LIMON – Titletown is looking to add to its population. And for anyone not at Gaskill Field on a breezy, sunny afternoon, hearing the toll of the bell is a sign that more hardware could be coming home.
In what is traditionally a showdown fit for the Class 1A state championship game, Limon and Wray faced off in another chapter in its memorable football history. Just like in the regular season, it was the Badgers coming away with the win, besting the Eagles 42-21, punching its ticket to Pueblo to face top-seeded Buena Vista for the state title.
For coach Mike O’Dwyer, it’s a welcome return the sideline of the state championship game after spending last year’s title tilt serving as a color commentator for the NFHS broadcast.
“What it did is refocused what we needed to do,” O’Dwyer said. “Even me, I needed to do a better job coaching. We had 20 new starters last year, and there’s a process that it takes time. We’re seeing the fruition of that this year.”
Experience is paramount.
The offensive line understood the responsibility placed on it as the Badgers (11-1 overall) rushed for 400 yards over the course of the game. Nearly a quarter of that output came on their first offensive play of the second half as Jacob Jaklich broke for a 99-yard rushing town, one of his five on the day.
“We made some adjustments going into halftime and we we’re pumped going into that,” Jacklich said. “All I had to do was break one tackle and I was gone.”
Limon jumped out to a lead early in the game, despite going 3-and-out on its first drive. The Eagles (8-4) were methodically moving the ball down the field before Camdyn Tacha picked off a Brady Collins pass which setup the first of Jacklich’s five scores.
Limon took a 21-7 lead into halftime and even though the Badgers went up 28-7 after Jacklich’s long score, the Eagles (8-4) never backed down. Collins ran for a score and threw touchdown passes to Aaron Tena and Wyatt Fonte to keep his team very much in the game.
Trailing 28-14 in the fourth quarter, Wray forced a 4th down, looking to get the ball back and make it a one score game.
But in punt formation, the Badgers pull out a little bit of trickery as Camdyn Tacha hit cousin Dre Tacha for a big gain and a 1st down. That play setup a Camdyn Tacha touchdown run to make it 35-14 which put the game out of reach.
“We always have a couple of trick plays up our sleeve when we need them,” Camdyn said. “We like to play hard and our line helps us do that.”
The shovel pass between cousins was the only pass the Badgers attempted all game.
“I’m an o-line guy,” O’Dwyer said. “Three things can happen when you throw the ball and two of them are bad.”
The Badgers now get a shot at the only team to hand them a loss this season. With a win over Centauri, Buena Vista also advances to Pueblo. The Demons beat the Badgers 13-10 on Sept. 26 and O’Dwyer knows how a tough a task his team has ahead.
“They’re the best team in the state,” O’Dwyer said. “They obviously beat us earlier this year and I don’t know if we have the horses to avenge that loss, but we’re going to line up and play.”
When Limon lines up in state championship games, it has a 22-8 record. To get 23 means the Badgers have to avenge the only blemish on their record. But that’s a next week problem.
Ring the bell. Titletown is title game bound.
