Scott Kaniewski
The ThunderRidge High School football team probably didn’t need
any added motivation against rival Mountain Vista in the two
schools’ inaugural meeting.
But the Grizzlies, coming off an emotional overtime victory over
Douglas County a week earlier, got some added incentive. At a pep
rally Friday morning, the Grizzlies and their classmates were shown
some banners allegedly posted up at their school by Mountain Vista
students. The banners read, “Welcome to 5A football.”
The Grizzlies then went out and defeated Mountain Vista 19-14
before an estimated 3,500 fans at Shea Stadium on Sept. 5.
Following a diving interception by Grizzlies defensive back
Jason Clukies, the Grizzlies jumped out to a 19-7 lead on Tim
Jenkins’ third touchdown run of the night with 16.9 seconds left in
the first half.
From there, the Grizzlies (2-0 Southern League, 2-0 overall)
held the Golden Eagles in the second half to 7 points and forced
two fumbles to preserve the victory.
“We sure made some big plays in the second half when we needed
to,” said Grizzlies coach Joe Johnson.
Clukies’ interception came with 38.7 seconds remaining in the
half and three plays after Jenkins’ second TD run. Mountain Vista
quarterback Eric Anderson threw a pass out to the right side.
Clukies made a diving catch.
“That’s huge because our defensive guys are tired,” Mountain
Vista coach Ric Cash said of the interception. “It was a big
momentum swing.”
Three plays later Jenkins ran an option to the right side. As
he’d done on his previous two scores, Jenkins faked the pitch to
running back Chris Nwoke and kept the ball to scamper 12 yards
untouched into the end zone. Just 16.9 seconds remained in the half
as ThunderRidge took a 19-7 lead to the locker room.
“Our (offensive) line did a great job tonight,” said Jenkins,
who finished with 84 yards. “We’ve got a great back in Chris Nwoke
so whenever I faked the pitch they stepped outside and I just cut
it up. We just practiced it over and over and worked on it all
summer. Now it’s starting to pay off.”
Nwoke led the Grizzlies with 114 rushes on 22 carries. Jenkins
finished with 100 yards through the air on 8-of-13 passing.
For the second consecutive week, the Golden Eagles (0-2, 0-2)
lost a heartbreaker with chances to win. In Week 1 Mountain Vista
lost to cross-town rival Highlands Ranch by two points, with a
chance to win on the final drive.
The Golden Eagles seemed to be poised to score and take the lead
over the Grizzlies twice. Following a defensive stand that halted
the Grizzlies on fourth-and-1 at midfield, the Golden Eagles
marched down to the 26. But on the next play, running back Jesse
Geary hauled in a pass and carried it to the 10 before having the
ball knocked loose and recovered by the Grizzlies at the 1.
The Golden Eagles had the ball stripped again on their next
possession inside the 30.
They wouldn’t threaten again as their final drive faltered on
fourth-and-long.
“It’s tough playing two of your biggest rivals the first weeks
of the season,” Cash said. “It’s a tough way to start the season.
You almost want those games at the end of the season when you need
a pick-me-up.”
The rivalry game sold out 3,000 tickets at noon earlier in the
day, ThunderRidge athletic director Bob Nelson said. Nelson
estimated another 500 Douglas County employees and guests attended
the game, which had people lined up on the outside of the stadium
watching through the fence.
For two weeks the Grizzlies, who moved up to Class 5A from 4A,
have looked as if they don’t need a welcoming committee to their
new class.
“This is a huge rivalry,” said Grizzles linebacker Alex Grado,
who finished with seven tackles and two sacks. “They had signs up
(at ThunderRidge) saying welcome to 5A. We showed them what 5A is
all about.”