Valor Christian running back Christian McCaffrey, far right, makes a move to elude Columbine defenders Tanner Degutis (14), Jacen White (99) and Larry Munson (4) on Friday night at Valor Stadium in Highlands Ranch. McCaffrey put up 316 yards from scrimmage and scored four touchdowns in the Eagles’ 49-13 victory. (Dennis Pleuss)
HIGHLANDS RANCH — Valor Christian senior Christian McCaffrey already had first-hand experience of the type of football program Columbine has even before taking the field Friday night.
“My sophomore year, when we were 4A, we shared a locker room with Columbine. We knew they really get after it,” McCaffrey said talking about 2011 when both Valor and Columbine won state titles at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. “We knew that they know what it takes to win. They have a great coaching staff and fantastic players.”
The talented Valor squad looking for its fifth straight state title pounced on the Rebels early, rolling to an eventual 49-13 victory in the Class 5A state quarterfinal at Valor Stadium.
The victory moves Valor (11-1 record) into the 5A semifinals where the Eagles will have a rematch of last year’s state championship game against Cherokee Trail (10-2). The Cougars upended Cherry Creek 27-14 Friday night to set up the rematch.
Valor Christian senior Christian McCaffrey (5) attempts to shed the tackle of Columbine senior Bernard McDondle on Friday night. The Eagles beat Columbine in the 5A quarterfinal game 49-13 to set up a rematch of last year’s 5A state title game against Cherokee Trail in the semifinals next week. (Dennis Pleuss)
On the Eagles’ home field in Highlands Ranch, McCaffrey had a monster game against Columbine with 15 carries for 272 yards and three touchdowns. The Stanford-bound product also caught two passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. This despite only having one carry for a 37-yard touchdown in the second half, which put the Eagles up 49-6 with 7:20 left in the third quarter and induced a running clock for the remainder of the game.
Valor scored touchdowns on each of its first seven offensive possessions. Not what Columbine coach Andy Lowry had in mind. The Rebels had hoped that their grinding running attack could keep McCaffrey and company off the field, but Columbine could manage just two first downs on its first five offensive drives.
“Everyone looks at Valor’s offense, that is incredible, but their defense is overshadowed a lot of the time,” Lowry said. “We were going to try to run the clock, but we couldn’t get the first downs to do that.”
Columbine did have a first-quarter bright spot when senior running back Bernard McDondle scored on a 69-yard touchdown run to cut Valor’s lead to 14-6 with 3:55 left. However, the Eagles responded with four more touchdowns before halftime to extend their lead to 42-6.
“(Columbine) is a very physical team,” Valor coach Rob Sherman said. “I think what I’m most proud of tonight is our defensive line and linebackers. We gave up one huge play and then we responded well.”
It wasn’t all McCaffrey offensively for Valor. Senior quarterback A.J. Cecil was 9-for-11 passing for 149 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball seven times for 47 yards and a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs.
Junior Nathan Whatmore got into the scoring act with a 3-yard touchdown run in the first half, too.
Sherman said he has tried to keep McCaffrey as fresh as possible heading into this late-season stretch. The senior has just 117 carries on the season, but averages 12.8 yards per carry. McCaffrey hit the 1,500-yard mark with his effort Friday night.
Columbine running back Bernard McDondle (2) scrambles after a loose ball as Valor Christian junior Brandon Biggs (81) closes Friday in the Class 5A state quarterfinal game. McDondle had 14 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown in his final game as a Rebel. (Dennis Pleuss)
“(McCaffrey) is incredible and our little No. 2 (McDondle) is pretty darn incredible too,” Lowry said. “Coach Sherman and I have been blessed with two great running backs, great kids and just warriors.”
McDondle, who was key in the Rebels’ run to the 5A state title in 2011, finished his final game with 14 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. The senior finished with more than 1,700 yards on the ground and 25 touchdowns this season.
Columbine did add a late touchdown with a 70-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Michael Tait to junior Austin Norton in the fourth quarter for the final score of the game.
Friday night was actually the first-ever meeting on the gridiron between Columbine and Valor. Both programs have made a significant imprint on the prep football landscape in Colorado over recent years.
Columbine has been a state title contender since the late 1990s, winning 5A football championships in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2011. Lowry has guided the Rebels to a perfect 5-0 in title games. The Rebels’ latest state championship came two years ago with Columbine defeating Jeffco rival Lakewood 41-31 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The Rebels have racked up a 70-15 record since the start of the 2007 football season.
“When I moved here in 2007, Columbine was the program everyone looked at and I believe they still are,” Sherman said. “Andy Lowry is arguably the best coach in the state. He gets his guys to play so hard. It’s an honor for us to share the field with them and we are very thankful for the result tonight.”
Valor has had an impressive football program since the private school opened 2007. After a 4-6 record in Valor’s first year playing varsity football in 2008, the Eagles have staked claim to four straight football titles in three different classifications. Valor’s run on championships began in 2009 with a 3A title, followed up by back-to-back 4A crowns in 2010 and 2011. The Eagles made a successful jump to the largest classification (5A) last season shutting out Cherokee Trail 9-0 in the title game.
The Eagles have a 62-6 record since the start of the 2009 season. The last in-state team to beat Valor was Mullen back on Aug. 24, 2012 in the Eagles’ season opener last season. Bingham from Utah has gotten the better of Valor twice in games over the past two seasons.
Valor Christian wide receiver Marcus Wilson, far right, uses the block of senior Trey Hanley (2) on Columbine junior Emery Taylor (22) to pick up some extra yards during the first half Friday night. (Dennis Pleuss)