Their opponents were bigger, faster, stronger.
Cripple Creek-Victor football lost 46-20 at home to Byers in its
1A South Central Conference opener on Sept. 16. While the Bulldogs
showed their superior size, speed and strength, they were equaled
by the Pioneers in one area: pride.
Senior running back Brian Wirtz struck first for CC/V when he
ran untouched to the end zone on a 5-yard pitch in the first
quarter. But Byers had already scored three touchdowns before Wirtz
crossed the goal line.
“Our guys came out a little worried,” Wirtz said. “We need some
more intensity out there.”
Down 33-6 at the half, pride was all CC/V had to get it going in
the second half against such a menacing opponent.
“They’re just stronger,” senior offensive and defensive lineman
Aaron Rooks said. “We don’t get in the weight room very often and
they do.”
Through their pride, the Pioneers found some intensity in the
second half.
“In the first quarter, you could tell there was a little
intimidation going on,” coach Richard Dispenza said. “We showed a
lot of courage in the second half.”
In the third quarter, Wirtz plowed through two Byers defenders
on a 20-yard romp to the end zone. The ensuing two-point try was
unsuccessful.
After a Pioneer defensive stop later in the quarter, the
Bulldogs snapped the ball over their punter’s head into the end
zone. The safety made the score 39-14.
“We didn’t come to play to start out,” Rooks said. “We just
showed up halfway through the game.”
With 7:10 left in the game, CC/V started a drive from its own
45-yard line. Down 46-14, the Pioneers were still striving to score
on the Byers defense. Wirtz and fellow running back Kyle Tapia
carried the ball into Bulldog territory, where the drive began to
stall.
On fourth-and-10 from the Byers 37-yard line, senior quarterback
Trent Staley completed an 11-yard strike to receiver Andy Zuercher.
Staley then tossed a 16-yard pass to tight end Chase
Hern.
“We’re doing good – we’re running what we need to be running, we
have our plays,” Wirtz said. “We have to find our hearts and get
out there and play.”
Staley’s 3-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw with 2:08 to
play put 20 points on the Pioneer scoreboard. CC/V would get the
ball back after a Bulldog fumble, but could not convert the
turnover into more points.
“We knew it was going to be tough because of our size and our
low numbers,” Dispenza said. “We have kids who are too young to be
playing varsity. I’m proud of them, but it’s hard to win with four
freshman. Then we have seniors who didn’t play for the last three
years.”
Senior team co-captain Steven DiCamillo sustained a leg injury
in the second half of the loss.
CC/V 2-1 (0-1) travels to league rival Calhan on Sept. 22 at 7
p.m.
CC/V’s record
In the Sept. 6 and Sept. 13 issues, The Gold Rush incorrectly
reported that the Pioneers lost their season opener at Las Animas
on Aug. 26. CC/V won the game 20-8. The contest was called in the
fourth quarter because of lightning. Including the loss to Byers,
the Pioneers are 2-1 on the season.