Holy Family’s Chris Helbig. More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
BROOMFIELD — Holy Family quarterback Chris Helbig once again put up video game numbers in Friday’s Class 3A Northern League matchup vs. Frederick.
The Tigers, No. 6 in this week’s rankings, fired on all cylinders in a 65-0 defeat of the Warriors.
“We wanted to prove people,” Helbig said. “Last week we lost a game (to Palisade) that we feel like we shouldn’t have lost so it was a big game for us.”
Holy Family put up 603 total yards of offense, including a 376-yard, five-touchdown performance from Helbig.
“When our offense gets going we’re hard to stop,” said running back Michael Zeman.
More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Wide receiver Joe Golter had 100 yards receiving for two touchdowns, while Zeman added 127 yards on the ground and 54 receiving for three total touchdowns.
The Tigers pounced on Frederick from the first offensive snap. A 49-yard pass from Helbig to Golter started things off and was followed shortly by a 1-yard touchdown, once again from Helbig to Golter to make things 8-0 after a successful two point conversion.
Helbig and a number of his teammates wore different names on the backs of their jerseys for the school’s Military Appreciation Night. The jerseys were then presented to the represented veterans in a post-game ceremony. Helbig honored a family friend in the military, playing the game with Gebhardt above his No. 8.
“He’s the leader of our team,” said Holy Family coach Mike Gabriel. “We go as Chris goes, especially on offense.”
Throughout the year, the Tigers have put up crazy offensive numbers — setting the state passing record and receiving record — but the defense has been a question mark. Well, Friday night, the defense put those questions to rest, holding Frederick to 59 yards of total offense and forcing three turnovers in the shutout.
“Our defense did a great job, they really showed that they have heart in them and fight in them tonight,” Helbig said.
The Warriors just couldn’t get anything going against Holy Family. The longest run of the game was a 5-yard rush by running back Levi Nichols. A 31-yard pass from Michael Lamb to Camdon Munro was the most electric play of the night for Frederick, but the offense just couldn’t capitalize on the momentum.
Holy Family was able to turn turnovers into points, fast. Two plays after a defensive stand on fourth down, Zeman broke a 75-yard run for a touchdown to push the lead to 24-0 in the first quarter.
“Our coach tells us we can score a touchdown on any play and we all have that mindset,” Golter said.
Phillip Elliot punctuated the win with a 36-yard pick-six to make the score 65-0 with 2:34 in the fourth quarter to go along with an interception by AJ Giron and Andrew Calloway’s forced fumble.
“We really stepped it up on defense, we’re just looking to get better every week,” Golter said. “It helps when we get three and outs, our offense can control the game a little bit more.”
Hats off to the Tigers defense and coaching staff. The defensive plan seemed to work just fine. Add this defensive play to the potent offense and its big play potential and you’ve got a pretty scary team.
Helbig, the state passing record holder for passing yards in a game, now has 1,808 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season.
“It’s fun to watch him play. We expect that he’s gonna play well and the kids around him rise up,” Gabriel said. “He’s a great performer and the kids around him are, too.”
No. 6 Holy Family (3-1) will be on the road at 7 p.m. Thursday night against Niwot (0-4).
More photos. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)