendary high school coach’s titles: