ARVADA — Holy Family football left the North Area Athletic Complex late Friday night was a signature early victory in hand.
The Tigers defeated the defending Class 3A state champions — Pomona — by a score of 64-28. It was a huge bounce-back win for Holy Family after a 62-43 loss to Broomfield in Week 1.
Holy Family junior quarterback Kaden Hopkin put on a show throwing for four touchdowns in the second quarter alone. The junior tossed touchdowns of 77 and 66 yards to junior Nick Leopardi, along with a 4-yard touchdown to Sebastian Trieu and 15-yard touchdown to junior Kai Osburn.
Senior Roman Ochs also had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Holy Family. Sophomore Tyson Defalco recovered a Pomona fumble in the Panthers’ own end zone for a defensive score for the Tigers in the opening half.
The Tigers grabbed a 43-28 lead at halftime.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
Pomona did put up four touchdown of its own in the first half. Senior Rylan Berger had touchdown runs of 7 and 80 yards. Senior quarterback Tucker Ingersoll threw a 30-yard touchdown to senior Johnnie Delgado and 64-yard touchdown to senior Noah Cabral-Mendoza.
However, what could go wrong went wrong for Pomona (1-2 record) in the second half.
Holy Family got a pair of touchdown runs from junior Gage Gunderson in the third quarter to push the lead to 57-28. The final score was on a touchdown run from sophomore Mekhi White to give the Tigers the 64-28 victory.
The toughest thing for the Panthers was seeing Ingersoll go down with an apparent left knee injury late in the third quarter. The University of Wyoming-commit had to be helped to the sidelines and didn’t return.
The Panthers are on a bye next week before heading to the Western Slope to face Palisade on Friday, Sept. 18. Pomona opens up 3A Foothills League play against Wheat Ridge on Sept. 25 at Trailblazer Stadium.
Holy Family won the 3A state championship back in 2023. The Tigers were one victory away from the title game a year ago, but lost to Windsor in the semifinals. It is clear that Holy Family will settle for nothing less than a 3A state title this year.
The Tigers (1-1) host Eagle Valley next Friday night in Broomfield.
Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Public Schools
