TCA and Mountain View advance to Class 4A flag football championship game

LAKEWOOD — The opponents are set for the Class 4A flag football state championship game scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood.

Top-seeded The Classical Academy and defending 4A state champion Mountain View both needed fourth-quarter comebacks to set up a rematch of last year’s 4A flag football title game.

#1 The Classical Academy 27, #4 Green Mountain 24

TCA overcame seeing a 21-6 lead turn into a 24-21 deficit in the matter of 93 seconds during the third quarter in the first 4A state semifinal at Jeffco Stadium.

“We came back with a lot of fight,” TCA junior quarterback Kelsey Peterson said after the Titans rallied in the fourth quarter to take a 27-24 victory. “This is a team that really wants to win (state). We want to do it for our seniors.”

Peterson threw a short touchdown pass to junior Ryann Ferguson with 4:42 left in the fourth quarter to give TCA the lead back 27-24. Green Mountain drove into TCA territory, but would eventually turn the ball over on downs.

Peterson — four touchdown passes on the night — was able to run for a first down to allow the Titans to run out the clock to take the victory. Green Mountain ends the season with a 13-5 record that featured bookend losses to TCA (15-3 record). The Titans defeated the Rams 26-8 in Green Mountain’s season opener.

The game was a semifinal rematch from last season. TCA edged Green Mountain 19-16 a season ago to advance to the 4A title game.

“We were feeling really good at halftime. We had a lot of momentum going. I think we got a little too confident,” Peterson admitted about the Rams’ remarkable 18 points in 93 seconds. “They came out and shocked us. They wanted it. They played great defense.”

Green Mountain freshman quarterback Savannah Plumley started the remarkable 93 seconds in the third quarter with a touchdown pass to freshman Maya Gutierrez with 6:42 left in the third quarter to cut TCA’s lead to 21-12.

On the next play, Green Mountain senior Maddie Amolsch intercepted Peterson and returned it for a touchdown with 6:33 left in the third to cut the Titans’ lead to 21-18. Junior Ella Cockrum then intercepted Peterson on the next offensive play for TCA.

A touchdown pass from Plumley to sophomore Marissa VanGuilder gave the Rams their first lead to 24-21.

“It took a toll for sure,” Peterson said of her throwing back-to-back interceptions. “My teammates and coaches really picked me up. We changed some play calls to give me things I was comfortable with. I had trust in my receivers.”

Peterson orchestrated the eventual game-winning drive to punch TCA’s ticket to the 4A state championship game. TCA will look to win its first flag football state title after bringing the 4A state runner-up trophy home last season.

“It was a hard loss last year,” Peterson said of TCA’s 26-0 shutout loss to Mountain View in the 4A title game a year ago. “I think that gave us the fire to come back and want it even more this year. We are experienced. We know what it takes. We worked hard all summer. We’ve been waiting for this moment.”

#2 Mountain View 13, #3 Pomona 12

Mountain View kept its hopes alive to repeat as 4A state champions thanks to a fourth-quarter rally too.

The Mountain Lions (16-2) took the lead for good on a 26-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Keira Knowles to freshman Charly Schuster-Moore with 6:40 left in the fourth quarter to give Mountain View a 13-12 lead.

Pomona turned the ball over on downs near midfield in the final minutes and the clock ran out the 4A Jeffco League champions on their final drive.

The Panthers (16-2) did take an early 6-0 lead on a touchdown pass from senior Jay Cordova to her sister Luanna Cordova in the first quarter. Mountain View answered with a touchdown pass from Knowles to sophomore Hayden Ramberg with 3:51 left before halftime. What became a key successful 1-point conversion gave the Mountain Lions a 7-6 at halftime.

Pomona retook the lead 12-7 early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard pass from Jay Cordova to senior Timberly Martinez. However, Mountain View put in the final score with 6:40 left in the fourth quarter.

Schuster-Moore made a leaping catch from Knowles in front of Pomona’s sideline, broke a tackle and ran into the end zone for the eventual game-winning touchdown. The Mountain Lions will take a 14-game winning streak into Saturday’s title game.