TCA starts fast, finishes strong to beat Basalt in 2A football semifinals

BASALT – TCA football coach Justin Rich is only willing to allow himself one cheat meal this week. And since this is only the second time in his coaching career that his team will be practicing on Thanksgiving, he’ll go with turkey and stuffing over a slopper in Pueblo.

But the slopper will be accessible if he wants it.

Rich’s Titans survived another thrilling playoff game, one that had them up two touchdowns in the first four plays of the game. And yet, they still went into the fourth quarter locked in a tie before putting together a strong finish to beat Basalt 41-28 to advance to the Class 2A football championship game at Dutch Clark Stadium in Pueblo.

“In a 48-minute game, if we try to end every drive in with a kick, we’ll be in good shape against most teams in the state,” Rich said. “It was great to jump out to that lead and we weren’t certainly trying to hide behind that tree.”

As it turns out, sometimes the hare wins the race after all.

The Titans (12-0 overall) silenced the home crowd as Zach Mediavilla returned the opening kick for 96 yards for a touchdown. On Basalt’s first offensive play of the game, Hayden Gustafson intercepted an Karson Schneider pass and two plays Jackson Schipfer broke for a 40-yard touchdown pass. One big play on special teams, a big play on defense and a big play on offense and TCA was in firm control of the game.

“It’s like a dagger in the heart right away,” Mediavilla said. “Both teams come out pumped and that’s a crowd silencer right away. There were a lot of people here and it gets loud. Then you take [the kick] back and it just gets quiet.”

But the Longhorns (11-1) didn’t make it to the state semifinals by accident. Despite a goal line stand for the Titans, Basalt found a way to claw and scratch its way back into the game. Khalil Blush mishandled a punt, giving the Longhorns the ball inside the TCA 20-yard line. Schneider found William Daniel on a little screen pass to get Basalt on the board.

The defense then held up its end of the bargain, keeping TCA scoreless through the remainder of the first half. Basalt tied the game on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Schneider to Parker Sims.

TCA retook the lead with a Drew Brown touchdown pass to Gustafson, giving him big plays on both sides of the ball.

“It’s being in the right place at the right time,” he said.

But on the first play following the TCA touchdown, Schneider hit Will Tarallo on a screen pass that went for a 65-yard score to again tie the game.

“When you have these games where no one gives up and no one gives in, you’re blessed to play in these games,” Rich said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen net week, but the memories that these kids have from playing in these games is unmatched. The best leadership laboratory in the state is a football field on a November afternoon.”

A fumbled handoff by the Longhorns deep in their own territory gave TCA 1st and goal at the 3. Braden Godoy ran for a score to put the Titans ahead and added another touchdown run on the Titans’ next drive.

Next up for TCA is Wellington at Dutch Clark Stadium next Saturday. After two tough battles, the Titans could very well have to win three state championship worthy games to come away with the 2A title.