Bear Creek’s offense uncharacteristically left some points out on the football field Thursday, Sept. 17, at Jeffco Stadium.
The Bears (1-2, 0-1 in the Class 5A Big 8 League) turned the ball over on downs three times, twice inside Chatfield territory, and turned the ball over on two interceptions and a fumble in Bear Creek’s conference opener. Chatfield (3-0, 1-0) capitalized, beating the Bears 34-21.
“The defense didn’t play as well as they could have, but we had enough stops where we could have come down and scored,” Bear Creek senior running back Lukas Lockett said. “We didn’t do it.”
Chatfield never trailed, getting big games from senior quarterback Sam Stratton and senior running back Shaw Gifford. Stratton racked up 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also was 10-of-15 passing for 161 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Erik Gayton just before halftime that gave the Chargers a 21-7 lead.
“Stratton is fast. He gets an opening and he is gone,” Lockett said. “If you don’t tackle his legs he’ll take it to the house. That is what he did tonight. He is a great player.”
Gifford accounted for Chatfield’s other two touchdowns. He found the end zone on rushes of 58 and 35 yards. Gifford finished with 18 carries for 142 yards.
“It’s not an excuse, but we kind of showed signs of a team that is tired and a little beat down,” Bear Creek coach Tom Thenell said. “It’s early in the season and we didn’t play very well.”
Bear Creek was coming off playing two non-conference games on the road in Maryland and Grand Junction.
Lockett and the Bears’ offensive line didn’t show signs of jet lag. The Bears’ senior running back had success on the ground, carrying the ball 25 times for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Most of Bear Creek’s running success came when it attacked the middle of Chatfield’s defensive line.
“That is what we have to do,” Lockett said. “We have to play physical and take it at teams.”
Bear Creek quarterback Zach Thenell finished the game 21-of-41 passing for 234 yards, but he was intercepted twice and also fumbled. Senior Dylon Chafin led the Bears’ receiving core with six catches for 71 yards.
“We never got any kind of rhythm going on their side of the ball, but we still had a shot in the fourth quarter,” Coach Thenell said.
The Bears cut Chatfield’s lead to 27-21 with 7 minutes, 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter on a short touchdown run by Lockett. However, the Chargers quickly responded with a nine-play drive that was capped off by a 35-yard touchdown run by Gifford.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Bear Creek. Ahead for the Bears is a showdown against undefeated Pomona (3-0, 1-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Jeffco Stadium.
“They are all important,” Coach Thenell said of conference games. “We are trying to improve every week and get into the playoffs.”