5A State Football: Cherry Creek headed to state championship game again
The Cherry Creek High School Bruins are heading back to the State Championship for the fifth straight year after eliminating No. 5 Pine Creek, 41-21, on Nov. 26 at the Stutler Bowl in Greenwood Village.
The Bruins (11-2) will face Valor Christian in the 5A title game next Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Creek attack was powered by four touchdown passes by freshman quarterback Brady Vodicka, one to senior receiver Kyair Johnston, and three to senior wideout Ismael Cisse in the victory.
“This whole year Ish has always been there,” Vodicka said. “I can always trust him, no matter what.”
The Bruins led 27-17 after one half of play, despite a surprise pooch kick and loose ball recovery by the Eagles on the contest’s opening kick-off. However, Pine Creek fumbled on the ensuing drive. Cherry Creek’s Carlson (Bubba) Tann then took over, rumbling 58 yards to the 2-yard line, and punched it in two plays later to give the Bruins a 6-0 lead.
Pine Creek answered quickly as sophomore Cameron Cooper hit senior Jake Graver for 85 yards and the touchdown to take the lead 7-6 with 7:10 left in the first quarter.
Cherry Creek came back with the first of the Vodicka-Cisse touchdowns, from 19-yards out, and the Bruins led 13-7 as the quarter came to a close. A Pine Creek turnover opened the second quarter, and Cherry Creek took advantage with an 85-yard touchdown pass from Vodicka to Johnston to make it 20-7 Bruins. The home team increased the advantage to 27-7, going to the halftime break with another Vodicka to Cisse hookup – this time from 41 yards out.
The second half saw the Bruins and Pine Creek score 14 points each, but it was too little, too late for the Eagles, who finish the 2022 campaign at 10-3.
“I was proud of our bunch today,” Head Coach Dave Logan said. “We didn’t get off to a good start, we had mishaps on special teams that we have to get rectified. We played hard, and credit to Pine Creek, a physical football team for sure. We’ll enjoy this briefly and move on to one last game.”
The Bruins will try for their fourth consecutive state championship when they face No. 2 Valor Christian at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
5A Cross Country: Girls and Boys All-state teams announced
All-state teams for girls and boys cross country were announced on Nov. 10. The 2022 rosters are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps, and were created based upon results at the state meet which took place on Oct. 29 at the Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs.
Girls - Second Team:
Emily Cohen – Freshman, Cherry Creek
Honorable Mention:
Kinley Wolfe – Sophomore, Cherry Creek
McKenna Mazeski - Senior, Cherokee Trail
Addison Price – Senior, Cherry Creek
Catalina Aguilar-Rosenthall – Senior, Cherry Creek
You can see the complete girls cross country list here.
Boys - First Team:
Daniel Hruska – Junior, Cherry Creek
Honorable Mention:
Hunter Strand – Senior, Cherokee Trail
Brady Smith – Junior, Cherokee Trail
Owen Zitek – Junior, Grandview
You can see the complete boys cross country list here.
Winter Athletics: The winter sports season is upon us
With football and spirit wrapping up their championships in the coming weeks, district student athletes begin winter sports starting the week of Nov. 28. Winter sports are: girls and boys basketball, ice hockey, skiing, girls swimming, and girls and boys wrestling. Good luck to all winter sports student athletes!
CCHS football photos courtesy Theodore A. Stark.
Posted 11/28/2022.
