Pomona football grabs win in ‘Get Back Game’ over Thomas Jefferson at NAAC

ARVADA — Tucker Ingersoll and Isaias Sierra had a first half to remember Aug. 27 at the North Area Athletic Complex.

Ingersoll — University of Wyoming quarterback commit — hooked up with Sierra three times in the opening half for touchdown passes in an eventual 64-14 victory for Pomona over Thomas Jefferson.

“He is a playmaker,” Pomona coach Nate Johnson said of his junior receiver after his trio of touchdowns in the first half. “He worked really hard in the off-season. We are going to need him down the stretch.”

Sierra’s first two touchdowns of 13 and 17 yards came just 14 second apart late in the first quarter. Ingersoll hit Sierra on a 13-yard touchdown with 2:11 left in the first quarter. Two-way player — senior Rylan Berger — jumped on a fumble on the Spartans’ next play on offense to give Pomona the ball on TJ’s 17-yard line.

Ingersoll hit Sierra on a crossing route on the next play with 1:57 left in the quarter to make the score 14-0.

“We knew we had to come out in this game and execute,” Sierra said.

Sierra got his hat-trick with a 31-yard touchdown catch midway through the second quarter to put Pomona up 28-0.

“We just had to clear our heads and move on,” Ingersoll said of the 39-13 opening-season loss in Zero Week to Monarch for the defending Class 3A state champions. “We just had to come ready to play.”

Pomona’s offense scored touchdowns on seven consecutive drives after going three-and-out on its first possession of the game. Ingersoll had a 37-yard touchdown run in the second quarter on a pass play where the senior quarterback tucked it and ran down Pomona’s sideline to the end zone.

“When stuff isn’t there I know I’m really dangerous with my legs. That is really hard for teams to stop and game plan for,” Ingersoll said. “I was in the weight room a lot this summer getting bigger and faster. I’m 15 pounds heavier than I was last year and I’m twice as fast.”

Berger scored on a 65-yard touchdown run on his first offensive touch of the game to push Pomona’s lead to 36-8 late in the first half. It was the first of three rushing touchdowns for Berger on the night.

Thomas Jefferson (0-2 record) did have two nice scoring drives in the second quarter. Junior quarterback Gage Lovejoy had a pair of touchdown passes to give the Spartans a spark. Still, Pomona led 36-14 at halftime.

Berger opened the second half with a 58-yard touchdown run on his second carry of the game. The Panthers’ third long touchdown run of the game came 36 seconds into the third quarter to give Pomona a commanding 43-14 lead.

“I feel like I can step into that role,” Berger said of being Pomona’s go-to running back. “I’m no slouch.”

Ingersoll tossed his fourth touchdown of the game on a 27-yard pass to senior Johnnie Delgado midway through the third quarter. Pomona induced the running clock with a 40-plus point lead with a minute remaining in the third quarter on an 11-yard touchdown run by Berger to make the score 57-14.

“We got a swag back a little, but we’ve still got work to do,” Johnson said. “We’ve got two tough ones coming up with Holy Family next week. Then the bye and then going over to Palisade. We’ve got to find a way to prepare for those great 3A teams.”

Pomona senior Cale Coffman put the exclamation point on the game with a defensive score. Coffman’s pick-6 that he returned 20 yards to the end zone early in the fourth quarter to made the final score 64-14.

“Last year we had a really good defense. We are still working on building our defense right now,” Berger said. “Still, I think our defense is the best side of the ball right now.”

The Panthers return to NAAC on Friday, Sept. 4. Pomona (1-1) will host Holy Family (0-0) with a 7 pm kickoff. The Tigers actually open up their season Friday, Aug. 28 with a big home game against Broomfield.

“It’s big,’ Ingersoll said of the showdown next week against Holy Family. “They are always one of the top teams in 3A. We aren’t overlooking them by any means.”