Columbine football blocks Heritage from road victory at Jeffco Stadium

LAKEWOOD — Columbine football knows it has to do the little things to grab victories this season, including blocking PATs.

Heritage senior Mo Thenell scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter to cut Columbine’s lead to 14-13. An extra point would tie the game, but the Rebels special teams came up with the deciding play of the game.

“That kind of an effort play and of course it was Will Monroe who did it,” Columbine coach Andy Lowry said of the blocked PAT that allowed the Rebels to keep the lead midway through the fourth quarter. “I’m proud of our kids. They never give up.”

The Rebels (2-3 record) held on for the 14-13 victory over Heritage — No. 6 in the Class 4A Colorado Preps rankings — in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday at Jeffco Stadium.

“I came off the edge and felt like I had the angle on it. I maybe got a finger on it,” Columbine senior captain Jesse Adame said of the key block. “Everyone else came over. It was a beautiful PAT block.”

While Adame came off the edge, fellow senior captain Will Monroe came up the middle to stuff the kick. For the second week in a row Columbine has been able to pull out a 1-point victory. The Rebels edged Fossil Ridge 21-20 last week in Fort Collins.

“We have to catch steam in this second-half of the season,” Adame said.

Columbine got off to a rare 0-3 start with losses to Vista Ridge, ThunderRidge and Legend to begin this year’s campaign. However, the Rebels have been able to gain some traction over the past two games.

The Rebels didn’t attempt a pass in the win against Heritage. Columbine’s trademark rushing attack issued body blow after body blow against the Eagles. At one point, Columbine ran 33 straight offensive plays and held the ball for all but 24 seconds in the second quarter.

“That is what we have to do,” Lowry said of the dominating time of possession the Rebels demonstrated. “A lot of our kids are playing every single snap. They get tired, but are playing together. We are young and inexperienced, but they are playing hard.”

Columbine’s defense was opportunistic early with Columbine sophomore Tavis McCatty recovering a Heritage fumble in the end zone to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard in the first quarter. Adame was able to punch the ball free from Thenell as he approached the goal-line.

The Rebels chewed up nearly 7 minutes off the clock to open the scoring with an 80-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by senior James Himes, giving Columbine a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Heritage (3-2) got the board when senior Tanner Guthrie recovered a fumble by Columbine senior Mark Snyder and returned it 65 yards with 3:20 left before halftime to tie the game at 7-7 at halftime.

Synder got his revenge with a 32-yard touchdown run with 8:14 left in the fourth quarter to give the Rebels a 14-7 lead. It was the longest run of the game for Columbine.

“We just try to ground and pound,” Adame said of the Rebels’ offense. “It makes it easier on our defense.”

Heritage did get the ball back with 4:44 left to play and down 14-13. The Rebels’ defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs. After one first down, Columbine junior quarterback Lucas Gonzales was able to take a knee to run out the clock.

Columbine will celebrate homecoming next week as it opens up Class 5A Metro League play. The Rebels face Denver East (0-4) on Friday, Oct. 3, at Jeffco Stadium.

“That would be a blessing,” Lowry said of the Rebels having the chance to get to a 3-3 record next week after their 0-3 start.

Heritage dives into its conference play next week also. The Eagles are on the road against Golden (4-0) on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the North Area Athletic Complex. The 4A South Metro League should be tough this season with all six team at or above .500 through the first four weeks of the regular season.