Pomona junior Ryan Marquez breaks loose for a long run Friday against Bear Creek in a playoff opener. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
ARVADA — Pomona made it be known early on Friday night that its running game is up to speed with the Class 5A football state playoffs underway.
Senior quarterback Ryan Marquez ripped off a 42-yard run for the No. 1-seeded Panthers on their opening play from scrimmage. Junior Max Borghi rushed in from 13 yards out for his 20th touchdown on the season on the next play, giving Pomona a quick 7-0 lead on Bear Creek just 37 seconds into the first-round game.
“We knew we had to come out and get our offense going,” Pomona senior Cameron Gonzales said after a 42-26 victory against Bear Creek at the North Area Athletic Complex.
The win moves Pomona (10-1) into the quarterfinals where the Panthers will face a familiar foe — Columbine (9-2).
The No. 9 Rebels held on to defeat No. 8 Highlands Ranch on Friday night to set up a rematch of the 5A state semifinal last year. The Panthers won that game by a point on a late missed extra point that would have sent the game into overtime.
“We’ve got to get ready to go. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Pomona coach Jay Madden said about preparing for Columbine. “They are a heck of a football team.”
Bear Creek senior Brian Sanchez (21) looks for some running room. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)
With the new leagues and waterfall format, Jeffco schools Pomona and Columbine didn’t go up against each other in the regular season.
“It’s always a dogfight,” Gonzales said facing Columbine.
Gonzales finished with 13 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Panthers’ ground game against Bear Creek. Borghi finished with seven carries for 51 yards and also had a 32-yard touchdown catch midway through the third quarter that pushed Pomona’s lead to 28-7.
Marquez was a perfect 2-for-2 — both touchdown throws — in the second half before Pomona’s backup took over to start the fourth quarter. A 20-yard touchdown pass from Marquez to junior Riley Govan gave the Panthers a 35-7 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
“The simple fact is we have to come out ready to go,” Marquez said. “Respect to Bear Creek. They put up some points on us. You have to be ready for anything in the playoffs.”
No. 16 Bear Creek (3-8) put together a solid scoring drive before halftime with senior Andre Renteria capping it off with a 2-yard touchdown run. Bear Creek senior quarterback Walker Rumsey gave the Panthers’ defense fits at times with his scrambling ability.
Rumsey had a 63-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that cut Pomona’s lead to 42-20. He also threw a touchdown pass on the final play of the game to make the score a little closer.
A tough scheduled helped Bear Creek make the 16-team field despite just three wins on the season. With high winning percentages for the Bears’ regular-season opponents moved Bear Creek’s RPI up 16.
“We thought we had to beat Regis to get in,” Rumsey said about the Bears losing their regular-season finale last week. “It was a miracle honestly. We were just lucky enough to play an extra game. Most teams are sitting at home. We are pretty blessed.”
Pomona junior Max Borghi (21) is dragged to the ground by Bear Creek senior Neil Vanlerberghe. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)