(Andre Lyseight/CHSAANow.com)
LAKEWOOD – Seventh-ranked Berthoud scored early and often in cruising to a 53-7 win over Arvada in Class 3A football on Saturday afternoon.
Jackson Hall starred for the Spartans, with two receiving touchdowns, a punt return for a score, and also an interception.
“My first game I didn’t do as much as I wanted to do, I played pretty lackluster,” Hall said after the game. “So I was kind of just looking for a little taste of everything. It was just nice to come out here and do well defensively, offensively, and on special teams.”
Arvada (1-2) was coming off its first win since the 2013 season, having spanned an 18-game losing streak with a 27-14 win over Sheridan last week. But this week, the Spartans’ defense kept Arvada scoreless until the last few minutes of the game.
Berthoud actually got off to a pretty slow start on Saturday, punting away its first possession and losing its second to a fumble. Arvada appeared to be a difficult defense to score against early in the game.
Then, all of sudden Berthoud’s Hall, a receiver, returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown — creating the spark the team needed for the rest of the game. Berthoud quarterback Cody Braesch was able to get in a rhythm with running back Chad Ellis, who ended the drive with a 21-yard rushing touchdown.
Arvada had a chance to get points on the board in the first quarter but fumbled a field goal snap, causing a turnover on downs. Shortly after that, it got the back following a fumble from Braesch. But the Bulldogs quickly gave the ball back on the next play with an interception from Hall.
Berthoud capitalized on that turnover with a 72-yard touchdown pass by Braesch to tight end McCallan Castles.
Berthoud began to pull away after blocked punt was recovered on Bulldogs’ own 7-yard-line. On the next play, Braesch’s rushing touchdown made it 27-0.
By halftime the score was 40-0.
In fourth quarter, it was 53-0. Arvada was determined to not get shutout. Quarterback Ian Coleman led his team down the field for their only touchdown with three minutes to play.
Berthoud coach Troy Diffendaffer said that his team is very explosive but still have things to work.
“We threw up a lot of points,” he said, “but we’re still trying to work a couple things outs. Way too many penalties. Ee can’t shoot ourselves in the foot, especially once we get in our league.”
After last year’s experience — Berthoud lost to top-seeded Discovery Canyon in the first round of the 3A playoffs — the Spartans know they can’t be satisfied with two blowout wins to open the year.
“Offensively not too well, defensively we played as well as we can any other game,” Hall said. “Most defiantly need to clean up those penalties and be able to move the ball on first and second (down), and not have to try to go deep on third down.”