Legend punches ticket to 5A football semis with win over Ralston Valley

ARVADA — Legend cemented itself as a perennial Class 5A football state contender Saturday afternoon at the North Area Athletic Complex.

The No. 6-seeded Titans advanced to the 5A semifinals next week with a solid 35-16 victory over No. 3 Ralston Valley. Legend (11-1 record) will host No. 7 Fairview in the 5A semifinals next week.

“We knew the winner of this game would host,” Legend coach Monte Thelen said. “We have a ton of respect for Fairview. This is our third Final Four in five years. Our program has arrived.”

The Knights (12-0) shocked No. 2 Mountain Vista 49-45 on a strange Friday night where the quarterfinal game started at Halftime Help Stadium in Highlands Ranch, but finished at EchoPark Stadium in Parker. The stadium lights went out at halftime at Halftime Help, so the game’s second half was played at EchoPark and finished just before midnight.

With Legend being the higher seed, the Titans will get a chance to host on their home turf after Thanksgiving. The Titans lost to eventual state champion Columbine in the state quarterfinals last season.

A fake punt by Legend that went for a 53-yard touchdown run by senior Carson Flowers in the third quarter snatched the momentum back for the Titans after Ralston Valley (10-2) cut Legend’s lead to 14-10.

“We talked about it at halftime,” Thelen said of the fake punt. “We’ve done it three times now and scored twice. It was a difference maker in the game. We knew it was set up at halftime. We were happy it worked out.”

Flowers faked a rugby-style punt, but tucked it and ran down the Titans’ sideline nearly untouched for the 53-yard score.

“It was a great block by Champ Jones and Brody Shuss on the sideline,” Flowers said. “I did the easy stuff. They did the hard stuff.”

The touchdown gave Legend a 21-10 lead.

“That fake punt did switch the momentum,” Ralston Valley coach Jared Yannacito said.

The Mustangs were driving near midfield trying to answer late in the third quarter, but sophomore receiver Levi Rillos was stripped of the ball after a short pass. Legend senior Brody Dodge recovered the fumble.

Five plays later Jones scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 28-10 early in the fourth quarter. The Titans forced three turnover and converted them for three touchdowns.

Senior Peyton Aukland had an interception the first quarter that led to a Titan touchdown. Senior Raymond Bergner sealed the win with a fourth-quarter interception that led to Legend’s final touchdown.

“Hat off to our defense with three turnovers,” Thelen said. “That’s our goal. We think we won’t lose if we get them (turnovers). We feel wonderful moving on.”

Ralston Valley’s season end after winning the 5A Metro League title and with double-digit victories for the third straight season under Yannacito.

“It doesn’t take away what these young group of kids did after losing (graduating) almost every starter on offense and defense, losing a starting running back and receiver (due to injury),” Yannacito said after the season-ending loss. “I love these kids. They played with heart. They battled. Legend made a couple of really big plays. They are a really good football team.”

Ralston Valley had advance to the 5A state semifinals the previous two seasons under Yannacito.

“We are sad now, but they can hold their heads high,” Yannacito said. “Being league champions, having some big wins, fighting and we get a lot of them back.”