Not surprising that we have a matchup of Cherry Creek and Valor Christian for the 5A state championship on Saturday.  The two clubs have combined to win eight of the last nine state titles with the lone exception coming in 2017 by Pomona.  The Bruins and Eagles are a combined 15-0 on the season and together have outscored opponents by 594 points.

Cherry Creek is the defending state champion and carries a 22-game winning streak into Saturday’s contest.  Their last loss came against Valor Christian in the 2018 state championship game.  This week marks the third state championship meeting between the two as the Bruins topped Valor 25-14 for the 2014 crown.  In playoff matchups overall, Valor Christian is 3-1 and have won the last three.  The Eagles are 8-1 in nine state championship appearances while the Bruins have won in 10 of 18 previous state finals appearances.

Neither club has been pushed this season.  Cherry Creek has won all eight games by at least 21 points with Valor Christian grabbing seven wins by at least 35 points apiece.  The Eagles have rolled past Cherokee Trail and Legend in postseason play by a combined 80 points.  The Bruins moved past Regis and Pomona by a total of 51 points.

Valor Christian may look to control tempo and time of possession by giving Gavin Sawchuk plenty of action.  The senior running back ran for 93 yards and a touchdown against Legend last week and those totals pushed him to 1,086 yards and 17 TD’s for the season.  He also averages 10 yards per carry and has been above 200 yards in three of six games played.

If the Bruins defense gangs up on Sawchuk and slow him down, then the offensive onus may fall on QB Sean McNair and RB Zach Wiley.  McNair enters the state championship tilt with 790 yards passing and six scores.  He’s also been sharp in the playoffs; hitting 22 of 34 passes for 349 yards and a score.  Wiley came on in relief of Sawchuk against Cherokee Trail and gained 114 yards on 23 carries with four touchdowns.  He’s over 400 yards (413) with nine scores in 2020.

Grant Simmons (19 catches), Landon Turnwall (16) and Tyler Larson (14) are the top three receivers in the Eagles attack.  Simmons has caught four passes in each playoff game and Larson has seven catches for 191 yards in the same stretch.  Turnwall has been limited to two receptions thus far.

James Walker has rushed for 1,010 yards with 11 TD’s for Cherry Creek this season. He’s one of several major offensive weapons that hope to lead the Bruins to back-to-back state championships. PHOTO BY STEVE ABEYTA

The Cherry Creek offense is also filled with top-tier talent including the trio of Julian Hammond, James Walker and Chase Penry.  Hammond is nearing 14-hundred yards passing on the season and goes into his final game with 19 TD’s.  His effort against Pomona is among his season’s best as he hit 14 of 18 attempts for 163 yards and two scores.  Penry has been his top target in the postseason as the wideout has 15 catches for 223 yards and one TD.  On the season, Penry has 45 receptions for 648 yards and 8 TD’s.

Walker anchors the Bruins running game.  He collected 155 yards and three scores in the quarterfinal win over Regis and added another 128 yards against Pomona last week.  That effort pushed him past the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 11 TD’s.

Two other names to watch on offense are Gunnar Helm and Myles Purchase.  Helm has caught two TD passes in a game twice this season and has seven scores for the season on just 25 catches.  Purchase is a big play defender who has received limited snaps on offense this year.  But we won’t be surprised if he lines up for an important offensive play or two in the state finals.  He’s that explosive.

Purchase scored on both sides of the ball in last year’s state championship win over Pomona; rushing for a TD and taking an interception back to the end zone.  This season, he has five of the Bruins 11 interceptions and has taken two back for scores.  Purchase has also returned two punts for scores.

Malik Majekodunmi is another key defender for Cherry Creek.  He’s tied for third in tackles (36) but tops the club with 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks.  Arden Walker has 31 tackles including 10 behind the line of scrimmage and six sacks as well.

The top tackler is Luis Lozano with 55.  He’s followed on the list by Jaxson Hurd (45) and Austin Luhring (36).

Elijah Hamilton (#7) and Jordan Norwood (#30) have combined for 90 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in leading the Valor Christian defense this year. PHOTO IS PROVIDED BY CATHERINE ORTIZ

Valor’s defense gets great production from Elijah Hamilton (50 tackles), Jordan Norwood (40) and Andrew Hale (34).  Those three have combined for 15 tackles behind the line of scrimmage as well.  The Eagles have a combined 45 tackles for loss and sacks and hope to use that pressure to get Hammond off stride.  The secondary has 11 interceptions including two from Hale.  Hamilton also has both an interception and fumble recovery.

Valor Christian opened their football program in 2008 and has compiled an amazing playoff record of 43-3 with nine state championships.  Since moving to Class 5A prior to the 2012 season, the Eagles have won 110 games and dropped only 15.  Six of those losses are against out of state programs and three have occurred in the playoffs.  In regular season play, the Eagles have lost only six games in nine years.

Cherry Creek seeks their third title since 2014 and 11th overall.  They were the dominant program of the 1990’s with seven state final appearances and five titles.  They won 30 of 34 playoff games that decade and sit at 98-41 all-time.

Saturday’s game is set for 6:00pm in Pueblo and will culminate the entire 2020 Fall Football season.  The contest is available through a live video stream at NFHSNetwork.com.

 

SERIES PLAYOFF HISTORY

2018:  Valor Christian won 24-14 (Championship)

2016:  Valor Christian won 10-7 (Semifinal)

2015:  Valor Christian won 20-10 (Semifinal)

2014:  Cherry Creek won 25-14 (Championship)

 

CHERRY CREEK BRUINS (8-0)

Coach:  Dave Logan

Outscored opponents 329-41

 

Regular season

W:  Smoky Hill 35-14

W:  Cherokee Trail 49-7

W:  Grandview 37-0

W:  Overland 45-0

W:  Arapahoe 49-7

W:  Eaglecrest 50-0

 

Playoffs

W:  Regis 29-6

W:  Pomona 35-7

 

State Championship History (10-8)

2019:  Beat Columbine 35-10

2018:  Lost to Valor Christian 24-14

2014:  Beat Valor Christian 25-24

2008:  Lost to Mullen 20-16

2004:  Lost to Mullen 30-9

1999:  Lost to Columbine 21-14

1998:  Lost to Mullen 23-14

1996:  Beat Arvada West 48-33

1995:  Beat Overland 32-17

1994:  Beat Horizon 47-6

1991:  Beat Arapahoe 14-0

1990:  Beat Montbello 14-0

1987:  Lost to Fairview 13-10 (4A)

1986:  Beat Pomona 35-7 (4A)

1985:  Lost to Lakewood 47-8 (4A)

1983:  Beat Pomona 13-7 (4A)

1982:  Beat Regis 22-13 (4A)

1980:  Lost to Thomas Jefferson 20-19 (4A)

 

VALOR CHRISTIAN EAGLES (7-0)

Coach:  Donnie Yantis

Outscored opponents 348-41

 

Regular Season

W:  Doherty 51-0

W:  Rock Canyon 49-0

W:  Mountain Vista 46-0

W:  Castle View 63-21

W:  Ralston Valley 45-7

 

Playoffs

W:  Cherokee Trail 49-14

W:  Legend 45-0

 

State Championship History (8-1)

2018:  Beat Cherry Creek 24-14

2016:  Beat Pomona 30-14

2015:  Beat Pomona 29-26

2014:  Lost to Cherry Creek 25-24

2013:  Beat Fairview 56-16

2012:  Beat Cherokee Trail 9-0

2011:  Beat Pine Creek 66-10 (4A)

2010:  Beat Wheat Ridge 38-8 (4A)

2009:  Beat Steamboat Springs 41-14 (3A)