5A State Football: Cherry Creek falls short in the State Championship
The Cherry Creek High School Bruins football team, undefeated and ranked Number 1 all season, was defeated by Number 2 – and also undefeated – Columbine at Canvas Stadium on the campus of Colorado State University on Dec. 2. The final score was Rebels 28, Bruins 14.
“We congratulate Columbine,” said CCHS Head Coach Dave Logan. “Anytime you play them, you know what kind of game it’s going to be. They’re very good at what they do, and you can’t make as many mistakes as we made tonight. That is something that we’ve not done much of this year,” Logan said.
Columbine snaps a streak of four state titles for the Bruins, and Head Coach Andy Lowry’s team set the pace for the whole contest.
Conditions were cold and windy in the first half, and the Rebels took advantage of a sub-par kicking game by Cherry Creek, which afforded Columbine good field position from which to operate their high-powered running attack. Rushing touchdowns by Rebels senior and Most Outstanding Player award winner Josh Snyder gave the Rebels a 14-0 lead late into the second quarter. Creek answered with just over three minutes to go in the first half, as senior Jordan Herron scored from three yards out to get CCHS on the board. But Columbine answered on the ensuing kickoff, as Snyder continued his stellar day, running 98 yards to the end zone for the touchdown to make it 21-7. Then the Bruins made quick work on offense as sophomore Jayden Fox went three yards for the score, cutting the Rebels’ lead to 21-14 going to the break.
The two teams traded possessions for most of the second half, until Columbine junior James Basinger scored on a 1-yard rush in the final minutes to close out the scoring on the evening.
Cherry Creek sophomore defender Tufana Umu-Cais had nine tackles in the contest, but felt it wasn’t enough.
“We gave it all, our intensity was high,” said Umu-Cais. “The better team won. I can take the blame. Our team really relies on our defense and the defense didn’t show up today. I didn’t show up today.”
This was the sixth state crown in Columbine program history, and the game marked the third time the two head coaches have faced each other in a final. Lowry’s Rebels defeated Logan – then with Mullen High School - 14-6, and then Logan’s Cherry Creek team defeated Columbine 35-10 back in 2019.
The Bruins finish a great season at 13-1.
5A State Spirit: District teams competing Dec. 7-9
Spirit State Championship week is upon us. Teams from all six of CCSD’s comprehensive high schools will compete in the 2023 State Championships coming up Dec. 7-9 at the Denver Coliseum. CCSD teams will participate in Cheer and Gameday Cheer competition, Jazz and Hip-Hop in dance events, and Poms.
Good luck to all the CCSD Spirit teams!
CCHS football close-up photo courtesy Theodore A. Stark.
Posted 12/3/2023.
